Hands-on Sailing in Denmark; Svendborg to Aalborg

YOUR SAILING AREA

Denmark

Denmark is home to over 444 islands with 368 of them uninhabited and they are undoubtedly best discovered by boat. Traditional Schooner Aron is not only a beautiful example of a historic Danish working boat but with both her skippers (Gorm and Helene) hailing from the islands, they certainly know all the best spots to take guests. 

With low waves and moderate winds throughout the summer season, sailing in Denmark certainly has plenty to offer. Begin in the waterside port of Svendborg on the south of Funen island. The third largest island in Denmark, sailing in South Funen is the perfect point to begin your sailing holiday in Denmark. Its oldest house dates back to 1560 with streets lined with architectural delights, so make sure you leave some time to explore Svendborg before jumping aboard. 

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This voyage is definitely a hands-on experience as you spend longer hours of sailing on the open water. There will be some stop overs depending on the weather which could include the island of Samsø.

This voyage is perfect for those looking to spend more time on the water, learning the ropes of a traditional tall ship and falling into the rhythms of life at sea.

All voyages for Aron of Svendborg

Aron of Svendborg

Guest berths: 10 Rig: Schooner

Traditional schooner Aron of Svendborg offers hands-on sailing holidays in Denmark. Immerse yourself into life as it would have been some 115 years ago as her crew gives guests the chance to get involved with all aspects of sailing this beautiful traditional wooden boat.

She is owned and skippered by Danish sailing couple Gorm and Helene whose love of traditional sailing is clear to see. They believe that any sailing voyage is “an adventure at your own pace”. Travelling on a sailing ship like Aron is a sustainable choice at a time when climate challenges are having an increasing impact on the experiences we choose. On board Aron, they prioritise ecology, sustainability and local produce wherever possible.

Built in 1906, Aron of Svendborg is a fine example of a traditional Marstal sailing ship with the soft lines and powerful ‘spring curve’ that these schooners were renowned for. Built with solid oak, her flat transom and good sailing characteristics are typical of shipbuilder Lars Jensen Bager of Bager’s shipyard in Marstal.

Both above and below decks, Aron of Svendborg is a beautiful base to have while exploring the islands and coastline of Denmark. She offers private bunk cabins, a spacious saloon area and plenty of space above decks to relax under sail and watch the world go by.

Read more about what to expect from life on board.

Aron spends her summers sailing in Denmark, discovering the Danish archipelago of South Funen and visiting the cosmopolitan city of Copenhagen. She is perfect for those looking for a relaxed, traditional sailing holiday with the opportunity to get involved with sailing such a magnificent vessel under the watchful eye of a professional crew. There is no age limit, either young or old and there is no need for any sailing experience, just a good sense of humour and lust for adventure is a must!

Deck plan

Life on board

Our sailing holidays on traditional tall ship Aron of Svendborg are perfect for those looking for a unique sustainable holiday experience. Get to grips with life on a traditional vessel as you explore the islands of Denmark under sail. 

Getting involved

Aron is owned and skippered by Danish couple, Gorm and Helene. Hailing from the Danish port of Svendborg, they have been sailing in and around Denmark all of their lives. The opportunity to share their sailing grounds with guests, showing them where they grew up and introducing them to the history and sailing heritage of the area – is something they are both extremely proud of.

They love nothing more than to welcome guests on board Aron, sharing with them both their floating home and also a piece of maritime history of which they are fiercely protective of. 

Gorm is normally at the helm, plotting the route with Helene and watching the weather. Helene is on hand on deck to guide guests, showing them the ropes with a truly relaxed manner. She used to teach sail training on larger tall ships – her manner is considered and her explanations of wind direction and sail hoisting are clear and easy to learn. Although guest participation is not mandatory, Gorm and Helene believe it is truly the best part of the experience. It doesn’t matter on your age or ability, there is always something to suit!

Get to grips with hoisting the sails, taking the helm and some basic navigation. Everything on Aron is done as part of a team, from work on deck to preparing dinner and washing up. Everyone takes a turn – there’s something quite holistic about peeling apples on deck, just picked from a local island, sharing cultural stories of culinary delights from around the world (or maybe just your granny’s apple pie recipe!)

Sustainable sailing

Enjoy the silence of the sea, the wind in the sails and the gentle creak of this beautiful old wooden ship. 

Sailing with Aron is not necessarily about the destination (although the islands of Denmark are truly beautiful and perfect to be explored by boat!) but the journey itself is the real purpose. Using mainly the power of the steady Baltic winds, sailing with Aron is a sustainable holiday choice in a time when there are increasing climate challenges around us. The impact on the environment is deciding the experiences we choose and with Aron, ecology, sustainability and local experiences are at the heart of everything on offer.

Denmark has a real community spirit from town to town and island to island. Everyone helps each other out with a lot of the village stores run on a community funded, volunteer basis. Helene and Gorm are very much a part of this and building relationships with local artisanal producers across the islands. Helene hopes to use the last section of cargo hold on Aron to share produce across the islands. This isn’t for financial gain, just to share community spirit. 

Sleeping and Eating

With the fresh sea air comes a healthy appetite and after a day of traditional sailing, enjoy delicious home-cooked meals aboard. Using local produce or perhaps even throwing a line for our very own catch-of-the day, Helene is well-versed in cooking up a feast from the galley. The menu ranges from traditional Danish dishes to international flavours. Helene has spent many years travelling the world with tall ships, so her menu is very much inspired. 

There is plenty of space both above and below decks to lay up a feast, with the saloon and dining area providing a cosy space for colder evenings. Aron can accommodate up to ten guests in a combination of four twin cabins, one 3-berth cabin. Cabin allocation happens once everyone has booked and has boarded. Some cabins are more suited to taller guests, come better suited for couples etc so Helene will allocate upon arrival.

