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

Brest (FR) - Den Helder (NL)

15 July - 25 July 2027

10 days, Oosterschelde

From € 1125,-

Book this journey

International Exchange@sea Sail Training

18-25: € 1125,-

Book this journey

No commitment yet – your booking becomes binding only after payment. Cancellation terms apply.

Oosterschelde:
Brest (FR) - Den Helder (NL)

15 July - 25 July 2027

WIND: Windseeker Intercultural Navigation & Discovery. Sail the Oosterschelde as part of the WIND challenge, which combines youth exchange with racing. Step on board in Brest, France, and set course for the Netherlands. Along the way, you will learn to sail a traditional tall ship, steering, navigating, and climbing the masts. As part of the trip you will join a race with three other vessels – a friendly, but challenging competition. Afterwards, you’ll get to enjoy activities on land and meet other trainees. Finally you will reach the maritime city Den Helder and join the Beachcombers’ Harbor Days 2026, participating in the events and celebrating the successful end of your journey.
Open to young Windseekers aged 18-25 from all nationalities.

Ports

Brest is a major French port on the Atlantic coast, historically of strategic importance. Much of the town was destroyed during World War II, but some historic landmarks remain. Today Brest is an important navy port, so expect to see war ships berthed in the harbor. Every four years, Brest hosts the international festival of the sea, boats and sailors, with many Tall Ships attending. South of Brest you will find national park d’Armorique, a tranquil reserve where you can escape from the city.

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.

  • Brest (FR)

  • Den Helder (NL)

Key points

  • Dates: 15 July 2027 - 25 July 2027
  • Embarkation: 20:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers of all ages, minimum age 18 years (age 15-18 at request)
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 22
  • 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
  • Available diets: regular (meat/omnivore), vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, mild allergies at request.
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: towels for swimming (regular towels available on board)

  • "As crew, there is nothing better then standing back and seeing the trainees do all the work - and do it perfectly!"

    Jet (31), Netherlands

You sail on the Oosterschelde

Oosterschelde
Shipping type: Three-masted topsail schooner
Homeport: Rotterdam (NL)
Date built: 1917
Trainees: 24
Length: 50 m
Height of mast: 36 m
Sail: 891 m2

An adventurous classic; stepping on board this monumental beauty is like stepping into another world. The atmosphere on board the Oosterschelde is one filled with history and adventure. The classical interior and brass polished details make you feel right at …

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Windseeker logs

  • 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

  • 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

Photos

  • Dolphins
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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.