Practical tips

... is our top priority not only in this overview, but above all on board. Before the start of each voyage, a detailed safety briefing is given by the crew. A sufficient number of individual life-saving equipment (life jackets and survival suits) are of course available. The ship's communication and safety equipment meets international requirements. Every member of the crew has completed special safety training. Our cruising areas are selected in such a way that fast and reliable assistance is guaranteed in an emergency (the Atlantic crossing is an exception).

No previous sailing experience is necessary for a stay on board. Active participation in sailing manoeuvres is always on a voluntary basis and under the guidance of the experienced crew. Climbing harnesses that meet the necessary safety requirements are available on board for climbing up the mast. All routine work on board and ship operations (shopping, catering, cleaning, etc.) are carried out by the crew. For the typical tasks of daily life on board - such as "deck scrubbing" - the following also applies: Helping hands are welcome and assistance is always voluntary.

Bed linen and towels will be ready in the cabins on your arrival. The weight of your luggage should not exceed 20 kilograms if possible. If you are travelling by plane, please also observe the baggage regulations of the respective airline. If possible, do not use hard-shell suitcases or bulky items of luggage, as these are difficult to stow in the cabins. Use "soft bags" (e.g. travelling bag, sports bag, duffle bag). It is generally advisable to only take as much luggage with you as necessary. On a sailing trip, you will hardly need any formal outfits and there is less space in your wardrobe than you are used to at home. The following list is at best a recommendation and should be adapted and supplemented by you depending on the season, sailing area and your personal needs.

General luggage
- light jacket
- long trousers
- light jumper
- Boat shoes or trainers
- Shoes for shore leave
- Socks, underwear
- T-shirts
- Sleepwear

For "warmer" sailing areas
- Shorts
- Flip-flops / sandals
- Swimwear
- Bathing shoes
- Snorkel, fins, diving goggles if necessary
- Peaked cap / Sun hat
- Sarong / wrap skirt if necessary

For "colder" sailing areas
- Windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers
- waterproof boots
- long trousers (e.g. jeans)
- Wool or fleece jumper / Fleece jacket
- Wool or fleece hat
- Scarf
 
Other items
- Sailing gloves (or cycling gloves with half fingers)
- Sun cream / sunblock (no sun oil - makes the deck slippery)
- Sunglasses, glasses strap
- Moisturising cream, lip care, other personal bathroom and toiletries
- Your own first-aid kit with medicines that you need personally
- especially for Caribbean holidays: Insect repellent
- Earplugs
- Paper copy of your identity card or passport
- Cash for excursions, alcoholic drinks, souvenirs etc. 
- Camera with memory card and battery, battery charger if necessary, USB stick for exchanging images
- Wet bag (a waterproof bag, e.g. for beach trips with the dinghy)
- small rucksack for shore excursionsplastic bag for worn clothes, if necessary

For sailing trips, it is important to bring warm and waterproof clothing regardless of the season. Rainproof and windproof jackets and trousers are an advantage. We also recommend headgear, e.g. a scarf or Cap, non-slip and waterproof footwear and gloves. For safety reasons, please avoid wearing shoes with pointed or high heels on deck. Contact of your clothing with robust materials such as wood, hemp ropes and steel can hardly be avoided on a traditional sailing ship. In addition, your clothing may come into contact with tar, rust or lubricants, as minor maintenance or repair work is sometimes carried out while travelling. Please choose your clothing accordingly.  

Please bring your valid identity card or, if applicable, a valid passport and boarding pass. If you are travelling to the Caribbean, please remember that your passport should be valid for at least six months. When travelling abroad, you may also need to observe any visa or passport regulations. Remember your flight, train or bus tickets! If you have a mileage book, please bring it with you and you will receive your mileage confirmation at the end of the cruise.  

The costs for arrival and departure are not included in the tour price. For the individual planning of your arrival and departure, we will be happy to arrange a reliable partner travel agency for you, please contact us in good time if required.              

Travelling by public transport to ports in Germany         
For a comfortable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective journey by train, we recommend our offer Rail & Sail - by train to the ship. With the cooperation offer from AKADEMIE HERKERT and Deutsche Bahn, you can also travel to FORUM train & sail GmbH events in a relaxed and comfortable way. Ask us please ask for details and booking options.

