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

Den Helder (NL) - Hartlepool (GB)

01 July - 08 July 2023

7 days, Gulden Leeuw

From € 875,-

Book this journey

International Exchange Tall Ships Races Sail Training

15-25: € 875,-
26-28 (at request): € 1015,-

Book this journey

Gulden Leeuw:
Den Helder (NL) - Hartlepool (GB)

01 July - 08 July 2023

International Exchange at The Tall Ships Races 2023: Race 1. New season, new adventure! Sail Gulden Leeuw in the Tall Ships Races and make lifelong memories. Get on board in Dutch Den Helder – a city with long maritime traditions – and sail across the North Sea to Hartlepool on the east coast of England. On board you will be responsible for running the Ship (under the guidance of the crew, of course!) Climb the masts, steer, navigate, learn to tie knots and trim the sails. Spend night watches getting to know your new friends and observing the stars in the middle of the sea. And in the day lay down in the net below the job to watch the waves and search for dolphins. Reach your destination and spend the last two days in port, participating in various events during Tall Ships Hartlepool. For young Windseekers aged 15-25, ages 26-28 at request.

The Tall Ships Races

Every year dozens of Tall Ships, as well as small ships and yachts gather for races and harbour events, which include Crew Parades, Crew Parties, competitions, concerts, fireworks and more. Every leg starts with Parade of Sail – a spectacular departure of all the Ships together, and ends with the last two days of the Journey spent in the destination port.

The Tall Ships Races 2023 will take the fleet across the North Sea 4 times! Starting in Den Helder, the Netherlands, the Ships will embark on Race 1 to Hartlepool in Great Britain. Race 2 will take them to Norwegian Fredrikstad, from where they will sail in Cruise in Company to Lerwick in the Shetlands. The final Race 3 will end back in Norway – this time in a charming town of Arendal.

Ports

Den Helder is a beautiful town in the Netherlands, situated at the very tip of the North Holland province, regularly hosting the Tall Ships events. Discover the town's sea connections by visiting the Marinemuseum and Nationaal Reddingmuseum Dorus Rijkers. Take a break and go for a walk in the botanical gardens Oranjerie De Groene Parel Den Helder or admire sea life in the Fort Kijkduin Museum and Aquarium.

Hartlepool is a British port on the east coast of the UK, with long traditions of maritime activity. In 2010, the town played host to the Tall Ships Races, receiving some 125 Tall Ships in its harbor. Once you're there, visit the nearby North York Moors national park, or relive the heyday of the British navy at the Maritime Experience. If you have come to like climbing the masts on board, there is a boulder park in Summerhill where you can reach for the top again!

  • Den Helder (NL)

  • Hartlepool (GB)

Key points

  • Dates: 1 July 2023 - 8 July 2023
  • Embarkation: 17:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers 15-25 years, age 26-28 at request
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 55
  • No sailing experience required!
  • Official language on board: English and Dutch
  • 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 bags and towels

  • "It was an absolute joy to steer for hours when the wind was blowing, and even when it was completely dead. I loved to see the sea, I loved the silence of the ocean."

    Barnabas (22), Hungary

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

  • The Sustainability of Sailing

    Windseeker, 23 February 2023

    – by Anna Gudarowska

    While sailing isn't immune to environmental impacts, we're setting a course for eco-conscious practices on board. In this exploration, we dive into the reasons why sailing and sustainability are intricately intertwined. From harnessing the wind's renewable energy to cultivating a …

    Read log
  • Trainees at the Vega Gamleby

    The most spectacular theatrical performance Mother Nature had to offer

    Vega Gamleby

    Gothenburg - Blyth - Gothenburg

    – by the Trainees

    Logbook trainees Vega Gamleby 2016 Gothenburg-Blyth-Gothenburg Part 3: 27-31 August   27-August-2016: Linda Today was one of the best days in my life. The whole crew played volleyball on the beach. Then be mice for the crew parade and we WON! Yeah! So now I will …

    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.