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Tall Ship Sailing Expedition to Orkney
- Vessel: Blue Clipper
- Where: Scotland
- Duration: 10 days
- Embark: Ullapool - 6 September 2023, 14:00
- Disembark: Newcastle - 15 September 2023, 10:00
Explore the North coast of Scotland and discover the beauty of the Orkney Islands under sail on tall ship Blue Clipper.
Join tall ship Blue Clipper for an unforgettable sailing adventure as she sails the North coast of Scotland from Ullapool visiting the Orkney islands along the way before finishing in Newcastle.
This hands-on sailing adventure is perfect for those wanting to experience life on a traditionally rigged tall ship, tuck some sea miles under their belt while visiting breathtakingly remote locations
- Fully crewed Tall Ship
- Longer passages at sea
- Wildlife watching
- Hands-on experience
- En-suite cabins
- Traditional Tall Ship sailing
YOUR SAILING AREA
Scotland, Orkneys & East Coast
From island hopping to coastal exploration to longer passages under sail as you become part of the crew, this sailing voyage with Blue Clipper is not for the faint hearted and is certainly best for those adventure travellers wishing to try something a little different.
As you sail from the West coast of Scotland, you head North for the fascinating archipelago of the Orkneys. Spend a few days working your way across the islands and taking in the stunning landscapes ashore before setting the sails to work your way back down the East coast towards Newcastle. There will be a couple of stops along the way but these will be decided upon the weather at the time.
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Expedition Sailing
Discover beautiful anchorages, visit Scapa Flow – the deepest natural harbour in Northern Europe and immerse yourself into life on a traditionally rigged tall ship. Orkney is great place for wildlife and wildflowers, alpine flowers flourish here and you may spot the Orkney vole in the coastal grassland! From here we head down the North East coast to Newcastle.
During this trip, you will develop a love of sailing, and the best way to make a start on any boat is to feel you are a vital and competent part of the crew. We will teach you the seamanship skills of steering, setting sails, reefing, and tying knots with conviction! The skills you learn will be relevant for modern yachts, but you should also feel at home on traditional boats and tall ships with blocks and tackles.
There is a whole new language to learn and by the end of the week you won’t be fazed by terms like sheet, fender, windlass or ‘bear away’ and all the things that make going onboard a tall ship a bit bewildering and intimidating. This adventure will require some full days at sea and maybe some overnight sailing if the weather dictates. Ideally this adventure is for those with some previous time aboard a boat or those looking to increase their miles at sea.
Life onboard
Sailing with tall ship Blue Clipper is certainly an enjoyable, hands-on experience and guests are encouraged to get involved with all aspects of sailing this magnificent tall ship. From hoisting the sails to taking the helm, the friendly and knowledgable crew are always on hand to show you the ropes. This a passage trip where guests have the option to become part of watch system, but this is not essential as there are plenty of crew on board to manage some of the night sailing that is needed to cover the many miles around the top of Scotland, the Orkneys and down to Newcastle.
Blue Clipper has a dedicated chef onboard too so you don’t have to worry about cooking after a days sailing in the salty sea air. Think locally sourced produce, fresh fish and home-made bread with hearty home-cooked meals and plenty of tea, coffee and cake! Your ticket price includes one glass of wine with your evening meal too.
Rest up after a day of adventure in your spacious private en-suite cabin. With twin bunks, sailing with Blue Clipper is certainly one of comfort and is the perfect choice for couples or solo travellers.
Read more about what to expect from a typical day and life onboard Blue Clipper.
As with all Blue Clipper’s sailing holidays, your ticket price includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, soft drinks and a glass of wine with your evening meal. There are six ensuite twin cabins with all bedding and hand towels provided for each guest.
Similar voyages
Voyage | Set Sail | Days | Cost p/p | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Orkney Sailing Adventure; Ullapool to Newcastle | 7 September 2022 | 10 | £1,996.00 | Enquire now |
Tall Ship Sailing Expedition to Orkney | 6 September 2023 | 10 | £2,190.00 | Enquire now |
All voyages for Blue Clipper
Blue Clipper
Guest berths: 12 Rig: Gaff Schooner
Built-in Sweden in 1991, tall ship Blue Clipper is an impressive three-masted gaff rig schooner. With a clipper bow, original teak deck and elegant stern, she mixes a traditional tall ship feel with a relatively modern build giving guests an authentic experience with all the mod cons.
She has spent many years sailing all over the world from the Caribbean to the Arctic and is a frequent participant in the European Tall Ship regattas. Originally owned by the Brandy company Hennessy and named ‘Spirit of Hennessey, she appeared in many TV programmes and commercials before being privately bought in the late 90’s.
On deck, she boasts ample space for her guests to become fully immersed in hands-on sailing; heaving the ropes, hoisting the sails, learning ropes skills and even taking the helm. She has 3 kayaks and 3 paddle-boards for guest use while on anchor so you can explore even further inshore.
A spacious saloon, wheelhouse and galley also sit at deck level while below decks has been well-considered with six ensuite cabins a family cabin that sleeps six. All cabins have a porthole for natural light and heating/air conditioning.
Read more about Life on Board Blue Clipper here.
In 2016 she started her new life with her current owner and now spends her summers sailing Northern Europe and Scotland and the Hebrides and her winters chasing the Caribbean sunshine.
More about Blue ClipperFAQ
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What COVID policies are in place for sailing with Blue Clipper?
There are currently no Test & Sail policies in place for the 2022 season.
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Are all meals included?
Yes, all meals on board are included in the price. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and hot drinks) Generally, alcohol is not included; *One glass of wine is included with your evening meal on leisure voyages (not expedition/crossings)
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Can you cater for dietary needs?
Yes, please let us know when making your booking.
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Do I need to tip the crew?
Tips are not mandatory but are welcomed by the crew!
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What language is spoken onboard?
English
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What are the sleeping arrangements?
6x Twin Ensuite, 1x six-berth family cabin
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How many toilet/showers does she have?
9 in total. All Cabins are Ensuite aside from the six-berth that shares a bathroom.
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Is there an age limit?
Over 12's ideally but please check in the over for ages between 12-18 years.
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Is there WIFI?
No, but you should easily be able to reach 3G/4G from the shore.
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Can I charge my phone/Camera?
Yes - please bring EU adaptors.
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Are there life jackets provided?
Yes.
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Are Waterproofs provided?
No
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Do I need sailing experience?
No, absolutely not! Just a lust for adventure and a want to get actively involved.
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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.
Locations
From: Ullapool
To: Newcastle