The arrival and departure times can be found in the booking confirmation and the boarding pass, which is usually sent to you six weeks before the start of the journey. You will usually receive the latest information on the exact berth by e-mail at least two weeks before the start of your journey. The times for embarkation are binding - however, if you are unable to make it to the specified check-in time, please inform either the Ship's office or the ship's command. If the check-in time is in the evening (usually at 7 pm), the cruise begins with a first dinner together on board.

We recommend that you take out private leisure accident insurance and, if necessary, a special International health insurance incl. repatriation. If you are dependent on medication, please bring sufficient medication with you on board. Please inform us in advance the office and the captain on board about your medical condition (e.g. allergy sufferers, diabetics). An emergency pharmacy is available on board; all crew members are trained in first aid. Sun cream with a high sun protection factor and, if necessary, a good pair of sunglasses should not be missing from your luggage. Spectacle wearers should bring a strap to secure their glasses. To combat seasickness, we recommend taking vitamin C, preferably in the form of ginger preparations, which you can obtain from pharmacies, health food shops or chemists (this is not intended as medical advice; please check the package instructions and any intolerances). When travelling outside Europe, any necessary vaccinations must be taken into account.

Before participating in voyages where it is not possible to call at a port for a period of more than one week or only under difficult conditions (e.g. Atlantic crossing), a medical certificate confirming physical and health suitability must be submitted in advance. You will receive an information sheet from us with further instructions. We also recommend a visit to the dentist before travelling for longer periods. The ship is not suitable for people who are dependent on a wheelchair or similar mobility aids.

We recommend the Taking out travel insurance in the event that you are unable to travel for health or other reasons. In individual cases, it may also be advisable to take out international health insurance and/or travel cancellation insurance.

The cruise price includes all overnight stays with accommodation in comfortable double cabins and full board (incl. all meals, water, coffee, tea). The extensive on-board library (incl. DVD collection and TV) can be used in the lower saloon.     
                       
The cruise price does not include travel to and from the destination, fees for any entry visas required for individual countries, the cost of shore excursions and drinks from the on-board bar (soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits are available).    

We do not charge any additional or hidden costs such as annual association or membership fees, a payment into the "on-board cash box" for provisions and harbour mooring fees, an additional fee for the ship's cook, a fixed tip for the regular crew, or even a "diesel flat rate", etc. All these ship operating and service costs are already included in the final price.

We attach great importance to the fact that we do not sail with a frequently changing volunteer crew, but with a permanent crew. The crew consists of a captain, helmsman, engineer, cook and sailors. All crew members are familiar with the ship, even in difficult nautical situations, which also contributes to your personal safety.    

Our Office is staffed five days a week.

The itinerary and the stopovers and harbours indicated in our travel descriptions are optional and may change at short notice due to wind and weather conditions. The captain often decides the course of each day's stage on the same day and - whenever possible - taking your wishes into account. As travelling under sail depends on the wind direction and strength, it is unavoidable that some sections of the route - sometimes even longer stages - have to be covered with the help of the engine. This is particularly the case when there is no wind and for so-called "territorial voyages", e.g. on estuaries and in archipelagos. The ship's command endeavours to keep the running times of the main engine and the generator for power generation to a necessary minimum. As a rule, the boat sails during the day before mooring in the harbour or anchoring in the evening. On the longer so-called transfer cruises, the boat is also sailed or motored at night. In some harbours and bays in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, the ship cannot moor at a fixed berth due to excessive draught. In this case, the "disembarkation" and shore leave are carried out with the help of the motorised dinghy. As a rule, we do not offer guided shore excursions; shore excursion activities must be planned independently.

As is usual on sailing ships, accommodation is in two-person cabins. The cabins are comfortably equipped. In addition to a WC, shower and air conditioning, each cabin has standard 230 volt power connections. Bed linen and towels are provided in the cabins. Please expect limited room for manoeuvre compared to the everyday situations you are used to at home; the storage space for luggage in the cabins is also limited. You will hardly be in the cabin during the day, but preferably in the saloon or on deck. If available, single accommodation can be arranged for an additional charge. If you so wish, contact us in good time, please.

The maximum number of participants for day trips, sailing trips with overnight stays and training courses is limited to 12 people.

The languages spoken on board are German and English. The international crew communicate with each other in English; the ship's command and most crew members (also) speak German.

The Eye of the Wind is certified as a civilian sail training vessel by the Sail Training International organisation. Active sail training is practised during regular ship operations.
 
