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

Lisbon (PT) - A Coruña (ES) - Cherbourg (FR)

05 August - 21 August 2016

16 days, Gulden Leeuw

From € 850,-

Book this journey

International Exchange Tall Ships Races Sail Training

28: € 850,-
> 28: € 1425,-

Book this journey

Gulden Leeuw:
Lisbon (PT) - A Coruña (ES) - Cherbourg (FR)

05 August - 21 August 2016

Join the Gulden Leeuw for an EU Exchange “Erasmus+” Journey, open to trainees from the following countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Ireland and the UK. Besides sailtraining, you also will join an intercultural programme during the Tall Ships Races (second part of the Cruise in Company and afterwards sailing to France). The nautical theme of this European Union Erasmus+ voyage will be: “Set course for an united Europe”. Make new international friends, learn to handle the Ship. And work together with your fellow trainees and the crew while you discover the spectacular Portuguese, Spanish and French coast. It promises to be an epic journey inclusing 3 days of Sail A Coruña with crewparade, crewpary en a lot of games with other nationlities! For Windseekers age 15-28 years. If you like to join, please contact first: info@windseeker.org for available places.

Programme Outline

Experience the famous Tall Ship Races. Mingle with other cultures during the European Union international youth exchange organised on board. Party during the festivals in the host ports. The professional crew teaches you everything you want to know about sailing and the Tall Ship Gulden Leeuw. There is much to see and discover through the activities offered during the program. Meet people from all over the world. Learn how to sail a majestic Tall Ship. No sailing experience needed!

Step on board of the Gulden Leeuw on the 5th of August in Lisbon. Unpack your bags and start your discovery of the Ship immediately with your fellow Windseekers. Smell the salt in the air, hear the seagulls scream in the wind and start setting sails to ! There will be fellow Windseekers from Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Ireland and United Kingdom. You'll participate in the watch rotation, once a day and once a night. By the time you arrive in A Coruña you’ll be one big family!

After you reach A Coruña, the festival awaits: Open-air free concerts, city tours and parties. Challenge the Windseekers from other ships for a sport activity and walk in the Crew Parade, watched by thousands of spectators all through the city. Last but not least you can join the crew party. Everyone who took part in the race of TSR 2016 will be there, so get ready to compare notes with your fellow contestants.

Off to Cherbourg, France! Your journey ain't over yet. Become a skilled sailor by learning from the professional crew. Set and trim the sails, steer the ship, help the cook and do odd jobs on deck and below. At the end of your European Union International Youth Exchange, you and your team are a comfortable and skilled sailing team.

Ports

Lisbon has a long and varied history as a major trading hub, much of which is still visible in the old city centre. Discover Alfama, the old quarters with its many old alleys, steps and the Lisbon Cathedral. The famous tram line 28 will get you there – an experience in and of itself. And be sure to check out a fado concert if you want to learn about saudade – loss, yearning and comfort, all rolled into one. Emotions that all seafarers will get to know one way or the other…

A Coruña is a port town in the north west of Spain. Here you will find the Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse that has been in operation for 1.800 years! The town itself is an affluent commercial and tourism hub, with plenty of things to see and do. Visit the popular beaches, explore the city centre, or sample some of the many cultural activities. The Aquarium Finisterrae lets you explore the marine life of the region. But if you prefer your fish on a plate, A Coruña’s restaurants can help you out.

Situated on the Normandy coast, Cherbourg is located close to the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, and to a large nature park in the southeast. This makes Cherbourg perfect as a base for day trips. But the town itself also has plenty to offer! Visit the Cité de la Mer, a large museum devoted to scientific and historical aspects of maritime subjects, the Botanical Gardens, or the racetrack at La Glacerie. Or discover this typically French town on foot.

  • Lisbon (PT)

  • Cherbourg (FR)

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Sponsorship and costs

Your Life on Board covers 17 days, starting on 5 August and ending on the 21st of August 2016. The normal price for this voyage is €1425. If you're from one of the partnering EU countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Ireland, UK) and 15 - 28 years of age, you are eligible for the reduced price of € 850. Price excludes drinks at the bar and transportation to and from the Ship. After the Journey's conclusion you may be eligible for a partial refund of transfer costs.

This special project of 17 days is organized by Windseeker in coordination with partners in 8 different countries. The European Union provides partial funding through the "Erasmus+" programme. This programme promotes cultural exchanges between young European citizens. Erasmus+ covers a daily fee and hopefully a part of the traveling costs. This, combined with money from other funds, enables Windseeker to offer you this Journey at a reduced price.

Key points

  • Dates: 5 August 2016 - 21 August 2016
  • Embarkation: 16:00 / Disembarkation: 9:00
  • For Windseekers 15-25 years, age 26-28 at request
  • Participating countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and the UK
  • Windseekers joining: 56
  • No sailing experience required!
  • Official language on board: English
  • Price includes: accommodation and meals, excludes drinks at the bar
  • Price excludes transportation costs to-and from the ports. Our travel counsellor can advise you and book your transfers
  • One-off registration fee €25
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: sleeping bag, pillowcase, sheets and towels
  • Windseekers from the Netherlands need to become member of STAN
  • French Windseekers need to become member of Les Amis des Grands Voiliers

  • "The wind increased and when we took down some sails, I felt the adrenalin rush through my body."

    Max (17), Germany

You sail on the Gulden Leeuw

Shipping type: Topsail Schooner
Homeport: Kampen (NL)
Date built: 1937
Trainees: 60
Length: 70,1 m
Height of mast: 40 m
Sail: 1500 m2

The Gulden Leeuw is a three-masted topsail schooner, which means that you can climb the 40-metre mast to unpack the square sails. That’s approximately 12 stories high! But do not worry, you can start with the lowest yard. With 1500 …

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Windseeker logs

  • How to avoid and deal with seasickness

    – by Windseeker

    A lot of Windseekers mention the fear of seasickness as one of their biggest pre-journey anxieties. Most of us have been there, and lived to tell the tale. Today we come to you with a handful of advice on how …

    Read log

  • Almost ready for departure

    Oosterschelde

    Benicarlo, Spain

    – by crew

    We are finalizing our chores. Tomorrow we will get new stores on board and then we are ready for departure to Valencia. On Wednesday we will welcome our guests on board who will sail with us to Cape Verde. What’s …

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Photos

  • Trainee
  • Sørlandet
  • Sørlandet

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