For questions or advice:

+31 6 827 90 115

Mail us

Chat

set course for new horizons

Header trainee

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

Boulogne-sur-Mer (FR) - Brest (FR) - Saint-Nazaire (FR)

11 July - 25 July 2021

14 days, Thalassa

From € 925,-

Book this journey

Clean Circle Navigators Exchange@sea Powered by Erasmus+ Sail Training

Normal price: € 925,-

Book this journey

Thalassa:
Boulogne-sur-Mer (FR) - Brest (FR) - Saint-Nazaire (FR)

11 July - 25 July 2021

PDF this page

Bon Voyage, Plastic! Erasmus+ International Exchange for young people aged 15-25 (ages 26-28 at request) from: the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, France and Ireland. Discover the coast of France while sailing a Tall Ship with young people from different countries. Embark on a sea adventure and learn to sail a ship, conduct plastic research with marine biologist from By the Ocean we Unite and live with people from different cultures. Start your adventure with the Dinghy coaching program. Additional fees may apply due to the necessity of becoming a member of partner organisation of your country (up to EUR 50). The embarkation is at 21:00 but you are welcome to come by early to drop off your bags – the mentors will wait for you!

About the Journey

Join Thalassa for an adventurous journey in France! Visit beautiful places, learn to sail, study plastic pollution and make international friends. Step on board in Boulogne-sur-Mer and start getting to know the ship. The crew will explain everything and soon you will start to do more and more on your own: navigate the sea charts, steer the ship, climb the masts (voluntarily!) and trim the sails according to the wind. Before long you'll become confident in sailing Thalassa to her destination.

Participate in plastic research of the sea, led by a marine biologist from By the Ocean we Unite. Learn to collect water samples, analyse them for microplastics and record the results to be entered into a worldwide database. Learn about marine ecosystem in theory while searching the waves for dolphins and sea birds. Talk to your peers from other countries about solutions to everyday environmental problems in different places, and together come up with more ideas. Become a climate ambassador.

During your journey Thalassa will be home to young people from different countries. The mentors on board will help you to get to know each other, compare cultural similarities and gaining useful experience from your differences. Make international friends, share the most delicious foods from your country, take on fun challenges and find your place in a diverse group of young trainees. Improve your English and gain self-confidence while having fun in a completely unique environment!

No budget? No worries! The Windseeker Dinghy will help you get on board. The program, much more than just a fundraising training, is part of your preparation and included in the Exchanges. Raise money for your journey, supported by an experienced coach. Learn new things about yourself and gain life skills. It is also a great way to connect with other trainees. Let us know at booking if you’d like to take part. It's a good idea, really. Regardless of financial reasons. Join Dinghy and get going!

Ports

Boulogne-sur-Mer is an ancient port town in northern France. Visit the breathtaking Nausicaá, one of the largest aquariums in Europe – it’s a must-see! To hide from the sun go down to the mysterious Crypte de la Basilique Notre-Dame’s underground corridors and chambers. Emerge to take a stroll along the old Ville Fortifiée, see the 12th-century belfry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and afterwards head to the beach for a relaxing afternoon.

Saint-Nazaire is a major port town in the Loire River estuary in Brittany, France. You can explore its longstanding maritime traditions by visiting the Submarine Base and boarding the French Submarine Espadon. If you prefer to stay on the surface, visit Escal’ Atlantic where you will be brought back in time to the era of cruise liners. Afterwards take a stroll down Front de Mer – the waterfront, relax in a cafe with the view of the ocean and enjoy the summer breeze.

  • Boulogne-sur-Mer (FR)

Sponsorship and costs

Participants of this journey are enrolled into the Windseeker Dinghy Program for free in order to raise money for their own journey.

The subsidized price for this journey is EUR 925,- per trainee, instead of the regular price of EUR 1,780.

Windseekers from the Netherlands, Belgium and France need to become members of their countries' Sail Training Associations for a small fee (usually up to EUR 30).

Possible reimbursement of your travel costs to- and from the ports, pending a financial support from the Erasmus+ Program of the European Union. Reimbursement up to a certain amount (according to the rules of the Erasmus+ Program). Maximum possible reimbursement: the Netherlands EUR 275; Norway EUR 275; Belgium EUR 275; France EUR 180; Ireland EUR 275.

The reimbursement will take place several months after the journey and is conditional on Erasmus+ grant (to be confirmed).

Key points

  • Dates: 11 July 2021 - 25 July 2021
  • Embarkation: 21:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers 15-25 years, age 26-28 at request
  • Participating countries: the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, France and Ireland
  • 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 ports. Our travel counsellor can advise you and book your transfers. Windseeker can help to arrange traveling together with other trainees from your country
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Windseekers from the Netherlands, France and Belgium need to become members of their countries’ Sail Training Associations

VZR Garant

In order to meet its statutory obligation to provide a guarantee, Windseeker makes use of the guarantee scheme provided by VZR Garant. You can check that this is the case by visiting VZR Garant’s website and verifying that the organization is listed as a participant. VZR Garant’s guarantee applies within the limits of its Guarantee Scheme (which can be found on VZR Garant’s website. The Guarantee Scheme specifies the exact journey offering to which VZR Garant’s guarantee applies and what the guarantee entails. If services are not provided due to the financial insolvency of Windseeker you can contact VZR Garant, which has its offices at Torenallee 20, 5617 BC Eindhoven, Netherlands, by sending an email to info@vzr-garant.nl or calling +31 (0)85 13 07 630.

  • Agathe (26) France

    "Discovering how far you can surpass yourself and push your limits out of your comfort zone"

  • Lieven (23) Belgium

    "Setting sails: always fantastic."

  • Thea (20) Denmark

    "I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BOTH SAILING AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND THE SOCIAL LIFE WAS AMAZING"

You sail on theThalassa

Tall Ship Thalassa

Tall Ships

Thalassa

Race in style. The Baltic is the Thalassa's home ground, but this ship is more than capable to sail every imaginable sea. The 3-masted Tall Ship is super strong and seaworthy, and can sail up to 13 knots. In any …

Read more

Windseeker logs

  • Trainees at the Vega Gamleby

    It feels like we have been out for a lot longer than we actually have

    Vega Gamleby

    Gothenburg - Blyth - Gothenburg

    – by the Trainees

    Logbook trainees Vega Gamleby 2016 Gothenburg-Blyth-Gothenburg Part 2: 25-26 August   25- August-2016 Today we have learned what all the sails and ropes are called, and what they do. We also saw dolphins again and a whale for the first time. We are getting …

    Read log

  • Clean Circle Navigators 2019: plastic research

    – by Maarten Erich, Science Coordinator of By The Ocean We Unite
    & Anna Gudarowska, Windseeker

    In 2019 Windseeker teamed up with By the Ocean we Unite for the first time. In the summer 148 Windseekers took part in the first Sustainable Sailing journeys (now: Clean Circle Navigators) on four Tall Ships. The young trainees have …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainee
  • Sørlandet
  • Sørlandet

OTHER JOURNEYS YOU MIGHT LIKE