Sea voyage Vannes – Rotterdam with the OOSTERSCHELDE

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Sea voyage from Vannes to Rotterdam

The crew on board is international, so English is predominantly spoken.

A stroll through the old town of Vannes feels like a journey into the past. Narrow lanes wind their way between colourful half-timbered houses and historic walls. Gradually, the town opens out towards the harbour, where town and sea meet.

On board, the crew will welcome you, and the captain will give an overview of the voyage ahead: along the French coast, through the English Channel and back to Rotterdam. We begin in the sheltered waters of the Gulf of Morbihan, navigating carefully between the islands. Out on the open sea, the character of the passage changes. The Breton coast slips past on the port side.

A familiar rhythm soon settles in on board. You help with the sailing, take the helm and keep watch. The crew passes on knowledge of navigation and sail handling. Between activities, there is time to relax on deck. After rounding the Île d’Ouessant, we enter the English Channel, a busy shipping route that demands heightened attention. After passing through the Strait of Dover, we reach the North Sea; here the shipping traffic increases further, and the first offshore wind farms come into view.

Via the Nieuwe Waterweg, we return to our home port of Rotterdam, the final destination of this voyage.

Special Features

The ‘Oosterschelde’ is the last survivor of a large fleet of three-masted schooners that sailed under the Dutch flag at the beginning of the 20th century. She is the largest restored sailing ship in the Netherlands and a monument to Dutch shipbuilding and seafaring merchant sail.

A voyage on a tall ship is suitable for everyone. There is no age limit, but it is important to be fit enough to take part in life on board.

Taking part in the sailing and handling of the ship is an important part of the overall experience on board and a valuable enrichment of our voyages. Everyone is welcome to take the helm, set the sails, help with manoeuvres, learn more about navigation, help with furling and unfurling the sails, and much more. The permanent crew will brief you during the voyage. This is done in the "Dutch" style, that is, without shouting, whistling and so on. No sailing experience is required.

The watch system

Once we are at sea, we mostly sail for several days and nights at a time. The professional crew take turns operating the ship. Before we cast off, you will receive a detailed safety briefing and we will invite you to join the watch system. This means we ask you to join the permanent crew for 4 hours to help sail the ship, after which you have 8 hours off. Whether you take part in everything depends on your interest and your physical condition.

The watch system looks like this:

Watch 1: 00 to 04 and 12 to 16 hrs

Watch 2: 04 to 08 and 16 to 20 hrs

Watch 3: 08 to 12 and 20 to 00 hrs

Level 2
Level 2 voyages are often more demanding or take you further from the home port. You must be able to cope well, even in conditions that are at times difficult; if necessary, however, the ship can reach a port within 24 to 48 hours. There is no age restriction, but you may be asked to provide additional proof of your physical fitness or state of health.

The OOSTERSCHELDE aims to be accessible to as wide an audience as possible, but you must be aware that you are embarking on a voyage aboard a seagoing sailing ship. This demands more of your physical fitness than a gentle stroll. Some voyages are more demanding than others. The different levels give you an indication of what kind of voyage it is. If you are not sure whether a voyage is right for you, it is important that you contact us for advice.

General note:
This description of the sailing trip's course is intended only as a rough guide. The itinerary may vary depending on wind and weather conditions, but we try to sail as much as possible.

Transfer
Transfers to and from the ship must be arranged by yourself.

Insurance & Health

The ship and the shipping company are sufficiently insured to meet their liability towards all passengers. Any damage you may suffer during an excursion ashore is not covered by this insurance. In any case, please check the terms of your health insurance.

The shipping company ensures the best possible safety of all passengers on board, but this does not relieve you of your own responsibility. On a moving ship, accidents can happen in every corner, and if you need to take medication, being seasick for a day can have unpleasant consequences. In addition, no immediate medical care is available at sea. If your physical or mental health is impaired, you may be taking an additional risk by taking part in a sea voyage. When making a booking request, you must provide medical information that may be important on board.

The crew

The crew of the ‘Oosterschelde’ generally consists of the captain, the mate, the engineer, the boatswain, two deckhands and a cook. The crew are certified according to STCW ‘95. This means that the captain and the mate have completed at least the SKA training with an additional sailing course module, or have completed the Large Sailing Ship Navigation training. The other members of the deck crew have attended the ‘Safety at Sea’ course, and every member of the crew has undergone a medical examination for seafaring.

The permanent crew are not only responsible for steering the ship, but also give instructions to the guest crew and brief them on board.

Food

The sailing trip fee includes three meals a day, snacks, coffee, tea, milk and water.