Header trainee

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

Le Havre (FR) - Dunkirk (FR)

06 July - 12 July 2025

6 days, Gulden Leeuw

From € 780,-

Book this journey

International Exchange Tall Ships Races Sail Training

15-25: € 780,-
26-28: € 870,-

Book this journey

Gulden Leeuw:
Le Havre (FR) - Dunkirk (FR)

06 July - 12 July 2025

International Exchange at The Tall Ships Races 2025: Race 1. Set course for an unforgettable youth adventure with this year’s Tall Ships Races, starting in the French port of Le Havre. Experience the thrill as you depart in a stunning Parade of Sail, setting the stage for a race to Dunkirk. Onboard the Tall Ship Gulden Leeuw you’ll climb the masts, hoist the sails, and master the art of steering and navigation as you guide the impressive vessel towards the finish line. The competition is fierce, but the journey is as important as the destination! Learn to sail, make international friends, and discover new things about yourself as you spend days and nights working in watches to reach the finish line. Spend the last two days in the vibrant port of Dunkirk, where a maritime festival awaits. Meet the crews of other vessels, march in the Crew Parade, and dance the night away at the Crew Party. Are you ready for this adventure? Join us and create memories that will last a lifetime!
For young Windseekers aged 15-25, ages 26-28 at request.
This voyage will be open for bookings from 15 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

Le Havre is a large north French maritime commercial and passenger port established in the early XVI century. The city in on the UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical buildings and is considered a birthplace of impressionism. Walk in the steps of Monet and discover the places you know from modern art. Take a hiking tour, visit one of the nearby castles (chateau), the Graville abbey, see the hanging gardens or take a walk in one of the many city parks.

Dunkirk is the northernmost city in France and one if its biggest harbours. It lies very close to the Belgian border and dates back to middle ages when it was a fishing village. Dunkirk's maritime heritage is clearly visible, and celebrated. You can visit the Port Museum (Musée Portuaire), climb to the top of Le Beffroi de Saint-Eloi for unforgettable views or relax in one of the multiple seafront cafes and bars.

  • Le Havre (FR)

Key points

  • Dates: 6 July 2025 - 12 July 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

  • "A thrilling journey full of breath-taking moments which have taught me that live should always be lived at its fullest."

    Jorge (18), Spain

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 …

Read more

Windseeker logs

  • Sailing Ship in the Tropics

    Anne Margeretha

    Tropics

    – by Annet

    Sometimes you have afternoons which are exactly how you thought they would be on a sailing ship in the tropes: the sun just right above your head, a cool breeze in the front, lightly cracking sails and murmuring waves… You are …

    Read log

  • Sustainable sailing: plastic research in 2023

    Gulden Leeuw, Thalassa, July 2023

    – by Maarten Erich, The Ocean Movement

    The Ocean Movement Foundation We are on a mission to stop plastic pollution from ending up in our ocean. With the Manta trawl, we are gathering data on microplastic pollution in the waters that we sail in. Together with the trainees …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainees
  • Trainee

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.