OFFSHORE ADVENTURE SAILING, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

Offshore Adventure Sailing – A Definition

Offshore sailing can mean any passage that takes you out of sight of land or more than 12 miles offshore and lasts for more than 12 hours. If you have landed here looking for a definition of offshore sailing for insurance purposes do not take this or any other definition for granted – make sure you read our notes on buying sailing holiday insurance.

On Trinovante offshore sailing means the crew go into watches, usually two watches which change every four to six hours. As one of the crew you will be allocated to one of the watches. Any time Trinovante is out for more than a day sail there will be a watch system. With SchoonerSail, offshore voyages can be anything from 60 to 800 miles lasting from 24 hours to a week.

An offshore voyage is totally different to coastal sailing.

Sailing offshore is a time of contemplation and wonder. Helming at 3am in the morning across the sea with a clear sky and the North Star to guide you is the most beautiful thing in the world. When you reach land after a 5 day passage you don’t want to get off the ship.

Jess B

Horizons are wide offshore, often there is just the ship, the crew and the sea. Entering the routine of life at onboard and feeling a separateness from everyday life on land brings a sense of freedom. The thrill of being visited by dolphins, seeing shooting stars, the challenge of being at sea, and the excitement of the first sighting of land, all will leave you with a memory of having lived life to the full.

dolphins swimming in the bow wave, offshore sailing.

Standing The Night Watch – New Article

Nightwatch
By Laura Watts

An account of the writers first time on an offshore voyage and standing a night watch.
Written by professional author Laura Watts who sailed offshore on Trinovante from Ipswich to Denmark. Laura had previously sailed on a coastal voyage in Arctic Norway.

Read ’Standing The Night Watch"

Standing The Night Watch
Read The Article

The ships compass it up at night on an offshore voyage

You are a complete beginner, can you book an offshore adventure sailing voyage?

Yes, plenty of people do.
You only need to be looking for adventure and fulfill the basic physical fitness requirements. We are not talking superhero here, merely a reasonable level of agility.

My first ever sailing trip was from Bergen. Never sailed before, but looking for an adventure. Didn’t get off to a good start when I asked Su which end of the boat was the front. It could only go uphill from there.

You are an experienced offshore sailor but only on yachts?

You will find Trinovante much more comfortable in a sea way than a yacht, and a pleasure to sail.

You have offshore experience but on much bigger tall ships?

Trinovante is more lively and responsive than larger vessels. With smaller crew numbers, you will get to be much more involved with everything that happens onboard. Including plenty of time on the helm.

So Offshore Sailing Is Suitable For Everyone Then?

Hmm. It can be rough offshore, wet and windy. Our terms and conditions warn that conditions can be both physically and mentally challenging. Once you are out at sea there is no option to get off.
Offshore sailing is not for everyone. It’s our idea of a good experience but is it yours?

What is it like sailing offshore if the weather gets rough?

Wild And Windy Weather Video taken on an offshore voyage on the schooner Trinovante, in the North Sea.

All Sailing Holidays

Voyages In Date Order

Uk Sailing weekends on the schooner Trinovante

SchoonerSail

Sailing Weekend Breaks UK

September 1, 2023

Fri 17th to Mon 20th May 2024
3 Nights No Spaces Available
A sailing weekend break in the UK. Get out on the water in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

View of waves sailing offshore to Norway.

SchoonerSail

An Offshore Sailing Holiday Orkney

September 2, 2023

Sat 25th May to Sat 8th June 2024
14 nights No Spaces Available
A voyage to Orkney lasting several days with time to sail and explore ashore on arrival.

Sailing In Orkney, a small traditional sailing boat at anchor, harbour view near Stromness.

SchoonerSail Limited

Orkney Sailing Holiday

September 3, 2023

Fri 14th June to Fri 21st June 2024
7 Nights No Spaces Available
High summer sailing and exploring in the islands of Orkney

SchoonerSail

Fair Isle Sailing Holiday

September 4, 2023

Thurs 27th June to Thurs 4th July
Or
Wed 24th to Wed 31st July 2024
7 Nights No Spaces Available
A voyage to Fair Isle from Shetland or Orkney

Shetland Sailing Holiday

September 5, 2023

Wed 10th July to Wed 17th July 2024
7 Nights No Spaces Available
A sailing holiday in Shetland with time to explore ashore.

The Schooner Trinovante enters Whitby Harbour on a UK Sailing Holiday. Copyright Alan Green.

Kirkwall, Orkney To Whitby

September 7, 2023

Tues 6th Aug To Wed 14th Aug 2024
8 Nights No Spaces Available
Sail south along the Scottish coast to Whitby.

View through a port hole of the sea - taken on a UK Sailing Holiday.

SchoonerSail Limited

Whitby To Harwich

September 8, 2023

Wed 21st Aug to Tues 27th Aug 2024
6 Nights No Spaces Available
Set sail on the old collier route. Offshore and Coastal Sailing

Southen Pier at sunset with rigging blocks in the foreground

SchoonerSail

Ipswich To London

September 9, 2023

Mon 2nd To Fri 6th Sept 2024
4 Nights No Spaces Available
Sail on the East Coast rivers and up to the centre of London.

The schooner Trinovante sailing off Felixstowe

Sailing London to Harwich

September 10, 2023

Fri 13th Sept To Tues 17th Sept 2024
4 Nights No Spaces Available
Sail from the centre of London to the historic port of Harwich.