Sailing the Shetland Islands

Your Sailing Area

Shetland Islands, Scotland

Join Cherokee in the harbour of Scalloway, nestled in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, a picturesque harbour town with a rich history. The impressive Scalloway Castle, built in the 17th century, stands as a testament to the town’s past. Visitors can also enjoy exploring the local shops, cafes, and taking in the beautiful coastal views.

We’ll spend our voyage exploring the Shetland Islands, and our aim is to sail to Fair Isle, which is one of the most beautiful Shetland Islands and is about 38 miles away from Scalloway.

Fair Isle is a definite highlight where we will spend a day walking along the spectacular north coast. The atmosphere on the island is unique, with nothing in the harbour except stunning nature and a Bird Observatory. This observatory also houses a relaxed bar with a beautiful view of the harbour (with many seals), where enthusiasts can learn more about the special birds, such as the puffin or Skua. In the evening, we will walk from the harbour up the cliff, where we can see hundreds of Puffins going ashore on their way to their nests. Due to the lack of tourists, we can approach them up to one meter, creating an unforgettable experience.

We will then sail back to the Shetland Islands, to Grutness Voe, where we can take a pleasant walk to the cliffs with beautiful views over the Atlantic Ocean and Sumburg Head, or to Jarlshof with prehistoric and Viking excavations. The final destination in the Shetland Islands depends on the wind, and we will conclude this sailing journey in the attractive town of Lerwick, where we will have dinner.

Please note that the above schedule is subject to weather, wind, and tide. The daily sailing distances will range between 20 and 38 miles.

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 Cherokee

A custom-fit charter vessel, Cherokee, has been designed to ensure her guests enjoy comfortable offshore sailing adventures.

GETTING INVOLVED

Sailing with Cherokee certainly ticks the adventure travel boxes with a continuous A to B sailing schedule throughout the season. Skipper Jouke (pronounced Yow-ka) 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 Jouke’s relaxed guidance. 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. You could not be in safer hands when he’s back on land!

SLEEPING & RELAXATION

With four private guest cabins, comfortable bunks, and two bathrooms at either end of the boat, Cherokee can easily accommodate solo travellers, adventurous couples, or groups of friends or family. Clever storage offers plenty of locker space for guests in each cabin. The 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 & spacious saloon perfect for eating, playing cards or 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. If the weather takes a turn, the crew will put up the cockpit tent, offering you shelter and warmth in the fresh air.

AUTHENTIC OFFSHORE SAILING

The boat is owned and sailed by experienced skipper Jouke, and there is a ‘bosun’ who also cooks. The bosun will prepare 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 possible. Cherokee only clocks up about 180 motoring hours yearly, 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, making the trip much more adventurous and flexible.

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 own preferences!

• Walking boots/shoes for onshore & light shoes/trainers (with good grip)
• Wash towel – micro fibre is lightweight and quick drying!
• Swimsuit and swim towel
• 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 
• 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)
• Smidge repellent 
• Charging cables for personal devices 
• EU 2pin 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, snacks, hot drinks)
• All bedding (pillow, sheets & duvet) and wash towel
• Full crew plus tuition
• Fuel fees
• All tender trips to and fro the boat
• Lifejacket
• Use of onboard stand-up paddle-boards

What’s not included

• £70 board cash per person
• Swim towel or wetsuits
• Alcohol
• 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 might 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: Scalloway

To: Lerwick

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

Getting There

Shetland Islands, Scotland

Fly from most UK airports to Edinburgh or Aberdeen, where you can change for a flight to Sumburgh Airport on the Shetland Islands. Then, take a bus to Scalloway.