Header trainee

Join a sailing adventure on a Tall Ship and set course for new horizons!

Aberdeen (GB) - Kristiansand (NO)

21 July - 01 August 2025

11 days, Esprit

From € 790,-

Book this journey

Tall Ships Races Sail Training

18-25 (15-17 at request): € 790,-

Book this journey

Esprit:
Aberdeen (GB) - Kristiansand (NO)

21 July - 01 August 2025

*Places at request.* The Tall Ships Races 2025: Race 3 and Cruise in Company. Can’t decide between a race or non-race journey? This time, you don’t have to! Set course for a unique adventure, sailing from Scotland to Norway across the North Sea in a competitive race with an international fleet. Learn to sail, from steering to working with sails, working in watches day and night to win the race! Cross the finish line, and relax for a bit, joining the other vessels for a cruise in company. Take your time to enjoy the stunning Norwegian coastline, visiting a picturesque harbour or anchoring for a swim in a fjord. Make your way to Kristiansand and spend the last two days in port, participating in crew activities to celebrate the end of your amazing journey.
Open to Windseekers aged 18-25, ages 15-17 at request (email “info@windseeker.org.

The Tall Ships Races 2025

Every year, a diverse array of Tall Ships, small Ships, and Yachts gather to promote Sail Training and foster international frienship among young people. With a stipulation that mandates at least half of the participants fall within the age bracket of 15-25, these vessels engage in Races and Cruise in Company legs, navigating between various host ports and engaging in vibrant harbour festivals.

Each journey includes a cheerful sail-out of the harbour in a spectacular Parade of Sail, followed by several days at sea, and ends with the last two days spent in the destination port. Here, trainees paricipate in a series of events including the Crew Parade, award ceremonies, Crew Party, as well as games and competitions. Are you ready to embark on this exhilarating journey?

Ports

Aberdeen, the silver city with the golden sands, lies on the Scottish east coast. The city has been settled for over 8000 years, so you’ll find plenty of historic landmarks as you amble across town. Aberdeen is also famous for its many parks and gardens. The city hosts several festivals year round, so check out the cultural agenda while you’re there. And take some time to spend in one of the many wonderful pubs, where you can strike up a conversation with the locals. But don’t peek under kilts!

Kristiansand is the business and cultural capital of southern Norway. The sea and surrounding fjords are perfect for recreational activities like fishing and sailing, and the nearby inland and mountains are ideal for skiing and hiking. In the more urban areas you will find a rich variety of cafes, restaurants, art galleries and museums.

  • Aberdeen (GB)

  • Kristiansand (NO)

Key points

  • Dates: 21 July 2025 - 1 August 2025
  • Embarkation: 17:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers age 18-25 years, age 15-17 at request
  • No sailing experience required!
  • Official language on board: English
  • Price includes: accommodation and meals, excludes drinks at the bar
  • Price excludes transportation costs to-and from the ports. Our travel counsellor can advise you and book your transfers
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: sleeping bag, pillow, sheets and towels

  • "I have learned that despite my small size, I can do anything if I put my mind to it."

    Samantha (18), Australia

You sail on the Esprit

Sailing Vessel Esprit under sails
Shipping type: schooner
Homeport: Bremen (DE)
Date built: 1995
Trainees: 12
Length: 19.92 m
Height of mast: 21.25 m
Sail: 180 m2

The Esprit is a two-masted wooden boat with a modern schooner rig, gaff fore and Bermuda main. On board it is hands on for everyone! As a trainee you will actively take part in all of the sailing and harbour manoeuvres. …

Read more

Windseeker logs

  • Fun day out with friends

    Wadden Sea, October 2020

    All photos courtesy of BTOWU

    – by Nienke

    Besides providing us with super awesome, smart, science people to ensure the high quality of the sustainability side of our Exchange programs, By the Ocean we Unite also organize their own things. Like ‘citizen science’ day trips, during which folks …

    Read log

  • A busy and productive day at sea

    Gulden Leeuw, July 2015

    Aalborg

    – by Trainees Charlotte and Pernille

    Charlotte (26), UK We were lucky as a watch this morning and didn’t go on sail watch until 8 a.m. Some people had to get up to make breakfast but the rest of us enjoyed our lie-in and were bright-eyed and …

    Read log

Photos

  • Dolphins
See more

OTHER JOURNEYS YOU MIGHT LIKE

STO Garant

This Journey is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions for this guarantee scheme on STO Garant’s website (www.sto-garant.nl/en/downloads).

This process is automatic and you do not need to do anything else. After receiving your booking, Windseeker will send you detailed information on how and when to pay for your journey – together with all the other important details.

 

What does it mean?

In short: you do not pay the booking amount to Windseeker but instead into an escrow account. This trust account holds your payment in reserve until your journey’s end. The booking amount is then released to Windseeker on the day after your trip ends. If Windseeker or the Ship should become financially insolvent before the end of your trip, STO Garant will implement the guarantee. The Guarantee Scheme details how you can make a claim under the guarantee in such cases. You can read more about this here.