From Seasickness to Lifelong Friendships:
Our Unforgettable Adventure Aboard the Thalassa

The Tall Ships Races 2026
Race 2: Antwerp – Stavanger
13–24 July 2026

The Journey Begins

There we stood on the quay, looking up at the masts of the Thalassa. The moment had finally arrived: it was time to step on board! As soon as we checked in, we got our cabin numbers and finally found out who our roommates would be. After settling into our cabins and having a nice dinner, we spent the evening in the city and on the quay enjoying the nice atmosphere. The excitement was rising; tomorrow, the real journey would begin.

Getting to know the ship

The next morning was all about preparation. We officially met our watches and received a crash course in sailing basics. It was very impressive to see that the ship had so many different lines and sails. The absolute highlight of the morning was the climbing of the mast! At first some people got a bit nervous. But thanks to a lot of encouragement from the others, they conquered their fears and made the climb. Nobody who went up regretted it. The view from high up in the mast, looking down at all the magnificent tall ships gathered in the harbour of Antwerp, was very lovely.

After lunch, we had some free time to explore the city of Antwerp one last time, as the Thalassa was one of the very last ships scheduled to depart. And then… the moment arrived. We started the engines and departed the harbour. We waved goodbye to the thousands of spectators lining the shore. The journey had truly started!

Seasickness

The first night watches were absolutely not for the faint of heart. Around midnight, we hit the open sea. The waves grew larger, and the wind began to pick up. The green watch was tasked with putting up a sail on the bow in the pitch black. As the bow crashed down into the waves, more and more people fell victim to seasickness.

By 4:00 AM, the green watch was almost completely wiped out; only two die-hards were left standing. The rest? They were completely out of commission in the saloon. By the time the next watch finished, the saloon was full of people lying on the couches. Every single spot was taken by a sleeping trainee. There was absolutely no room left to sit or lie down: if you stood up to use the bathroom or get some breakfast, you instantly lost your spot! Fortunately, a few hours of solid sleep worked wonders, and by the next afternoon, most people felt well enough to rejoin their watches.

The murder mystery game

To keep our spirits high, the ‘murder game’ was introduced. Suddenly, no one could be trusted. You could see trainees plotting sneaky tactics to ‘eliminate’ their targets. The first few ‘deaths’ happened almost immediately, and the casualty list grew rapidly.

In between watches, meals, and the plotting of murders, the saloon turned into a game area. There was always a tense game of chess or a lively card game happening at the tables.

But nature wasn’t done with us yet. A few days later, a storm rolled in. The wind picked up, the waves grew, and the Thalassa tilted heavily to one side. Watching people try to navigate the ship was nice entertainment. Trainees were literally hanging onto the staircases, and the floor sometimes became slippery so that you could easily slide right across it. Preparing and eating food became an extreme sport. It was hilarious to watch dinner plates slide right out from under people’s noses. Because of the extreme tilt, the showers couldn’t drain properly, leading to flooded bathrooms and plenty of funny stories shared.

Exploring Sirevåg

After two days of battling big waves and a heavily leaning ship, we finally sailed into the calm waters of Sirevåg to join a local sailing event. The number one priority for everyone? A well-deserved, warm, and completely stable shower! Afterward, the group split up: some set off on a hike through the rugged Norwegian landscape, while others stayed to watch the World Cup finals in a big tent at the harbour or enjoy a movie night on the ship.

The next day, the local festival was in full swing, and the entire harbour was packed with people. We enjoyed the festivities and explored the town. A few brave souls even took a freezing plunge into the sea, while others took in the beautiful nature. In the evening, a special event was organized just for the trainees from the participating ships. It was amazing to meet crew members from other vessels, hear about their own wild adventures at sea and teach each other some new dances.

The following day, we set sail for our main destination: Stavanger, one of the main ports of The Tall Ships Races 2026! Arriving around dinner time, after which we immediately headed ashore to explore the vibrant city streets and shops. That evening, three of our trainees hosted a fantastic pub quiz on board, complete with actual prizes. Young or old, everyone joined in, learned some new facts, and had a blast.

The Tall Ships Races Stavanger

Once the main event started in Stavanger, the energy was unmatched. The quays were alive with food stands, cultural activities, museum visits, and stunning boat trips through the nearby fjords. At night, the harbour transformed into a festival ground with live music and a lot of partying.

During the Crew Sports, some of our trainees went through the harbour on Stand-Up Paddleboards. While some were definitely more stable than others, everyone had a great time. It was a spectacular sight to see the tiny paddleboards navigating the waters right next to the massive, towering tall ships.

One of the highlights of our time on land was the Crew Parade. Our mission: represent the Netherlands with pride! Dressed entirely in red, white, and blue, we marched through the streets as a living Dutch flag, complete with the flag painted on our cheeks.

That night, it was time for the official Crew Party. The very first thing we saw upon arrival was the world’s largest chessboard. As the resident Thalassa chess enthusiasts, there obviously had to be played a match! The food was excellent, but the ice cream bar was the real winner—some crew members successfully crushed 6 or 7 ice creams by themselves. The night ended with traditional games and a dance party near the DJ booth.

The final disembarkation

And just like that, our time was up. The final day arrived all too quickly. Bags were packed, and the Thalassa was given a thorough, top-to-bottom deep clean. After a round of goodbyes, we disembarked the ship. We all headed our separate ways, but we walked away with suitcases full of unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships.

Thalassa Race 2 was a truly unforgettable voyage!