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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, Gulden Leeuw

From € 1295,-

Book this journey

International Exchange Tall Ships Races Sail Training

15-25: € 1295,-
26-28: € 1430,-

Book this journey

Gulden Leeuw:
Aberdeen (GB) - Kristiansand (NO)

21 July - 01 August 2025

International Exchange at The Tall Ships Races 2025: Race 3 and Cruise in Company. Set sail on a wonderful North Sea adventure which combines the best of two sailing worlds: a thrilling race and a relaxing Cruise in Company! No more hard choices! Join a combination voyage, departing from Aberdeen in Scotland and take part in a race with other Tall Ships. Sail hard and fast to win the race, and cross the finish line in glory. Then it’s time to slow down and enjoy the coast of Norway, explore a fjord, visit a small port, or maybe even meet up with a crew of another vessel. Finally you will sail to Kristiansand and spend the last two days in port, participating in crew activities and enjoying the big maritime festival.
For young Windseekers aged 15-25, ages 26-28 at request.
This voyage will be open for bookings from 15th of September 2024.

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 15-25 years, age 26-28 at request
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 55
  • No sailing experience required!
  • Official language on board: English and Dutch
  • 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 bags and towels

  • "I felt like a free human. Everything I did felt so good."

    Boukje (15), Netherlands

You sail on the Gulden Leeuw

Shipping type: Topsail Schooner
Homeport: Kampen (NL)
Date built: 1937
Trainees: 60
Length: 70,1 m
Height of mast: 40 m
Sail: 1500 m2

The Gulden Leeuw is a three-masted topsail schooner, which means that you can climb the 40-metre mast to unpack the square sails. That’s approximately 12 stories high! But do not worry, you can start with the lowest yard. With 1500 …

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Windseeker logs

  • Sailing on Morgenster During the Tall Ships Races

    Morgenster, July 2018

    Esbjerg-Sunderland-Esbjerg

    – by Elin Giese, Sweden, 2nd time Trainee

    Being a trainee on board a tall ship is an experience you can’t compare with everyday life. This is my short article about how it is to sail with the Morgenster before and during the Tall Ships Races.   We all met …

    Read log
  • Ship

    Absolutely Awesome Day

    Europa

    Southern Atlantic Ocean

    – by Annie van Haaren

    Today was absolutely awesome. Waking from a good 7 hour sleep to breakfast, first time in 5 days as I had been sleeping right through it when on the dog watch. We had watch from 8 am till 12 midday. …

    Read log

Photos

  • Dolphins
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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.