Header trainee

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

Kristiansand (NO) - Esbjerg (DK)

01 August - 08 August 2025

7 days, Valborg

From € 840,-

Book this journey

Tall Ships Races Sail Training

15-25: € 840,-
26+: € 1150,-

Book this journey

Valborg:
Kristiansand (NO) - Esbjerg (DK)

01 August - 08 August 2025

The Tall Ships Races 2025, Race 4. Set sail on a journey from Norway to Denmark, leading up to the grand finale of this year’s Tall Ships Races! Join the crew of the Valborg in Kristiansand and enjoy the thrill of racing, navigating through waypoints toward the finish line. Gain hands-on experience in steering, navigation, and sail handling as you harness the power of the wind to sail day and night toward your destination. Feel the excitement of competition and make new friends as you approach the finish line in Esbjerg. With two days to spare, immerse yourself in the final festivities, joining the Crew Parade, enjoying the Crew Party, and connecting with trainees from other ships and cultures. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure and create memories that will last a lifetime! You can also join a combination voyage, which includes Race 4 and the trip back to Finland: click here for details.
Open to all Windseekers aged 15+

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

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.

Esbjerg is a beautiful coastal city in the South-West of Denmark, with the second biggest harbour in Denmark - a lively place full of fishing and shipping activities. You can observe the town's maritime history in its attractions: from the Fisheries- and Maritime Museum, Esbjerg Skibet statue to the Men at Sea monument, everything brings you back to the sea. Visit also the Ribe Vikinge Center, a fun outdoor museum where you will meet the Vikings themselves!

  • Kristiansand (NO)

  • Esbjerg (DK)

Key points

  • Dates: 1 August 2025 - 8 August 2025
  • Embarkation: 17:00 / Disembarkation: 10:00
  • For Windseekers of all ages, minimum age 15 years
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 24
  • 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: bottom sheet, sleeping bag, pillow & pillowcase, towels
  • You will sleep in a bunk. You might have to share a double bunk with another person.

  • "I learned a lot about both sailing and sustainability, and the social life was amazing."

    Thea (20), Denmark

You sail on the Valborg

Shipping type: 2-masted galeas
Homeport: Helsinki
Date built: 1948
Trainees:
Length: 36 m
Height of mast: 20 m
Sail: 360 m2

Nowadays Valborg serves as a Sail Training vessel, participating in events like the Tall Ships Races and offering charter trips to companies and private groups to finance the Races. During winter Valborg stays in water (and ice), and serves as …

Read more

Windseeker logs

  • Mentoring on The Maybe

    Maybe, July 2017

    – by Killian Borland (17)

    I was a youth volunteer on The Maybe for the month of June 2017. It was an experience that I will never forget. I loved every minute of it. One of the best things about sailing on The Maybe is that …

    Read log

  • 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

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.