Valiente
Accommodation
- Number of guest berths: 12
- Number of bathrooms: 4
- Cabin configuration: 3x double cabins, 1x twin bunk cabin, 1 x quad bunk cabin
- Smoking policy: No smoking
Particulars
- Port of Registration: Cayman Islands
- Year built: 2010
- Length overall: 70' / 21m
- Draft: 3.8m
- Beam: 5.85m
- Number of Sails: 3
- Rig: Sloop
- Crew: 2
From week-long adventures in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to offshore Barents Sea crossings and ski & sail voyages in Norway, sailing with Valiente requires no prior experience. It is perfect for adventurous souls of all ages.
Joining Valiente will see you becoming an active member of the crew, taking part in all aspects of sailing. From the day-to-day running of the boat, winching sails and taking the helm to cooking up meals with your fellow guests, the crew of Valiente will be on hand to guide you at all times.
Tough on the outside, soft on the inside. With her steel hull made to withstand icy waters, below decks is a welcome contrast. Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat, so you’ll be wonderfully cosy! The saloon and well-equipped galley are set midships with 360° windows at deck level with plenty of storage space.
All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. The cabins are a mix of double beds and twin bunks, but cabins are not allocated until all guests are on board, so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and right facilities for their needs!
The Arctic sailing grounds are a vulnerable area increasingly under pressure from climate change. The owners of Valiente are committed to protecting the environment as much as possible and believe that small boats with fewer people are considerably less harmful to the environment and local wildlife than larger cruise ships.
Getting Involved
You don’t need any experience to join Valiente’s expedition sailing holidays, just a love for the natural world and a real sense of adventure. Sailing with Valiente is a real hands-on, humbling experience as you work with the crew and fellow guests to navigate the Arctic wilderness together. Get stuck into all aspects of life on board, from taking the helm, setting & trimming the sails, basic sail theory and domestic duties.
The skipper and first mate (co-skipper), plus a dedicated guide for Svalbard sailing voyages, will be on board for the duration of Valiente’s sailing holidays. Along the way, preferably by sailing but sometimes under motor, all guests are included in the sailing experience.
The physical sailing of Valiente is relatively straightforward, so she’s a great boat to learn on if you haven’t sailed before. Her simple rig has three sails: the main, genoa and jib, all working off a winch system. The wheelhouse is set at deck level, with a modern navigation system. You can take the helm and work with the skipper to keep your course. The crew who sail in these waters are highly skilled, resourceful, and calm, and they are always on hand to guide guests.
The boat works on a relaxed watch system, usually 4 hours on and 8 hours off. This gives guests a real chance to have some focused sailing time, while also having time to just be. To sit, watch the world go by, relax, nap, read a book in your cabin, play cards in the saloon, or simply sit at the bows, watching and reflecting as the world glides by. If Valiente spends time on anchor, the watch system will run overnight, but with all guests and crew participating, you wouldn’t be on watch on consecutive nights.
There is always a thorough safety briefing and introduction once guests have settled onboard, followed by a “man overboard” procedure (don’t worry – this is a fender, not a real person!) and a fire safety drill.
Sleeping and Relaxation
Central heating runs continuously throughout the boat (there’s even heated towel rails in all bathrooms and a heater in the wheelhouse), so there she is wonderfully cosy! The spacious saloon and galley are set midships with 360-degree windows at deck level – perfect for cooking with a view. The galley is really well equipped with an induction hob, two domestic ovens, two fridge drawers and plenty of storage space. All cabins have heating, comfy beds, thick duvets and wool blankets. The cabins are a mix of double beds and twin bunks, but cabins are not allocated until all guests are on board, so that everyone is matched with the right size bed and proper facilities for their needs!
There are full-size domestic showers with plenty of hot water, although, as with all sailing experiences, guests are asked to be respectful with their water consumption. A small bath towel is provided per person, but you’ll need to bring an extra hand towel or swim towel if you wish.
Eating Aboard
Aside from setting the sails and taking the helm, the next most important aspect of Arctic sailing on Valiente is definitely the food! Once you’ve boarded the boat, a crew member will split all guests into pairs, who are then divided over a rota for breakfast, lunch and dinner duties. With an average of 10 people on board, you’ll normally end up doing one of each service over a week’s voyage.
If you’re not much of a cook, fear not! There will be a menu plan for the whole voyage, with all provisions on board. The menu plan is entirely flexible depending on the day’s plan— maybe you catch a fish, or perhaps the more confident cooks want to experiment a little! Alongside the menu plan, there is a correlating recipe book, especially made with ingredients, quantities and cooking methods to match the meal plan. Cooking on board is an integral part of how a sailing ship operates. A hearty feed after a sailing adventure, a chance to bring everyone together, for confidence to grow, and cultural culinary tips to be shared.
Valiente’s crew works on a rotation basis with its sister ships. She always sails with a knowledgeable and qualified skipper and a first mate. Valiente is part of the Seil Norge fleet, and they pride themselves on their training programme and crew retention.
The Wonders of Arctic Svalbard: Sailing Expedition
The Wonders of Arctic Svalbard: Sailing Expedition
Arctic Adventure Sailing from Svalbard to Greenland & Iceland
Expedition Sailing from Iceland to Greenland
Norwegian sailing adventure: Bergen to Ålesund
Coastal and Fjord Sailing in Norway: Ålesund to Trondheim
Whale watching & Northern Lights Sailing Holiday in Norway
Sailing the Barents Sea: Tromsø to Svalbard
Arctic Adventure Sailing from Svalbard to Greenland & Iceland
Adventure Sailing in Greenland: Iceland to the Arctic South Coast
South Greenland Sailing Expedition: Fjords, Ice and Viking History
Expedition Sailing Around Greenland: Qaqortoq to Sisimiut
Sailing Expedition to Disko Bay, Greenland: Sisimiut to Ilulissat
Arctic Sailing Expedition in Greenland: Disko Bay to Sisimiut
Arctic Sailing Adventure: Greenland’s Southwest Coast to Qaqortoq
South Greenland Sailing Expedition: Fjords, Ice and Viking History
Sailing from Greenland to Iceland: South Coast to Reykjavik
Expedition Sailing from Iceland to Scotland via the Faroe Islands
In the Footsteps of Vikings: Sailing from Scotland to Norway
Norwegian sailing adventure: Bergen to Ålesund