Each cabin comes with its own sink, hand-towel, wash towel, full bedding and USB charging points and all cabins share a toilet. There is a shower aboard Aron if needed but the shoreside marina facilities are so good, it’s almost a shame not to use them. Aside from the showers, you’ll often find communal BBQ’s with sheltered seating, and sometimes even a sauna!

The crew have their own private space and cabins in the transom of the ship and Gorm and Helene sometimes sail with two of their sea-going children (normally if there are other children booked on). So Aron is suitable for all and any ages of children although as a guide, it is preferable that children under five do have some experience of being at sea. 

Sailing in Denmark is great place to embrace the “hygge” the country is known for, switching off from demands of the modern world and simply relaxing.

SAMPLE MENU FOR Aron

BREAKFAST

• Continental style; fresh meats, cheeses, warm rolls, soft boiled eggs and conserves, oatmeal, fresh pastries

ELEVENSES/AFTERNOON CAKE

• Tea, coffee, cakes and local pastries

LUNCH

• Home-made soup, bread and local cheeses
• Fresh sandwiches, local meats, salad
• Danish buffet; warm liver pate with mushrooms and bacon, potatoes, fresh bread, cheeses, smoked herring and mackerel
• Open sandwiches -“Smørrebrød”

DINNER

• Home-made potato and leek soup with fresh rye croutons, and locally caught chilli shrimp
• Local rolled stuffed pork with garlic roasted vegetables, and a salted lemon and apple salad
• Local celeriac fritters, sesame new potatoes and fresh greens, salad and fresh bread
• International tapas – a variety of Helene’s dishes from her worldly travels – we won’t ruin the surprise!

DESSERT

• Ice cream from Skaro
• Fresh fruits
• Chocolate Liquorice! (a Danish favourite…)There is also a huge fruit bowl that guests can help themselves to throughout the voyage!

What’s the weather like?

The Danish climate is moderated by the warm Gulf Stream and is milder (and warmer) than surrounding Scandinavian countries. It gets the usual summer rain showers, often in the form of mizzle (mist+drizzle!) but on the whole there’s light winds for great sailing and plenty of sunshine. Make sure you take a suncream and swimming costume!

• The spring months, (April and May) are the mildest with average temperatures of 12°C.
• The summer months, (June, July and August) are the hottest with average temperatures of 17-20°C.
• From September, the temperature drops to an average of 14-17°C.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, hot drinks and water)
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet)
• Wash towel per person
• Hand-towel per cabin
• Full crew plus tuition
• Marina and fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Alcohol and soft drinks
• Swim towel
• All 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 not be more than 12miles offshore.

FAQ

• Are all meals included?

  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, water and hot drinks are all included.

• Are there any added extra's?

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

• Can you cater for dietary needs?

  Meat eaters and vegetarians only. Any other dietary requirements will need to bring their own supplies.

• What language is spoken onboard?

  English/Danish

• What are the sleeping arrangements?

  There are 4x twin bunks, 1x single saloon bunk and 1x 3berth cabin. All cabins have their own sink and USB charging ports.

• How many toilet/showers does she have?

  There is one toilet and shower for guests but showers are mostly taken ashore. The shoreside marina facilities in Denmark are so good, it's almost a shame not to use them!

• Is there WIFI?

  No but there's plenty of 5G if you need it - otherwise, it's time to disconnect from the modern conforms and reconnect with nature!

• Can I charge my phone/Camera?

  Yes - there are plenty of USB sockets available in each cabin.

• Are there life jackets provided?

  Yes

• Are Waterproofs provided?

  No - you'll only need lightweight waterproofs. The area is very sheltered so sea spray is rare!

• Do I need sailing experience?

  No, absolutely not. Aron is the perfect boat for gentle sailing while learning the ropes.

• Will I be sea sick?

  Everyone reacts differently but Aron sails in such sheltered waters, it's very rare anyone suffers aboard.

• Is bedding included?

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

Travel Planning

From: Svendborg, Denmark

To: Aalborg, Denmark

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

Getting There

SVENBORG

BY AIR

There are a few different ways to travel to Svendborg from the UK. Most involve flying from London or Manchester Airports. 

The quickest way is to fly (1.30 hour flight time) from London Stansted/Heathrow or Manchester Airport  to Billund (BLL) Airport in Denmark. You can then get a 30 minute bus into town and take a train from Vejle Street to Svendborg (total train time 90 minutes). Svendborg is a small town so the train station is just a 5minute walk from the marina. 

If you fancy combining a trip to the Danish capital (which we highly recommend) of Copenhagen, fly from Bristol, London Heathrow or Manchester Airport (flight time approx 1 hour 50min). Once you explore the cosmopolitan capital, jump on a train to Odense across to Fyn island and change to continue onto Svendborg (total train journey time 3 hours). Travelling by train through Denmark is an experience in itself as you soak in the fairytale landscapes and scenery along way. 

Travel by train

If you’ve got the time and want to extend your travel sustainably, a great way to see Europe and get to Denmark is by train. The overall travel time is admittedly 16 hours but it can be split into city stops through Belgium and Germany!

GETTING HOME

AALBORG

BY AIR

There are a few different ways to travel from Aalborg from the UK. Most involve flying from London or Manchester Airports. 

The best way is to fly (1.30 hour flight time) to London Stansted/Heathrow or Manchester Airport from Billund (BLL) Airport in Denmark. Take a train to Vejle Street from Aalborg (total train time 2 hours). You can then get a bus or taxi to the airport.