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Pilgrim Life on Board
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Mile Building Taster from Cornwall to Devon

Vessel:
Where: Cornwall/Devon
Duration: 0 days / nights
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This voyage is fully crewed. Check out our voyage finder to see what else we have available.

Join Pilgrim of Brixham for a mile building sailing experience as she sails from Falmouth, Cornwall to Brixham, Devon.

Join Pilgrim of Brixham in the port of Falmouth, Cornwall for a short mile builder introduction. A great way to get a experience open water coastal sailing as Pilgrim sails from to Falmouth along the Devon the coast to Brixham.

This voyage is perfect for those looking to spend longer hours under sail getting to grips with the lulls of ocean sailing while onboard a traditionally rigged heritage vessel. Some sailing experience for joining this delivery trip is required.

  • Coastal sailing
  • Mile builder
  • Great for adventurers & solo travellers
  • Traditional wooden boat
  • Hands-on Experience
  • Experienced sailors only
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Need some help?
Talk to the team

Telephone: +44 (0)1872 487288
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 7804 472592

your Sailing Area

Cornwall and Devon

Become part of Pilgrim’s crew as you sail the coast from Devon to Cornwall. This mile building taster is perfect for those looking to spend some longer hours under sail that have some previous sailing experience and are looking to improve their skills.

This voyage is aimed specifically at experienced sailors who want to try their hand at heritage sailing and are willing to muck in as part of the Crew.  It’s an opportunity to build sailing miles and to understand and appreciate how heavy gaff rigged vessels are handled. It may involve night passages and heavy weather sailing. This trip is not for novices or the inexperienced and we are happy to record sea miles  in your log book. You’ll also be expected to participate with all crew activities. Food will be provided but everyone will work together to prepare it and clear up.

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Continue East, you’ll notice the idyllic-looking headland of the Roseland, with its golden sand beaches, crystal clear waters and rolling meadows.

Pass Slapton Sands and Salcombe and then past magnificent Berry Head. This dramatic limestone headland is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty and is home to a sea bird colony of guillemots, black-legged kittiwakes, Kestrels and gulls. We are often accompanied by dolphins or porpoises here, so make sure you are up on deck with your camera to get some great shots of the amazing sea life.

Your final destination is the home of Pilgrim herself – Brixham. A picture postcard fishing town with colour-washed fisherman’s cottages rising up around the old harbour, make sure you leave enough time to really appreciate this sweet town.  Brixham is also home to a number of other heritage vessels and classic sailing boats and fishing trawlers.

Travel insurance notes

As this is an active adventure holiday, we advise that everyone has the appropriate personal accident travel insurance whilst onboard in addition to standard travel insurance which would cover you in the time between making your booking and departing for your adventure. These policies can sometimes be combined so please check with your travel insurance provider.

Please read more information on our Insurance guidelines page.

This voyage will be more than 12miles offshore.

Life on Board

Sailing with Pilgrim of Brixham is perfect for all types of traveller – from solo adventurers to couples and families, her crew are well versed in adapting the sailing to suit guests. From over-night sailing that are great for beginners to longer passages across the English Channel, sailing with Pilgrim of Brixham is certainly to suited to all capabilities.

Getting involved

Pilgrim of Brixham is rigged to sail with up to seven red sails, and is very much a hands-on sailing experience. Learn some simple navigation, help to berth alongside and of course hoist those iconic red sails. Those with experience will especially enjoy and appreciate the scale of Pilgrim of Brixham’s rig and seeing how these big old vessels perform under sail. You can even take the helm – but don’t panic, you’ll always be doing things under the watchful eye of your skipper.


Pilgrim interior saloon

Hoisting sails on Pilgrim of Brixham - Ian Kippax

Sleeping and Relaxation

Pilgrim of Brixham’s voyages are all-inclusive so all meals; breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks are included in the ticket price. On these mile builder voyages, cooking will be a team effort with everyone getting involved – there will be no dedicated cook but the volunteers trust will provide all food and a meal plan!

Above decks with her traditional rig and impressive tiller, there is plenty of space to sit back, relax and enjoy the maritime views. Below decks has been recently renovated with a modern wet room and sleeping quarters split into a communal six berth as part of the saloon and a communal four berth cabin sitting adjacent to the saloon.

Read more about what to expect from Life on board Pilgrim of Brixham here.

What’s included

  • All inclusive (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks. Soft/hot drinks)
  • Duvet and bedding
  • Full crew plus tuition
  • Marina and fuel fees
  • All tender trips to and fro the boat
  • Lifejacket

What’s not included

  • Towels
  • Waterproofs
  • Alcohol
  • Any flights
  • Transit hotels
  • Travel to and from the boat on the day of joining/leaving
  • Travel insurance
  • Sailing Insurance (Please read our Sailing Insurance page for more information)
  • Crew tips
  • Personal expenses

From: Falmouth

To: Brixham, Town Pontoons

Getting There

Falmouth, Cornwall

Harbour allocation won’t be known until closer to the date of departure. You’ll be sent the exact berth location and any marina gate codes a few days before. Falmouth isn’t a huge town and all marina’s are within walking distance from one another.

