Offshore Sailing Amsterdam to Brest

YOUR SAILING AREA

Expedition Sailing

The soft, steady up and down of the ship’s hull in the waves, the expanse of the sea, and the permanent gentle creaking of the rigging are the perfect ingredients for a relaxing and at the same time, adventurous holiday experience. Sail from Amsterdam to Brest through the English Channel. Exactly where you’ll stop will depend on the wind and weather but may see you stop along the French coast or even a stopover in the Channel Islands.

Take the helm, become a member of the deck crew, and settle into the watch system as life at sea takes over. You will learn every aspect of sailing a classic tall ship on this ocean sailing voyage.

Getting involved

The professional and experienced crew will teach you everything you need to know as you will sail with and become part of the crew, hoisting sails, taking the helm and getting involved with all aspects of sailing a tall ship. You’ll never be without a crew member and the watch system will be worked out once everyone has boarded to gauge guest abilities.

From plotting our route on the chart to cooking together, some celestial navigation skills, hoisting and trimming sails, and rope work and repairs, there is always something for everyone to do while on watch. The rest of the time is free to enjoy the inky black of the night sky, reading a book or three or playing cards together; the ocean allows guests to switch off from the demands of the modern world and fill their souls with vitamin-Sea.

Sailing by the stars

Far from land, miles into the open ocean, you’ll see the night sky as you have never seen it before. The stars light the sky as we sail away from any man-made light pollution, creating a truly spectacular sight. Although each boat certainly has all the modern GPS equipment, there will likely be the chance to try your hand at celestial navigation, using the stars to plot your position and guide your route! An age-old skill used by sailing ancestors of years gone by.

Weather

Part of the beauty of an ocean-going adventure is experiencing all the elements. From wind, rain and sun, we will certainly see them all. Whatever comes our way, the crew will use weather radar technology to plan our route as best they can to ensure we cover the most miles as safely as possible. Expect strong winds and big waves, perfect sailing to glassy seas with not a breath of wind and everything in-between. 

There are currently no voyages scheduled. Please get in touch with the VentureSail team to find out what’s available, or if other upcoming voyages might be suitable.
Call us in the Office on 01872 487288 or email [email protected], and we will be happy to help you find your next adventure!

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Offshore Sailing Amsterdam to Brest

Guest berths: Rig:

Life on board

Sailing with Eye of the Wind is an experience that will sit close to your heart as you learn the ways of traditional, authentic sailing and explore breath-taking destinations. Sailing with such a historic vessel is a wonderful privilege and the pride that the crew have for working with such a vessel, is truly inspiring.

Getting involved

With her impressive red sails and traditional square rig, guests are actively encouraged to get involved with all aspects of sailing Eye of the Wind. The crew are friendly, professional multi nationals, who are well-versed in showing guests the ropes, so you don’t need any experience to climb aboard her voyages. There is no expectation to get involved with sailing this magnificent vessel but guests are encouraged to take part in sail hoisting, navigation and taking the helm. A good sense of humour and a sense of adventure is a must and if guests just want to sit back and relax with the harmony of the sails, that’s fine too!

A Typical Day

Most of Eye of the Wind’s voyages are designed to sail by day to explore new destinations and spend the nights in harbour or on a sheltered anchorage. The day to day itinerary is not set in stone so the Captain can make best use of the weather and winds. Once you board, a rough plan for the week will be explained and some basic sail functionings explained too! 

Sailing on the high seas is hungry work, and your appetite will be easily satiated by our excellent on-board kitchen. From morning till evening, the chef will surprise you with varied recipes from his gourmet cookbook. Depending on the sailing season, local food and ingredients often end up in the cooking pot or on the plate. From a continental breakfast to lunch served either at anchor or underway. Dinner and drinks are normally served at around 7pm as you relax with your fellow guests and crew. 

