Header trainee

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

Aarhus (DK) - Harlingen (NL)

26 June - 05 July 2026

9 days, Excelsior

From € 1305,-

Book this journey

Tall Ships Races Sail Training

15-25: € 1305,-

Book this journey

Excelsior:
Aarhus (DK) - Harlingen (NL)

26 June - 05 July 2026

The Tall Ships Races 2026: Race 1. Set sail for an adventurous journey from Denmark to the Netherlands. Join Excelsior in Aarhus and leave the port in a Parade of Sail before embarking on an exciting race against an international fleet of large and small ships. Take the helm, work with sails, navigate, and set course for the win! Cross the finish line and make your way to Harlingen, where you will spend the last two days celebrating in port. Join the Crew Party, Crew Parade, games and competitions, and share your sea stories with trainees from all over the world!
Open to young Windseekers aged 15-25.
This journey will be open for bookings from the 1st of October 2025.

The Tall Ships Races 2026

Each year, a diverse fleet of tall ships, small ships, and yachts come together to champion Sail Training and build international friendships among young people. To ensure youth participation, at least half of the crew must be between 15 and 25 years old. The vessels take part in thrilling races and Cruise in Company legs, sailing between host ports and immersing themselves in lively harbour festivals along the way.

Every journey begins with a joyful sail-out in a stunning Parade of Sail, leading into several days at sea before concluding with two exciting days in the destination port. Here, trainees take part in a variety of events, from the Crew Parade and award ceremonies to the Crew Party, games, and competitions. Are you ready to set sail on this unforgettable adventure?

Ports

Aarhus is a port on the northeast coast of Jutland, Denmark. One of its main attractions is the open air museum Den Gamle By, where historical buildings from all over Denmark have been relocated. But the 13th century cathedral is also well worth a visit. Aarhus is a relaxed place with enough to see and do, and its city centre is a favourite with Tall Ship crews who visit the city regularly. West of the city you’ll find lakes and forests, perfect for a hike.

Harlingen is a trade and fishing port in Friesland, the Netherlands. The town itself is over a thousand years old, and you’ll find several historic streets in the old city centre. Its small size makes it easy to explore the town on foot. In 2022 Harlingen was a port of call for the Tall Ships Races. The town operates ferry lines to the Frisian Islands, a unique nature reserve with populations of seals, birds, and other wildlife. With its ‘gezellige’ pubs the town is a great place for a stopover.

  • Aarhus (DK)

  • Harlingen (NL)

Key points

  • Dates: 26 June 2026 - 5 July 2026
  • Embarkation: 17:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers age 15-25 years
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 12
  • 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
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: sleeping bag, pillowcase, and towels
  • "I have met new people, been up in the mast, seen indescribable sunsets and laughed a lot. Learning how to sail a ship has been the coolest thing I have done so far and I have confidence in what I do now."

    Annette (18), Denmark

You sail on the Excelsior

Shipping type: Traditional fishing smack
Homeport: Lowestoft (UK)
Date built: 1921
Trainees: 12
Length: 23,6 m
Height of mast:
Sail: 8-10 sails

Windseeker logs

  • Dolphins

    Pollenca

    Oosterschelde

    Pollenca, Spain

    – by Ship

    The harbour of Soller is situated beautifully in a small natural bay at the northern side of the island Mallorca. Directly after departure we set the sails and with a southwestern wind 4-5 Bft we sailed to the east side …

    Read log
  • Making Waves – Vega Gamleby Trainee Logbook

    Vega Gamleby, 15/07 to 04/08 2019

    Sweden

    – by Trainees

    Welcome to the logbook of the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange Plastic: An Issue without Borders, that took place in the summer of 2019, in Sweden, on board the beautiful and so very cozy sail training ship Vega Gamleby. What follows is …

    Read log

Photos

  • Dolphins
See more

OTHER JOURNEYS YOU MIGHT LIKE

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.