All voyages are suitable as proof of experience for skippers and engineers on traditional vessels in accordance with the regulations of the DSV (German Sailing Association) and the DMYV (German Motor Yacht Association) and in accordance with the Ordinance on the Acquisition of Sport Sea and Sport Ocean Vessel Licences and the Manning of Traditional Vessels (Sport Sea Vessel Licence Ordinance, SportSeeSchV of 1992 / 2010). Sailing on a "hand against berth" basis is generally not possible with us. Young people who are interested in a trainee programme on boardplease contact the ship's management directly or the Ship's office.

Our Seminars and management training usually last three to four days and are characterised by an alternation of theoretical and practical units (alternating between the saloon and active on deck). With regard to luggage, clothing, travelling, itinerary, etc., the same applies to the training courses as to the sailing trips (see the relevant information in this overview). You will receive accompanying training documents on board.

With regard to safety, health, luggage, travel, insurance, etc., the same applies to the day trips as to the sailing trips lasting several days (see corresponding information in this overview). Please also note the following information:

If you have a Day trip with overnight stay have booked: Bed linen and towels will be waiting for you in your cabin on arrival. If possible, do not use hard-shell suitcases or bulky items of luggage, as these are difficult to stow in the cabins. Please use "soft bags" (e.g. travelling bag, sports bag, duffle bag).

We do not have a "dress code" on board for either the day or evening cruises. Please choose your clothing so that it is appropriate for the weather (rainproof and windproof jacket and trousers if necessary). We also recommend that you wear headgear, e.g. a scarf or Capas well as non-slip and waterproof footwear. For safety reasons, please avoid wearing shoes with pointed or high heels on deck. Contact of your clothing with robust materials such as wood, hemp ropes and steel can hardly be avoided on a traditional sailing ship. Please choose your clothing accordingly.      

Please bring your boarding pass with you. Don't forget your flight, train or bus tickets! 

The times for embarkation are binding. When travelling to harbour festivals or other major maritime events, please expect increased traffic and visitor numbers and therefore allow sufficient time before checking in. In particular, when taking part in arrival parades, departure parades or windjammer parades, it is essential to be on board at the specified time so that the ship can depart without delay and take up the intended position in the parade formation.

Our day trips usually take place without a host. Approach the crew members! Our crew will be happy to explain what there is to see on the water and on land.

There is no age limit for participation in day trips.

On day trips, it is generally possible to take your own dog on board - subject to the agreement of the other passengers and the appropriate size of the animal. Please contact us in good time before the start of the trip.

For participation in Day trips there is no age limit. If you are a family with child(ren) attending a longer sailing trip would like to participate, contact us please. We will be happy to advise you on our experience and make recommendations for travellers with children.    

To keep traditional "seamanship" alive, we make it easier for teenagers and young adults to access sail training on board the Eye of the Wind. Cruise participants aged 16 to 25 years can join us as sailing trainees on request at half the regular price.

With Day trips and short cruises, it is generally possible to take your own dog on board - subject to the agreement of the other passengers and the appropriate size of the animal. Please contact us in good time before the start of the journey.

Standard 230 volt power connections are available in each cabin. The power supply as well as the air conditioning and heating system also work independently of the shore power connection, i.e. at sea, during the generator running times (usually in the morning and evening, for several hours in each case). Please only bring on board those power consumers that you absolutely need.

In the harbours and near the coast, reception is usually good enough for the internet to work on mobile devices. There is no on-board Wi-Fi network or on-board Internet hotspot.

Food allergies or intolerances (gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance etc.) can usually be taken into account by the galley staff, provided we are informed in good time.

For safety reasons, smoking below deck is strictly prohibited. Smoking is permitted on the open upper deck at the lee railing (= on the side of the ship facing away from the wind) in the designated area, but not in the narrow passages to the side of the deck superstructure.  

The consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted on board. For safety reasons, people who have consumed alcoholic beverages may not climb up the mast afterwards. As unforeseeable situations are always to be expected at sea, alcohol consumption should be responsible and within reasonable limits. There is an on-board bar on the ship from which beer, wine and other spirits can be purchased. The drinks consumed are usually settled at the end of the cruise. Payment by credit card or other electronic means of payment is not possible.

The cabins do not have their own safe. There have never been any cases of theft on board, which is why we practise "open doors" - also for security reasons. We recommend that you do not bring jewellery and valuable watches on board, as these items could be lost or damaged during your voluntary assistance with active sailing.

On board, the sale of Souvenir articles (books, clothing, mementos) take place. Payment by credit card or other electronic means of payment is not possible there.