The day is a good balance of authentic traditional sailing with time to explore secluded bays, different cultures, cuisines and history ashore. Down-time is as encouraged as hands-on sailing, with air-conditioned bunks, comfortable lounges and a sun-drenched deck, ensuring that there are plenty of spaces to relax on board.

Sleeping and Relaxation

Thanks to the 6 luxurious cabins, all with ensuite bathrooms, Eye of the Wind can sleep a total of 16 guests ensuring voyages can be travelled in true comfort. A large dining area sits with the galley at deck level offering 360 degree views of the horizon. A library and cosy saloon sit below decks – the perfect place for relaxation and sharing sea-faring tales after a day at sea.

Above decks there’s cushioned bench seating, sun decks and a multitude of different spaces to unwind. Out at sea, you have time for yourself and time to get to know the ship as a place of rest, where you can leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind you. Stress has no place on the ocean, and you will find yourself unwinding in harmony with the wind and the sea on board Eye of the Wind.

Kit list

Eye of the Wind has limited space for possessions, so please be considerate and travel as light as possible. There is no storage for rigid cases so please bring your items in a soft bag or rucksack.

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 who have sailed before may have their own preferences!

• Fingerless gloves for hoisting sails (sailing or cycling are best)
• 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 both lightweight and quick-drying!)

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

• Warm, windproof and waterproof coat 
• 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 
• Personal wash kit (please use reef-safe, eco products where possible)
• If you wish to sleep on deck under the stars or are booking a hammock berth, please bring your own lightweight sleeping bag
• Refillable water bottle 
• Charging cables for personal devices 
• EU 2pin plug adaptor
• A good book to read!
• Consider a small backpack/bag for onshore exploring.

SAMPLE MENU FOR Eye of the Wind

All food is made on board, and local, fresh produce is at the top of the shopping list! Please note that this is an example of what you may be served.

BREAKFAST

• Continental meat platter
• Cheese platter
• yoghurt, fruit salad
• Muesli, cereals, breads and jams
• One day, hot option – fried eggs

ELEVENSES/AFTERNOON CAKE

• Tea, coffee and home-made cakes

LUNCH

• Aubergine and feta tart
• Mediterranean cous cous
• Green salad

DINNER

• Pork cassoulet served with rice
• Coconut, spinach, and chickpea curry served with rice
• CAPTAINS DINNER – starter: Bruschetta served with balsamic. Main: Pan-fried salmon served with herb cous cous, pineapple salsa and garlic sauce. (V) option: stuffed pepper with the same sides

DESSERT

• Dark chocolate and orange mousse
• CAPTAINS DINNER – Lemon mascarpone cheesecake

What’s included

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

What’s not included

• Alcohol
• Swim towel
• Waterproofs
• 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

Travel Planning

From: Amsterdam, Netherlands

To: Brest, France

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

GETTING THERE:

The island of St. Martin has an international airport on the Dutch side and a regional airport on the French side:

Airlines flying from France

Almost all of the airlines listed below offer daily scheduled flights to St Martin from Paris

Charles de Gaulle or Orly. Flying time for direct flights is around 8 hours 45 minutes.
Air france – www.airfrance.fr Air France operates between 5 and 7 direct flight a week in low and high season
Air caraibes – www.aircaraibes.com The regional airline of the French Caribbean operates 3 direct flights a week on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from Paris Orly Sud.
Corsairfly – www.corsairfly.fr Daily flights from Paris Orly Sud via Pointe-à-Pitre (flight Pointe-à-Pitre/Saint Martin operated by Air Antilles Express).

Airlines flying from other European countries

KLM – www.klm.com Direct flights from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Amsterdam (Netherlands). High season (November to March) : 3 weekly flights on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Low season (April to October) : 2 weekly flights on Thursday and Saturday.

Getting Home:

Bermuda International Airport is located at St. George’s Parish at the eastern end of the island. There are several public buses that operate between the Airport and Hamilton city quite frequently and at regular intervals. The Bus routes for the airport are #1, 3, 10 & 11. Check out Bermuda Bus Services to know about the schedules and other information.