Adventure Sailing from Rotterdam to Scotland

YOUR SAILING AREA

Rotterdam to Inverness

Join Cherokee in the maritime port city of Rotterdam as she prepares to sail towards Scheveningen. It will be a relaxing start to the trip, and we can enjoy a cup of coffee while passing through 4 bridges, including the iconic Erasmus Bridge. It will be quite special and enjoyable to see Rotterdam from the water, amidst all the busy shipping traffic. The ‘Nieuwe Waterweg‘ is divided into VHF block channels to guide shipping. Depending on the current, it will take us about three hours to sail to the North Sea, giving us plenty of time to go through the essential operation and sailing of Cherokee.

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In the evening, we will create a route plan based on the weather reports, which can be quite interesting as we study the weather charts. Our initial plan is to sail across the English Channel to Whitby, but entering Whitby is not always possible due to a sand bar, and it is not an all-weather access port. 

The route itself is crowded with shipping traffic routes, fishing vessels, wind farms, and oil rigs. This will be an educational crossing, as we will sail through the night in a watch system. It will be an excellent exercise for studying the almanac and currents, practicing light recognition, radar & AIS, making bearings to prevent collisions, and night sailing.

Whitby is a beautiful and charming old fishing port. If the weather cooperates, we will have some time to relax and enjoy the cosy English atmosphere and sights. After a night of rest, we will continue sailing along the English coast up to Scotland. The destination will depend on the wind, but if possible, we may make a stopover in Eyemouth or the charming Stonehaven. Again, it will be active sailing in a watch system, and we must keep a lookout for shipping, fishing, and wind farms.

This offshore sailing adventure will conclude in Inverness, a working harbour full of supply vessels for the oil rigs. We will end the trip in a pub, enjoying a meal and a well-deserved drink. This voyage will be an instructive offshore sail training experience due to the busy shipping routes, strong currents, and tidal puzzles, but above all, it will be a beautiful sailing voyage along a stunning coast with lovely harbours.

Please note that the above schedule is subject to weather, wind, and tide.

All voyages for Cherokee

Cherokee

Guest berths: 8 Rig: Cutter

In 2008, Jouke Lemmer purchased Cherokee after spending years sailing with his father’s ship amongst others. Cherokee was built in 2000 by award-winning boat builders J & J Design and a year after buying her, Jouke refitted Cherokee radically, transforming her into a truly comfortable charter vessel, giving her a cutter rig and space for a generator so as to offer his passengers power and hot showers!

She is a fast, 16m vessel with a stunning teak deck and spacious cockpit, and she operates with two crew members (her skipper and the bosun/chef). Cherokee is exceptionally good at what she was built to do – pure sailing. Read more about what to expect with life onboard here.

Jouke sails his ship all over the northern hemisphere, leaving Cherokee’s home port of Rotterdam in May and sailing anywhere from the Hebrides and the Channel Islands, the Faroe Islands and Ireland or even down to the North coast of Spain before making the journey back to Holland in October. Join him and his wonderful ship for the adventure of a lifetime – think exhilarating sailing, bucket list destinations and top-notch hospitality.

Deck plan

LIFE ON BOARD

Perfect for the adventure traveller, Cherokee is a custom-fit charter vessel, designed to ensure her guests enjoy comfortable but exhilarating sailing.

Getting involved

Sailing with Cherokee certainly ticks the adventure travel boxes with a continuous A to B sailing schedule throughout the season. Skipper Jouke believes this is the best way to experience as many destinations off the beaten track as possible and loves to share his sense of adventure with guests.

Guests are actively encouraged to get involved with all aspects of sailing under the relaxed guidance of Jouke. Take the helm, help with the winching of the sails, anchoring and basic chart navigation. Skipper Jouke was born at sea, the son of a Baltic Sea Captain and a naval architect when he’s back on land – you could not be in safer hands!

Sleeping & relaxation

With four private guest cabins, comfortable bunks and two bathrooms at either end of the boat, Cherokee can easily cater for solo travellers, adventurous couples or groups of friends or family. A hot water boiler runs off the cooling water of the generator, so there is plenty of hot water for washing and showering!

