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set course for new horizons

Header trainee

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, Wylde Swan

From € 895,-

Book this journey

International Exchange Tall Ships Races Sail Training

15-25: € 895,-
26-28 (at request): € 1150,-

Book this journey

Wylde Swan:
Den Helder (NL) - Hartlepool (GB)

01 July - 08 July 2023

*Last 2 places available* International Exchange at The Tall Ships Races 2023: Race 1. Step on board the Wylde Swan and let yourself be swept into an adventure! Find your Ship moored in Den Helder during a maritime festival and get on board to meet your crew mates. Leave the harbour next morning in a Parade of Sail watched by thousands from the land, before embarking on an exciting race across the North Sea! Learn to sail a Tall Ship together with other trainees, from pulling the ropes to steering. Enjoy the freedom of being out on the open sea, surrounded by nothing but waves and sky. Look at the stars at night, and sing shanties by day. Make your way to Hartlepool with a couple of days to spare – spend them participating in port activities, getting to know trainees from other Ships and exchanging your stories from the high seas! Open to Windseekers aged 15-25 (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
  • 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: sleeping bag, pillowcase, sheets and towels

  • "I learned that I could do things that I could have never done before."

    Christopher (16), England

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

  • Ship

    Absolutely Awesome Day

    Europa

    Southern Atlantic Ocean

    – by Annie van Haaren

    Today was absolutely awesome. Waking from a good 7 hour sleep to breakfast, first time in 5 days as I had been sleeping right through it when on the dog watch. We had watch from 8 am till 12 midday. …

    Read log

  • Arrival Kristiansand

    Vega Gamleby

    Skarhamn - Kristiansand - Aalborg

    – by Jeroen (18) and Anouk (16)

    Jeroen After being the most seasick person on the whole boat, today I felt better again! So happy with this, had a lot of fun in my watch. This watch we got the chance to climb in the mast. First I …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainees
  • Trainee

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.