Eye of the Wind

Over 100 years old and one of the last traditional brigantines of her time, Eye of the Wind is still sailing her guests all over the world. From her home port in the Netherlands to the coasts of the Baltic Sea, France and over to the Caribbean, she offers a range of voyages from taster sailing experiences to tall ship regattas to longer offshore passages. You can get as involved as you’d like aboard, from taking the helm to hoisting the sails under the watchful eye of her professional crew.

Accommodation

Guest berths: 12
Cabin Configuration: 6x twin ensuite cabins
Bathrooms: 7
Smoking Policy: No Smoking

Particulars

Port of Registration: Rotterdam
Year built: 1911
Length overall: 40m / 132'
Draft: 3m / 9'
Sail area: 750m² / 8000′²
Number of Sails: 12
Rig: Brig
Crew: 10

View sailing schedule & book

Description

Eye of the Wind is a 1911 brig, which is why it has been featured in several movies, including White Squall. She offers hands-on sailing holidays while cruising some of the most stunning locations in the world. Although the ship has a large and capable engine, traditional sailing is naturally the preferred mode of travel, providing an authentic and immersive sailing experience.

Eye of the Wind is a magnificent ship that combines an impressive amount of original character with modern amenities. The ship’s interior features teak maritime décor, which adds to its authentic and charming appeal. The ship is steeped in maritime history, and just the opportunity to sail on it is an experience of a lifetime.

The crew is extremely experienced, friendly, and welcoming. They are always ready to teach you the workings of a classic tall ship, so no prior knowledge is necessary. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or just looking for a unique vacation experience, Eye of the Wind provides an unforgettable adventure and an excellent opportunity to explore the world’s most stunning locations in style and comfort.

With six spacious cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms, Eye of the Wind can sleep a total of 12 guests, ensuring that voyages can be travelled in true comfort. The ship has a large dining area, library, and sun deck, offering many spaces to unwind and get to know your fellow guests and crew. The ship has a large dining area, library, and sun deck, offering many spaces to unwind and get to know your fellow guests and crew.

Berths on board

Single berth in shared Twin Cabin Ensuite: Two single bunk berths and an ensuite.

Twin Cabin Ensuite (solo occupancy): Private cabin for one person. Two single bunk berths, and an ensuite.

Life onboard

From great food and sunbathing on deck to the studying of nautical charts and hoisting of sails, here’s what to expect from a holiday on board Eye of the Wind, a traditional Windjammer.

Sailing with Eye of the Wind is an experience that will sit close to your heart as you learn the ways of traditional, authentic sailing and explore breathtaking destinations. Sailing with such a historic vessel is a wonderful privilege ,and the pride that the crew have for working with such a vessel is truly inspiring.

Getting Involved

With her impressive red sails and traditional square rig, guests are actively encouraged to get involved with all aspects of sailing on Eye of the Wind. Although this is not mandatory, we believe that immersing yourself in the sailing of such a vessel is certainly part of the experience. The crew are friendly, professional multi-nationals, who are well-versed in showing guests the ropes, so you don’t need any experience to climb aboard her voyages.

There is no expectation to get involved with sailing this magnificent vessel, but guests are encouraged to take part in sail hoisting, navigation and taking the helm. A good sense of humour and a sense of adventure are a must, and if guests just want to sit back and relax with the harmony of the sails, that’s fine too!

A Typical Day

Most of Eye of the Wind’s voyages are designed to sail by day to explore new destinations and spend the nights in harbour or on a sheltered anchorage. The day-to-day itinerary is not set in stone so the Captain can make the best use of the weather and winds. Once you board, a rough plan for the week will be explained, and some basic sail functions explained too!

The day is a good balance of authentic traditional sailing with time to explore secluded bays, different cultures, cuisines and history ashore. Down-time is as encouraged as hands-on sailing, with air-conditioned bunks, comfortable lounges and a sun-drenched deck, ensuring that there are plenty of spaces to relax on board.

Sleeping and Relaxation

Thanks to the six spacious cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms, Eye of the Wind can sleep a total of 12 guests, ensuring voyages can be travelled in true comfort. A large dining area sits with the galley at deck level, offering 360-degree views of the horizon. A library and cosy saloon sit below decks – the perfect place for relaxation and sharing sea-faring tales after a day at sea.

Above decks, there’s cushioned bench seating, sun decks and a multitude of different spaces to unwind. Out at sea, you have time for yourself and time to get to know the ship as a place of rest, where you can leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind you. Stress has no place on the ocean, and you will find yourself unwinding in harmony with the wind and the sea on board Eye of the Wind

Dining Aboard

Sailing on the high seas is hungry work, and your appetite will be easily satisfied by our excellent on-board kitchen. From morning till evening, the chef will surprise you with varied recipes from his gourmet cookbook. Depending on the sailing season, local food and ingredients often end up in the cooking pot or on the plate. From a continental breakfast to lunch served either at anchor or underway. Dinner and drinks are normally served at around 7 pm as you relax with your fellow guests and crew.