PARKING:

You can leave your car at any of the Long Stay car parks with a weekly or overnight ticket. You can pay using the JustPark app on your phone which can be easier. Try Church Street TR11 3RQ or The Dell TR11 3HP.

BY RAIL:

There are direct trains with Great Western Railway to Truro from Plymouth, Exeter St Davids, Cardiff Central and London Paddington. Once at Truro station you will need to change onto the Maritime line to Falmouth Docks. Port Pendennis Marina is a 5-10 minute walk from Falmouth Docks station.

STAY IN FALMOUTH:

There are plenty of places to stay in Falmouth. Try The Red House Guest House, The Lerryn Hotel or The Falmouth Hotel.

Getting Home

Brixham, Devon
BY RAIL:

Brixham’s closest train station is Paignton. There are direct trains with Great Western Railway to Paignton from Exmouth and London Paddington. Once in Paignton take a taxi or bus to Brixham.

BY AIR:

Fly direct into Exeter Airport for Brixham, then it’s a 40 minute taxi ride to Brixham.

STAY IN BRIXHAM:

There are plenty of places to stay in Brixham. Try Sea Tang Guest House, Berry Head Hotel or Harbour View.

Pilgrim of Brixham

Guest berths: 10 Rig: Gaff Rigged Ketch

Pilgrim and her iconic red sails were once part of a large fishing fleet operating out of Brixham, which was the country’s principal fishing port. Her survival is a testament to her quality, with many similar Victorian fishing vessels having a life span of less than 20 years. The main reason for her survival is funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the South Devon Coastal Local Action Group, and many individual donors and volunteers.

She offers a range of voyages to suit all abilities. Overnight and weekend taster sails along the Devon coast are great for those wanting a hands-on introduction to classic sailing. Exhilarating adventures across to the Channel Islands or the Isles of Scilly are perfect for those looking to expand their sailing adventures. If you want a little maritime history and traditional sailing combined with some onshore merriment, Pilgrim also takes part in a whole host of festivals and regattas.

Join Pilgrim on voyages as she explores the coasts of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the Channel Islands and France.

The Pilgrim Story

After spending many years under different owners in Scandinavia, she was brought back to Brixham from Denmark in 1999. After significant restoration work, a few mishaps along the way and a hefty dose of community spirit, Pilgrim was returned to her former glory above decks and brought up to modern standards below.

Today, as a charter vessel, the Brixham community still rallies around Pilgrim, with local crew and experienced, skilled volunteers performing maintenance and keeping Pilgrim of Brixham running like clockwork. VentureSail is incredibly proud to have a hand in getting people aboard this historic vessel to not only experience how magnificently she sails, but also to see how passionate those who sail her are.

More about Pilgrim of Brixham

Are meals included?

Yes - meals will be as locally sourced as possible and freshly prepared. Food is often a real hit on Pilgrim.

Can you cater for dietary needs?

Mostly, but please let us know before booking if you have any special needs.

Are there any added extras?

There's an honesty bar for soft drinks and alcohol.

What are the sleeping arrangements?

There are 6 berths in the main saloon, with 4 in a cabin at the front of the ship, and 4 at the back (these are usually crew bunks)

Is there a porthole in my berth?

There are deck hatches throughout the saloon and fore cabin.

How many toilet/showers does she have?

Two for guests.

Are bedding and towels provided?

All bedding is provided but please bring your own towels. Micro-fibres are a great lightweight, quick-drying alternative.

Is there a hairdryer on board?

No, please do not bring one. The sea breeze makes a great natural alternative!

Will I be able to wash my clothes?

No, Pilgrim does not have laundry on board.

Is there heating onboard?

Yes.

Do I need to tip the crew?

Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

What language is spoken on board?

English

Is there WIFI?

No! It's time to disconnect from the modern tech and reconnect with nature! When within shore range, you should be able to reach 4/5G.

Can I charge my phone/camera?

Yes, we have UK 3 pin mains sockets onboard. We also have a few USB sockets for charging phones.

What is the currency on board?

GBP - pounds sterling

Are there life jackets provided?

Yes.

How do I get on and off the boat?

Pilgrim is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy and climbing up and over the gunwale - there will always be a crew member to steady.

Are waterproofs provided?

There are some for emergencies but please bring your own.

Do I need to be a seasoned sailor?

Only on mile builder voyages! On normal voyages - not at all. We give everyone who joins us on board the choice to do as much or as little as they like, whether they know how to or not.

Does the boat have any water toys?

No.

Will I be sea sick?

Everyone reacts differently but we recommend if you are at all worried to take some medication 24 hours before departure.

Is there an age limit?

Standard policy is no under 8's but please check for private charter.

There are currently no voyages scheduled. Please get in touch with the VentureSail team to find out what’s available, or if other upcoming voyages might be suitable.
Call us in the Office on 01872 487288 or email [email protected], and we will be happy to help you find your next adventure!

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