Trip duration
Number of nights
0 - 30
Country Region
Type of sailing activity
Everyday life on board
A typical voyage itinerary ...
What can I expect on a sailing trip with the Eye of the Wind?
The Eye of the Wind sails the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic and the Caribbean all year round. But as different as the sailing areas are, the individual tours have many commonalities in terms of the procedures on board. Here we present our (future) fellow travellers with an exemplary itinerary in text and pictures.
First steps on board: arrival, getting to know each other, dinner together
In most cases, embarkation begins at 7 p.m. with a welcome drink and dinner. This gives you the opportunity to get to know the regular crew and your fellow passengers. From the outset, the atmosphere on board is relaxed and friendly, and people usually address each other informally by their first names.
You will immediately feel at home in the cozy salons, in your air-conditioned single or double cabin, and on the deck.
First day at sea: start of the trip, safety briefing
Our expert crew will give you a detailed sailing and safety briefing to help you quickly familiarise yourself with the ship.
You will come to know the Eye of the Wind as a seaworthy and reliable ship that has proven itself in all weather conditions.
Of course, you are welcome to participate in the daily sailing activities yourself – no previous experience is required, and active participation is always voluntary. But even if you prefer to enjoy the voyage on deck or in the cosy saloon rather than at the helm, setting and trimming the sails over the next few days will be a fascinating spectacle from a bygone era of seafaring.
Days and nights: a bit of "sail training", nature, and shore leave
Most trips are planned so that we are at sea during the day and spend the nights in port or at a sheltered anchorage. This does not apply to so-called transfer trips, where a distance ‘from A to B’ must be covered within a specified period of time. On these transfer trips, we usually spend several days at sea in a row; port stops and shore leave are then rather the exception.
The daily trip plan is clearly explained by the ship's command with the aid of the nautical chart. The functioning of the sails and ropes is also explained in short ‘theory units’.
As a general rule, the captain often decides on the course of each day's leg and, in particular, the choice of an accessible harbour or anchorage for the night on the same day, based on the current wind and weather conditions and, whenever possible, taking your wishes into account. This way, you will experience the trip as a pleasant mix of active holiday, relaxation, adventure, sail training, enjoyment and nature.
Which sails are set depends on the force and direction of the wind. The decision on sail management and sail position changes almost daily.
Delicious surprises from the galley
Sailing long distances on the open ocean makes you hungry, and hard-working sailors need good nourishment – so you can look forward to the excellent cuisine on board, which consistently receives the top rating in our customer satisfaction surveys. Enjoy your time on board and let yourself be pampered.
From morning to night, our “Smutje” (the ship's cook) will surprise you with varied recipes from his galley cookbook. Depending on the sailing area, local foods and ingredients often find their way into the cooking pot or onto your plate.
Setting sail, staying on course: plenty of variety in everyday life on board
At sea, you will have time for yourself and time to get to know the ship as a place of tranquillity where you can leave behind the flood of information and the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Stress and hecticness have no chance to unfold on the ocean. In harmony with the wind and the sea, everyday life on board encourages individual deceleration and the discovery of slowness.
When the skies are cloudy, simply make yourself comfortable below deck in the cosy saloon and browse through the extensive on-board library or DVD selection. A television with DVD player is available there. And, of course, a cup of tea or coffee is always available to warm you up.
A 100-year-old ship needs care
Wood, brass, canvas, ropes: these materials require regular maintenance. When the weather is good, free time is used for repair work. These tasks are also carried out by the members of our regular crew.
Guests travelling with us are welcome to help, but this is always on a voluntary basis.
In very rare cases, minor repairs to the ship are unavoidable or cannot be postponed. However, the regular crew endeavours to keep the noise generated by the tools to a minimum.
End the day at the anchorage or on shore leave
Anchoring in a bathing bay with opportunities for snorkelling and swimming, a photo tour with the dinghy around the ship or an exploratory tour of the harbour – this is what the evening programme could look like. Shore excursions offer an exciting change from life on board. A delicious dinner and a good glass of wine from the on-board bar, perhaps even a view of the sunset, round off the day and whet your appetite for the next day of sailing. We hope that after just a few days, you will have discovered the Eye of the Wind as your personal ‘dream ship’.
Farewell with a duffel bag full of memories
Our crew is committed to providing you with a wonderful holiday experience with varied and unforgettable sailing days. We hope that you will leave with lasting impressions of the crew, the ship and your fellow travellers.
The blue of the ocean, perhaps breathtaking natural impressions or a special discovery during shore leave will hopefully remain in your memory for a long time to come.
When planning your return journey by plane, train or bus, we will be happy to refer you to a reliable partner travel agency – please contact us in good time.