Price
£890
Nights
Eight
Age range
18-80
Start port
Plymouth
End port
Belfast
Passport
Yes
DofE
Yes
RYA
Competent Crew
Voyage code
CF680
Bursary
Available
Voyage highlights
This nine-day voyage from Plymouth to Belfast is not for the faint hearted! Previous sailing experience is preferred, but not essential. All you need is a thirst for adventure and a can-do attitude for physical and mental challenges.
Throughout the voyage you’ll cover approximately 500 nautical miles, making this a great opportunity to build up your sea miles and expand your sailing experience.
Our Challengers are 72ft long, made of steel, and were designed for heavy weather. Built in 2000 they have raced twice round the world in the Global Challenge races against prevailing winds and tides (often referred to as ‘the wrong way’).
Our Challengers are the perfect vessel for this type of voyage and will make it a unique and memorable experience! Onboard, you’ll meet like-minded individuals, aged from 18 to 80, who you’ll quickly bond with to form one crew.
Plus, you’ll be supporting our life-changing youth development work. Proceeds from our adult voyages support our charity’s vital work with young people aged 12-25.
The journey from Plymouth will take you round Land’s End and north through the Irish Sea, concluding in the historic maritime city of Belfast.
At the start of the outward leg, you’ll journey past the stunning Cornish and Jurassic coasts.
Likely stopovers include Falmouth on the Cornish Coast, Holyhead, a major Irish Sea port in Wales and the Isle of Man, affectionately referred to as the ‘jewel of the Irish Sea’.
On a clear day, you could also spot several picturesque lighthouses including Bishop Rock in the Isles of Scilly, Eddystone in Cornwall and Hook Lighthouse in County Wexford, Ireland — the oldest operational lighthouse in the world!
New skills. Increased confidence. Self-esteem. New friendships. Lifelong memories!
There will be plenty of photograph opportunities to ensure your memories are lifelong, so be sure to pack your camera! In addition to the stunning landscapes, you may also spot marine wildlife such as, dolphins, seals and fin whales.
Throughout the week, you’ll experience steering the yacht, night sailing, sail handling, ropework as well as learning how to keep safe onboard.
We divide the crew into two teams (watches) – traditionally, known as Port and Starboard. In your watches, you’ll take it in turns to be involved in all aspects of sailing the Challenger from deck work to cooking and cleaning.
You’ll also experience sailing ‘out of sight of land’ — a great opportunity to escape from it all and to build your confidence as a sailor.
You’ll hopefully get the chance to complete the RYA Competent Crew course while you’re onboard.
The cost of your RYA certificate is included in the price.
RYA logbooks are available for purchase onboard at a cost of £6 (Skippers are only able to take cash for this).
The Skipper will determine the route depending on weather and conditions.
There’s a possibility you could be recommended by the Skipper to come back and volunteer as a Watch Assistant or Watch Leader for future Tall Ships Youth Trust voyages.
Meals onboard are included.
All voyages of four nights or more qualify for the residential section of the DofE Gold award. Please let our Reservations Team know before sailing if you want to use the voyage for this.
You’ll be asked to enter your passport details as part of the booking process. If you don’t have these to hand, please contact us as soon as possible after submitting your booking form to let us know your details, as we cannot accept your booking without this information.
You will also need to present your valid passport to the Skipper at the start of the voyage.
