OFFSHORE SAILING, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

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

Lightwatch
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 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

SchoonerSail

UK Sailing Weekends

October 31, 2019

Fri 5th to Mon 8th May 2023
3 nights £495
A UK sailing weekend to get out on the water in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

View of waves sailing offshore to Norway.

SchoonerSail

Harwich To Kirkwall, Orkney

October 31, 2021

Sat 13th May to Sat 27th May 2023
14 nights £2160
2 Spaces Only
A voyage to Orkney lasting several days with time to sail and explore ashore on arrival.

SchoonerSail Limited

Sailing In Orkney

October 31, 2021

Fri 2nd June to Fri 9th June 2023
7 Nights £1295
1 space only High summer sailing and exploring in the islands of Orkney

SchoonerSail

Orkney to Shetland & Shetland to Orkney

October 31, 2021

Thurs 15th July to Thurs 22nd July FULL
Or
Mon 24th to Mon 31st July 2023 £1295
2 Spaces Only, 7 Nights
A voyage from Shetland to Orkney or Orkney to Shetland Via Fair Isle

Walking ashore on a sailing holiday in Shetland

Sailing In Shetland

November 2, 2021

Wed 28th June to Wed 5th July 2023 £1295
2 spaces only, or
Tues 11th July to Tues 18th July 2023 £1295
7 Nights
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

May 1, 2018

Sat 5th Aug To Sat 13th Aug 2023
8 Nights £1350
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

May 1, 2018

Sat 19th Aug to Fri 25th Aug 2023
6 Nights £960
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

November 3, 2021

Thurs 31st Aug To Mon 4th Sept 2023
4 Nights £720
Sail on the East Coast rivers and up to the centre of London.

The schooner Trinovante sailing off Felixstowe

London to Harwich

July 8, 2022

Fri 8th Sept To Tues 12th Sept 2023
4 Nights FULL
Sail from the centre of London to the historic port of Harwich.