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Tall Ships Race series 2009
Tall Ships 2009:
Gdynia (Poland) - St Petersburg (Russia) - Turku (Finland) - Klaipeda (Lithuania).
Plus voyages UK to Gdynia, and Klaipeda to UK.
The Tall Ships series brings together sail training vessels crewed by young people aged 15-25 from all over the world., ranging from the largest square-rigged vessels, through a wide range of traditional boats, to the Class C vessels, like John Laing, which are yachts with a more modern rig.
The host ports of a Tall Ships series traditionally lay on superb hospitality for visiting crews, with festivals, entertainments, a wide range of activities and a chance to see other vessels and visit the town itself.
These are some of the most adventurous voyages of John Laing's season, and taking part is always an unforgettable experience.
For official Tall Ships voyages or other voyages starting and finishing at Tall Ships festivals, John Laing is able to take up to four fifteen-year olds on these voyages; all other crew members must be aged 16-25. Younger or older crew members may be able to take part in special adventure voyages either side of the Tall Ships events.
We take both male and female crew, and no previous sailing experience is required - all we ask is that you bring enthusiasm, a willingness to join in, learn new skills and work together with the rest of the crew.
Voyage details
As well as the two races and the official Tall Ships cruise in company, John Laing is offering FOUR special adventure voyages either side of the Tall Ships events.
Prices to be announced shortly.
Kiel Adventure 1:21-28 June, Ipswich to Kiel (Germany), 7 nights, age range 12-25.
Baltic Adventure 1:
28 June to 4 July, Kiel (Germany) to Gdynia (Poland), 6 nights, age range 18+ (adult voyage, no upper age limit).
Race 1: 4 - 13 July, Gdynia (Poland) to St Petersburg (Russia), 9 nights, age range 15-25.
Cruise in company: 13 - 25 July, St Petersburg (Russia) to Turku (Finland), 12 nights, age range 15-25.
Race 2: 25 July - 2 August, Turku (Finland) to Klaipeda (Lithuania), 8 nights, age range 15-25.
Baltic Adventure 2: 2-9 August, Klaipeda ILithuania) to Kiel (Germany), 7 nights, age range 15-25.
Kiel Adventure 2: 9-16 August, Kiel (Germany) to Ipswich, 7 nights, age range 12-25
Kiel Adventure 1:21-28 June, Ipswich to Kiel (Germany), 7 nights, age range 12-25 OR adult voyage.
This is a voyage which could go along the Dutch coast, through the Frisian Islands, or possibly inland to Amsterdam - it all depends on the crew and the weather - before travelling through the Kiel Canal and into the beautiful Baltic. This could be the ideal voyage foror fans of Erskine Childers' fantastic novel The Riddle of the Sands.
The Ipswich to Kiel voyage may be suitable EITHER for a group of young people (aged between 12 and 25), or for an adult group, an option we are considering in case it is difficult to fill the boat with young people on dates which are still in term time for many schools and colleges - please contact the office to discuss your requirements.
Baltic Adventure 1:
28 June to 4 July, Kiel (Germany) to Gdynia (Poland), 6 nights, age range 18+ (adult voyage, no upper age limit).
From Kiel, this voyage will cruise through the Baltic, stopping near beautiful beaches, little fishing ports or remote islands, reaching the Polish port of Gdynia in time for the crew to enjoy the first of the magnificent Tall Ships race festivals.
Last time the fleet visited Poland (Szczecin, August 2007), they laid on a truly magnificent spectacle, with memorable hospitality.
The Kiel to Gdynia voyage may be suitable EITHER for a group of young people (aged between 15 and 25), or for an adult group, an option we are considering in case it is difficult to fill the boat with young people on dates which are still in term time for many schools and colleges - please contact the office to discuss your requirements.
Race 1: 4 - 13 July, Gdynia (Poland) to St Petersburg (Russia), 9 nights, age range 15-25.
The Gdynia Tall Ships festival will be an amazing experience for John Laing's crew members, joining hundreds of other young people from all over the world for a fantastic programme of events and activities.
On leaving Gdynia, all the vessels take part in a parade of sail. On board John Laing, new crew members will be learning the basic skills needed for the voyage: everyone on board will become an important member of the team during the race.
Once the vessels cross the start line, the fleet heads north, past the coasts of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, before turning east into the Gulf of Finland. The vessels will spread out over a wide area, as everyone searches for the best weather and sailing conditions. Twice-daily radio schedules tell us where we are in relation not just to the rest of the fleet, but perhaps more importantly, in relation to other Class C vessels, against whom we are directly competing.
The race ends in time to enjoy another spectacular festival in the dazzling city of St Petersburg - a not-to-be-missed highlight of the 2009 sailing calendar.
Cruise in company: 13 - 25 July, St Petersburg (Russia) to Turku (Finland), 12 nights, age range 15-25.
The crew for this voyage will arrive in time to enjoy the festival in St Petersburg before setting off for a cruise along the Gulf of Finland, with a choice of visiting the southern (Estonian) side or the northern (Finnish) side. When John Laing visited Finland in 2007, we found some of the most spectacular scenery and the warmest hospitality ever encountered.
Turning north out of the Gulf of Finland towards Turku will take us through the Finnish islands, a truly spectacular cruising area. Although we will be sailing with other Tall Ships race competitors, this leg is not a race and there will be opportunities to choose our own route, stop occasionally, go ashore and explore the area.
The voyage will finish with another festival in Turku.
Race 2: 25 July - 2 August, Turku (Finland) to Klaipeda (Lithuania), 8 nights, age range 15-25.
This race will start with a chance for the crew to enjoy the Turku festival in Finland, visit the other vessels and take part in activities with other crew members.
There will be a spectacular parade of sail on leaving Turku, after which the fleet will race south. Again, no sailing experience is necessary for John Laing's crew, as full training will be given on board - but keen and competent sailors are always very welcome!
The race ends in the Lithuanian city of Klaipeda, an historic Baltic trading post with a fascinating culture and history, surrounded by beautiful Baltic beaches.
Baltic Adventure 2: 2-9 August, Klaipeda ILithuania) to Kiel (Germany), 7 nights, age range 15-25.
The crew for our post-Tall Ships Baltic advanture voyage will join in time to share in the Klaipeda Tall Ships festival. Once the parties and visits to other vessels have ended, there is time to cruise west by whatever route suits the weather and the crew!
This part of the Baltic is known for beautiful beaches - the coastline of Poland here is often called the Polish Riviera - and there may be scope to visit ports in Germany or the Danish islands.
The voyage will end in Kiel, at the mouth of the Kiel Canal.
Kiel Adventure 2: 9-16 August, Kiel (Germany) to Ipswich, 7 nights, age range 12-25.
This voyage will start with a gentle passage through the great Kiel Canal - normally a tw0-day trip, with an overnight stop in Rendsburg. A chance to relax as the scenery rolls slowly by!
After the Kiel Canal, the crew will probably be ready for some real sailing. Again, everyhting depends on the weather and on what the crew wants to do. Possible ports of call include Heliogoland (a very popular destination the last time John Laing passed this way), the German and Dutch Frisian islands, or the Dutch mainland and the inland waterways
.
The voyage will end in Ipswich - back in the UK after two months away!
How to book a voyage
Booking form (pdf) - print out, complete and return
Other types of voyages:
ASTO Small Ships races
UK-based voyages
Duke of Edinburgh's Award Residential Projects
Want to sail but can't afford it? - Help with funding
Draft 2009 programme
