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, Sorlandet

From € 840,-

Book this journey

International Exchange Tall Ships Races Sail Training

15-25: € 840,-
26-70: € 930,-

Book this journey

Sorlandet:
Le Havre (FR) - Dunkirk (FR)

06 July - 12 July 2025

The Tall Ships Races 2025: Race 1. Sail from Le Havre to Dunkirk in a short but exciting race on board the Sorlandet! This Norwegian Tall Ship will give you plenty of opportunities to learn sailing skills: from climbing the masts and working with sails, to steering and navigating. Sail in watches, day and night, to win the race, and then celebrate at your destination by participating in a maritime events in Dunkirk. Spend two days in port, joining the international crews of other vessels in a Crew Parade, Crew Party, games and competitions. Make new friends, and create memories of a lifetime!
Open to Windseekers aged 15-70.

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 of all ages, minimum age 15 years
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 70
  • 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
  • Possible diets: regular, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-intolerant and some allergies (not life-threatening).
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: sleeping bag, pillow, pillowcase, bedsheets and towels. Optionally: a padlock for your locker.

  • "Take chances. If you don't try, you'll never know."

    Myriam (20), Belgium

You sail on the Sorlandet

Sorlandet under Sails
Shipping type: Threemast Full Ship
Homeport: Kristiansand (NO)
Date built: 1927
Trainees: 70
Length: 64m
Height of mast: 34,2 m
Sail: 1236 m2

Read more

Windseeker logs

  • We Learned How to Work Together While Setting Sails

    Gulden Leeuw, July 2018

    Sunderland-Esbjerg

    – by Ola

    My name is Ola. I’m 15 years old and I come from Poland. It was a big pleasure for me to be a part of The Tall Ships Races 2018 on the Leg from Sunderland (England) to Esbjerg (Denmark). I …

    Read log

  • Almost Home

    Oosterschelde

    Cape Verde - Netherlands

    – by crew Oosterschelde

    In a way we’re having bad luck: the English Channel is an area with a lot of traffic. Unfortunately we cannot see it. On our last day at sea the temperature dropped till 7 degrees (above zero, fortunately) and the …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainee
  • Sørlandet
  • Sørlandet

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.