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

Helsinki (FI) - Dunkirk (FR)

25 June - 06 July 2025

11 days, Valborg

From € 1390,-

Book this journey

Sail Training

Regular: € 1390,-

Book this journey

Valborg:
Helsinki (FI) - Dunkirk (FR)

25 June - 06 July 2025

Delivery to The Tall Ships Races 2025. Join Valborg for an extraordinary voyage from Helsinki to Dunkirk, France, where the Tall Ships Races will begin. Sail across the Baltic Sea, experiencing both day and night sailing in rotating watches. Learn essential seamanship skills—steering, navigation, and sail handling—as you cross the open waters and embrace the digital detox that comes with life at sea. Along the way, unwind with a traditional Finnish sauna onboard, and take a refreshing dip in the Baltic waters. Cross the Kiel Canal and visit Cuxhaven on Germany’s North Sea coast, before continuing to along the coast of the Netherlands and Belgium towards France. In Dunkirk, you’ll be part of the vibrant Tall Ships Races 2025 festivities, mooring alongside an international fleet of tall ships. Soak in the excitement of port activities before disembarking—or stay onboard to join the start of Race 1!
Open to all Windseekers aged 15+

Ports

Helsinki is the capital city of Finland with a population of about 600,000 people. It has been established in 1550. Take a ferry to visit the Fortress of Suomenlinna or the Seurasaari Island and Open-Air Museum. If you prefer to stay on the mainland you can't miss the Rock Church - literally built into rocks. Other attractions include the Esplanadi Park, Hakaniemi Market and lots of museum. Fans of architecture cannot miss the Finnish National Theater and the Lutheran Chathedral.

Dunkirk is the northernmost city in France and one if its biggest harbours. It lies very close to the Belgian border and dates back to middle ages when it was a fishing village. Dunkirk's maritime heritage is clearly visible, and celebrated. You can visit the Port Museum (Musée Portuaire), climb to the top of Le Beffroi de Saint-Eloi for unforgettable views or relax in one of the multiple seafront cafes and bars.

  • Helsinki (FI)

Key points

  • Dates: 25 June 2025 - 6 July 2025
  • Embarkation: 17:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers of all ages, minimum age 15 years
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 24
  • 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: bottom sheet, sleeping bag, pillow & pillowcase, towels
  • "Discovering how far you can surpass yourself and push your limits out of your comfort zone."

    Agathe (26), France

You sail on the Valborg

Shipping type: 2-masted galeas
Homeport: Helsinki
Date built: 1948
Trainees:
Length: 36 m
Height of mast: 20 m
Sail: 360 m2

Nowadays Valborg serves as a Sail Training vessel, participating in events like the Tall Ships Races and offering charter trips to companies and private groups to finance the Races. During winter Valborg stays in water (and ice), and serves as …

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Windseeker logs

  • We Learned How to Work Together While Setting Sails

    Gulden Leeuw, July 2018

    Sunderland-Esbjerg

    – by Ola

    My name is Ola. I’m 15 years old and I come from Poland. It was a big pleasure for me to be a part of The Tall Ships Races 2018 on the Leg from Sunderland (England) to Esbjerg (Denmark). I …

    Read log
  • Sailing back to Ushuaia

    Anne-Margeretha

    Antartica – Ushuaia

    – by Sally

    We had a great sail to Ushuaia, tacking all the way, Anne-Margaretha, well-heeled over and really showing off. Around the halfway point Heinz called the crew up and down came the fok and up went the storm fok. This added …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainee
  • Sørlandet
  • Sørlandet

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.