Tall Ships Sailing Weekend UK

Sailing Type – Coastal

Thanks for a truly memorable weekend! The sailing experience and tuition were first class: I enjoyed the companionship very much: all that under the leadership of two people talented and thoroughly pleasant in equal measure. It was a privilege. Thank you again. And the megastar was Trinovante – what a ship!

Michael

You can book on any of our UK sailing weekends as a complete beginner or an experienced sailor.  All the training you need to fully participate onboard is included. You’ll be hoisting sails, steering, and generally participating in all the things that sailors do. That includes watching the sunset in a quiet anchorage at the end of the day.

If you have never sailed before, more information about what to expect from this sailing weekend is here
Learn To Sail  
About Life Onboard
Saiing Videos

About The Thames Estuary

The Thames Estuary is a fascinating area to take a break for a weekend sailing. Here you can enjoy a world of contrasts.

In quiet river anchorages, the tide ebbs and flows, as it has done for thousands of years.
We often have the place almost to ourselves. It’s a perfect location to hear oystercatchers and other wading birds calling as they feed on the mudflats.

A short day sail up the coast is the hustle and bustle of commercial activity on the River Orwell at Felixstowe. Here is one of the busiest container ports in the UK where big tugs manoeuver ships arriving from all over the world.

Steeped in sailing history and tradition, the Thames Estuary is one of the last places in the UK where traditional boats are still a common sight.

This is also Trinovante’s ‘home’ and where our schooner was built so we know it well.

Where Does Trinovante go in a weekend?

Remember this is only a rough guide. on the actual weekend, we will be tailoring what we do to fit with the wind, the weather, and the tides

Sailing Day One

You arrive at Ipswich at 4 pm. Trinovante will leave Ipswich as soon as possible to head straight down the River Orwell.

Under the bridge, through the moorings, along wooded banks past Pin Mill, and onto Felixtowe.  An anchorage in the River Stour awaits before dinner and maybe a couple of beers on deck.

On the first evening, you will learn enough to feel comfortable onboard. We’ll also cover some basic safety training.

Sailing Day Two

The following day Trinovante will weigh anchor, sail past Harwich and head out to sea. Sailing down the coast you will be leaving Walton-On-The-Naze and Clacton Pier on the starboard side.
The aim is to reach the River Blackwater or the River Colne to drop anchor for the night.

At the end of day two, you will have learnt how to put up the sails and have had a go at helming. You may even start to feel like an old sea dog.

Sailing Day Three

Will we be tacking, have the wind on the beam or astern as we sail up the ‘Wallet’ past the Gunfleet wind farm to Harwich?

Trinovante often moors alongside Halfpenny Pier for the night. The crew sometimes goes ashore after dinner to one of the local pubs in Harwich Old Town.

Sailing Day Four

One possibility is to sail deep into the rolling Suffolk countryside along the River Stour.  Or we could spend some time sailing out of the River Orwell.  All too soon the weekend is over and it is time to return to  Ipswich for a 4pm arrival in the marina.

We usually run several sailing weekends each year but there is only one in 2020 so if you want to book, don’t delay. This weekend will soon be full.

All voyage notes refer only to possible itineraries – where we sail, the type of sailing and passage lengths and the places we call into will be entirely dependent on the wind and weather at the time.