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Join a sailing adventure on a Tall Ship and set course for new horizons!

Rostock (DE) - IJmuiden (NL)

11 August - 19 August 2025

8 days, Iris

From € 750,-

Book this journey

International Exchange@sea Sail Training

15-25: € 750,-
26-28 (at request): € 1000,-

Book this journey

Iris:
Rostock (DE) - IJmuiden (NL)

11 August - 19 August 2025

Sustainable Exchange@sea on board the Iris with the Morgenster: now open to all nationalities! Set course for sustainability with this unique, 2-ship project. Join the Iris or Morgenster for an exciting adventure, sailing from Rostock in Germany to IJmuiden, near Amsterdam. Sail the ship, conduct plastic research with The Ocean Movement scientist, and make international friends, supported by helpful mentors. Have regular meetings with trainees from the other vessel, getting together on shore to exchange sea stories and share activities like beach cleanups and games. Learn new things about plastic in the ocean, other countries, and yourself – and have an unforgettable experience!
For young Windseekers aged 15-25 (ages 26-28 at request) from all nationalities.
Important: you are registering for a whole project, which will be held on two vessels. We will ask for your preference, but we do not guarantee that you’ll end up on your first choice of ship.

Ports

Rostock is a large city on the Warnow River, and home to one of the oldest universities in the world. One of the most picturesque places in Rostock is the Neuer Markt (New Market Square), with the Town Hall – that was originally built in the 13th century in Brick Gothic style. The square also preserved six original, carefully restored gable houses from the 15th and 16th centuries. There are a lot more historical and cultural sights to see in this city. So go ahead, and explore!

IJmuiden, on the west coast of the Netherlands, is the water gateway to Amsterdam. Cruise ships, cargo vessels and pleasure yachts pass through its busy locks every day while the IJmuiden marina provides an excellent shelter from the North Sea storms. IJmuiden offers a wide, sandy beach that is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. Behind the dunes you’ll find a small nature reserve, perfect for a hike or a run. IJmuiden’s restaurants serve fresh fish, straight from the local market.

  • IJmuiden (NL)

Key points

  • Dates: 11 August 2025 - 19 August 2025
  • Embarkation: 17:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers 15-25 years, age 26-28 at request
  • Windseekers joining: 12
  • No sailing experience required!
  • Official language on board: English
  • Price includes: accommodation and meals, excludes drinks at the bar
  • Price excludes transportation to and from the ports.
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: towels

  • "I loved the cooperation between all of us young sailors when we sailed the Ship."

    Kaarny (24), Norway

You sail on the Iris

Shipping type: Herring Logger
Homeport: Rotterdam (NL)
Date built: 1916
Trainees: 12
Length: 36 m
Height of mast: 26 m
Sail: 400 m2

Liv and Jans have been sailing together for many years, from the North Sea and Baltic to the Atlantic. They got to know many different ships before becoming the proud owners of Iris, giving the Ship their heart and soul. The …

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Windseeker logs

  • A busy and productive day at sea

    Gulden Leeuw, July 2015

    Aalborg

    – by Trainees Charlotte and Pernille

    Charlotte (26), UK We were lucky as a watch this morning and didn’t go on sail watch until 8 a.m. Some people had to get up to make breakfast but the rest of us enjoyed our lie-in and were bright-eyed and …

    Read log

  • Almost Home

    Oosterschelde

    Cape Verde - Netherlands

    – by crew Oosterschelde

    In a way we’re having bad luck: the English Channel is an area with a lot of traffic. Unfortunately we cannot see it. On our last day at sea the temperature dropped till 7 degrees (above zero, fortunately) and the …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainees
  • Trainee

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STO Garant

This Journey is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions for this guarantee scheme on STO Garant’s website (www.sto-garant.nl/en/downloads).

This process is automatic and you do not need to do anything else. After receiving your booking, Windseeker will send you detailed information on how and when to pay for your journey – together with all the other important details.

 

What does it mean?

In short: you do not pay the booking amount to Windseeker but instead into an escrow account. This trust account holds your payment in reserve until your journey’s end. The booking amount is then released to Windseeker on the day after your trip ends. If Windseeker or the Ship should become financially insolvent before the end of your trip, STO Garant will implement the guarantee. The Guarantee Scheme details how you can make a claim under the guarantee in such cases. You can read more about this here.