Meet the crew of EYE OF THE WIND

One of Eye of the Wind’s most distinguished features is its international crew. They are friendly and courteous and possess unparalleled experience and expertise in their respective fields of work. The captain and the crew treat the safety and well-being of guests as their topmost priority.

The crew includes three captains who follow a rotation schedule, a first mate, a skilled mechanic, boat engineers, and various deckhands. The designated ship’s cook is responsible for preparing fresh and delicious food.

With such a competent and professional team on board, guests of Eye of the Wind can embark on their journey with complete peace of mind, knowing that they are in safe hands.

The history

Built in 1911 as a topsail schooner, the ship now known as the “Eye of the Wind” was once named “Friedrich”, built by C Lühring of Brake, West Germany.

Eye of the Wind was originally intended to work in the South American hide trade when she was built in 1911. Twelve years later, in 1923, her name was changed to “Merry” after being sold to a Swedish buyer, and for the next 50 years, the ship carried general cargo throughout the Baltic and North Seas, and during the summer, she was used as a fishing boat off the coast of Iceland. 1926 saw the Eye of the Wind have her first engine installed, and in the following years, under Swedish ownership, various alterations were made to transform her into more of a ketch.

In 1969, the ship was almost destroyed when a fire broke out in the engine room. It became unlikely that she would ever sail again; however, at around this time, a group of classic ship enthusiasts was trying to find a traditional hull for rebuilding. In 1973, they bought what was left of the Eye of the Wind and began restoration work.

The parts destroyed in the fire had to be rebuilt entirely and replaced, and the older metals that had been warped by the fire were replaced with stronger, more sturdy metal, and more modern navigation and electrical systems were fitted. The ship was then brought to England for further reconstruction, where she began to evolve into a brigantine, with new accommodation built below deck, mostly made out of recycled materials – the deck once used to be a dance floor!

It was in England that the ship’s name was eventually changed to the Eye of the Wind, and the owners decided that the first voyage of the ship would be a circumnavigation of the globe, which was completed in 1978, ending in Plymouth, England. After this, Eye of the Wind became the flagship of a two-year scientific expedition, before appearing in several feature films. More recently, she has appeared in an Australian film, Desperate Fortune, which told the story of the great British navigator Matthew Flinders. In early 1990, Eye of the Wind sailed the Southern Ocean, participating in the celebration of 200 years of settlement on Pitcairn Island by the descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers.

On October 7 1991, Eye of the Wind began her biggest adventure and sailed eastward across the Great Southern Ocean, heading for Cape Horn. At 09.43 on December 10, 1991, the ship rounded Cape Horn and sailed northward to Lisbon to join the Columbus Grand Regatta. In company with the largest fleet of Tall Ships this century, she sailed to the Americas and back to England, culminating in a grand 11-month voyage.

She is now owned by a private German publishing house and offers guests year-round sailing holidays all over the world.

Reviews

FAQs

Are all meals included?
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, hot and soft drinks are included in your ticket price.
Can you cater for dietary needs?
Yes, please let us know when making your booking.
Are there any added extras?
There's an honesty bar for alcohol.
What are the sleeping arrangements?
There are 6 twin bunk, ensuite cabins.
Is there a porthole in my cabin?
Yes, there are ventilation hatches.
How many toilet/showers does she have?
Eye of the Wind has an ensuite shower and toilet in each cabin.
Are bedding and towels included?
All bedding and a towel is included but please bring your own swim towels (if needed). Micro-fibres are a great lightweight, quick-drying alternative.
Is there a hairdryer on board?
No, we would prefer you let your hair dry naturally in the sea breeze!
Will I be able to wash my clothes?
No, Eye of the Wind does not laundry on board.
What language is spoken on board?
English and German
Is there heating/air conditioning?
Yes, Eye of the Wind has air con/heating in each cabin.
Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!
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. Please make sure you have international roaming set up on your data plan.
Can I charge my phone/camera?
Yes, there are European 230 volt power outlets in each cabin so please bring an adaptor.
What is the currency on board?
It will be the local currency depending on the voyage destination.
Are there life jackets provided?
Yes.
How do I get on and off the boat?
Eye of the Wind is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy and climbing up the boats step ladder over the gunwale - there will always be a crew member to steady.
Are Waterproofs provided?
No, please bring your own.
Do I need sailing experience?
Not at all. We give everyone who joins us on board the choice to do as much or as little as they like.
Does the boat have any water toys/fishing lines?
There is fishing gear on board, which is usually used by our chefs. If interested, this can certainly be used in consultation with the cook on board.
Will I be seasick?
Everyone reacts differently but if you are unsure, we recommend taking tablets up to 24 hours travelling.
Is there an age limit?
No! Please double check for under 8's.