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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, Wylde Swan

From € 1125,-

Book this journey

International Exchange@sea Sail Training

15-25: € 1125,-

Book this journey

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

Wylde Swan:
Brest (FR) - Den Helder (NL)

15 July - 25 July 2027

Green Channel Sailing Exchange: Exchange at Sea with a mini-regatta.
Join the Wylde Swan for a journey alongside Morgenster, sailing from Brest in France to Den Helder in the Netherlands. Sail together with young people from other countries, learning to steer and navigate, climb the masts, and make knots. Live together with trainees from other countries, try different cuisines, listen (and dance!) to international music, and learn how to thrive in a multicultural environment, supported by Windseeker mentors. Participate in a plastic research with a marine educator from The Ocean Movement: collect water samples, analyse them for microplastics, make your own plastic-free cosmetics, and learn about marine wildlife. Along the way, you will also join a friendly competition, racing the other vessels for honor and glory! Follow it up with bbq together on shore and make even more new friends. Finally, you will reach Den Helder, where a maritime festival will be held with great events to celebrate the end of your adventure.
The theme for this journey was designed by the participants. You can still join and give your input into the final program!
Open to young Windseekers aged 15-25 from the following countries: Belgium, Estonia, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands. Luxembourg to be confirmed.

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 age 15-25 years
  • Participating countries: Belgium, Estonia, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands. Luxembourg to be confirmed.
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 34
  • 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), vegetarian, lactose-free, gluten-free, some (mild) allergies.
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: towels
  • You will sleep in a hammock/bunk in a shared area
  • "Discovering how far you can surpass yourself and push your limits out of your comfort zone."

    Agathe (26), France

You sail on the Wylde Swan

Pictured: Tall Ship Wylde Swan sailing
Shipping type: 2-masted topsail schooner
Homeport: Makkum (NL)
Date built: 1920
Trainees: 36
Length: 62 m
Height of mast: 43 m
Sail: 1130 m2

As a topsail schooner, Wylde Swan has impressive fore-and-aft sails, with a couple of additional square sails on the foremast. That makes the ship both fast and great for Sail Training activities! The crew are well-trained professional sailors and volunteers, whose …

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Windseeker logs

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    Race of the Classics

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    – by Officer Jet

    The Tecla is currently participating in the Race of the Classics for Young Professionals. This is a race that is organized every year in the autumn. Yesterday the 24 participating vessels left the Veerhaven in Rotterdam, sailing in parade they went …

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  • Arrival at Mindelo, Sao Vicente

    Europa

    Mindelo, Sao Vicente

    – by Windseeker Jules

    All the things to do: maintenance on board, going for a walk down town, having a beach day, taking a taxi around the island, exploring neighbouring islands by ferry, going out to eat and drink... A jolly good time it was …

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Photos

  • Dolphins
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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.