Below decks, she offers a comfy and spacious saloon perfect for eating, playing cards or simply reading a book. You’ll find beautiful panelled mahogany interiors, giving the ship that classic feel. A well-equipped galley opposite the saloon provides a perfect social space, ready to bring you delicious food after an exhilarating day of sailing. Eat under the stars if the weather allows in the spacious cockpit, offering comfortable couches and a good-sized table.

Authentic Offshore sailing

The boat is owned and sailed by experienced skipper Jouke and there is a ‘bosun’ who also does the cooking. The bosun will be preparing dinner as you arrive and after breakfast on your first morning aboard Cherokee, you can be guaranteed a relaxed start to your sailing holiday.

Jouke and his crew try to use the engine as little as possible, sailing into port as much as they can. Cherokee only clocks up about 180 motoring hours every year, which is pretty impressive. Due to this, as with most of our vessels, the days of your holiday are subject to the weather, using the tide as your clock. Guests aren’t presented with a tight schedule or itinerary for this reason, and it makes the trip much more adventurous and flexible.

Things to note

Sailing vs Shoretime

Nightwatches?

Kit list

Cherokee has limited space for possessions, so please be considerate and travel as light as possible. There is no storage for rigid cases – please bring your items in a soft bag.

We recommend a travelling light principal with lots of lightweight, easy-drying layers. Below is a list of recommended items, these are not mandatory and those that have sailed before may have their preferences!

• Fingerless gloves for hoisting sails (sailing or cycling are best (these are optional))
• Walking boots/shoes for onshore & light shoes/trainers (with good grip)
• Swimsuit and swim towel (optional!)
• Lightweight, quick-dry clothes (base layers, fleece and synthetic tops are lightweight and quick-drying!)

It can be quite a few degrees colder out at sea, so please bring many layers even if the forecast seems like a warm week!

• Warm, windproof and waterproof coat and trousers. (Skipper Jouke does have average sizing sailing suits and some boots for hire > £35 for a suit and £10 for boots – hire per week. Please get in touch with us if you wish to hire or would like more information)
• Short waterproof boots
• Sun cream (please use reef-safe, eco products where possible)
• Sunglasses and a warm hat/cap
• Small personal first aid kit and any medication you may need
• Camera/binoculars 
• Refillable water bottle
• Personal wash kit (please use reef-safe, eco products where possible)
• Charging cables for personal devices (there are European 2pin plugs in the cabins and in the saloon) 
• EU2pin adaptor
• A good book to read!
• We advise sleep masks and/or earplugs!
• Consider a small backpack/bag for onshore exploring

What’s included

• Full Board (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Soft/hot drinks)
• Marina and fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet) and wash towel
• Full crew plus tuition

What’s not included

• Alcohol
• Offshore sailing suits are available for hire (please let us know if you need more information when booking)
• 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

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 12 miles offshore.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Yes, all meals on board are included in the price. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner and hot drinks)

• 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 soft drinks and alcohol.

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  Cherokee has two twin berth cabins and two double berth cabins for guests.

• Is there a porthole in my cabin?

  Yes, all cabins have either a hatch or porthole.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  Cherokee has two toilet/shower rooms.

• Are bedding and towels provided?

  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, please do not bring one. The sea breeze makes a great natural alternative!

• Will I be able to wash my clothes?

  No, Cherokee does not have laundry on board.

• Is there heating onboard?

  Yes, there is heating on board.

• Do I need to tip the crew?

  Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!

• What language is spoken on board?

  English and Dutch.

• 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 charging facilities are available when the generator is running.

• What is the currency on board?

  Whatever the local currency is in the sailing destination.

• Do I need sailing experience?

  Not at all.

• How do I get on and off the boat?

  Cherokee is often at anchor so you'll need to be comfortable climbing in and out of the tender dinghy. She has a dropped transom with steps so getting on/off the boat is fairly easy.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes.

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  You can hire Sailing suits for £35 for the week.

• 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?

  Over 12's on most voyages.

Travel Planning

From: Rotterdam

To: Inverness

To see where the ports are, along with your likely sailing area, please view the sail area & highlights.

Getting There

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

The easiest and quickest route from London is on the Eurostar and then a connecting train from Paris to Rotterdam. Alternatively, you can fly into Rotterdam airport.

Getting Home

Inverness, Scotland

Inverness is well-connected to the rest of the UK. You can travel by train to cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, and London for onward travel or nearby airports if needed.