Sail with us up the east coast to Whitby, on the River Esk for the weekend, and in time to watch their annual regatta before making the passage back to Lowestoft. Sadly, Excelsior is too big to take part in, but it will be an amazing spectacle with plenty of entertainments and events going on. If you'd prefer to reacquaint yourself with terra firma after a couple days at sea, walk up the hill to Whitby Abbey ruins and see for yourself the place that gave Bram Stoker the inspiration for Dracula and what it is that attracts so many Goths!

While we provide meals aboard every day, you might like to treat yourself to fish n chips in the town. Have a look at what else Whitby has to offer: Whitby Activities - Day Trips and Things to do in Whitby

With all our trips, we reserve the right to cancel no later than -10 days if we are unable to fill enough berths. Full refunds will be given.

You'll join Excelsior at Lowestoft's Heritage Quay on the South Pier at 10am on the 6th when you'll be welcomed aboard by her crew, shown to the bunks and where to stow your belongings before a nice cuppa a safety brief before setting sail. You'll be shown everything you need to know to sail Excelsior safely including sail and rope handling, helming, navigation and any other aspect you'd like to know more about. You may be sailing through the night so you and your fellow trainees will be split into 1 of 3x 4-hours watches and overseen by one of our professional crew. You will keep Excelsior on course while the other watches either prep for the next meal, see to the domestic duties, or sleep. If time and conditions allow, your skipper may find a safe harbour to drop anchor for the night so you can relax knowing you'll get a full night's sleep!

As a sail training vessel, by coming on board Excelsior, it is hoped that you'll take part as much as possible in the passage up to and back from Whitby. We have 3 professional crew on board who are familiar with Excelsior's quirks, how to sail her and how to get you involved so that you get the most out the experience.

You don't need to have any prior sailing experience, nor do you need to be super fit! Handling sails can be heavy work but you'll never be on your own and some jobs will require almost everyone on board. The companionway (stairs) to the below decks areas are steep and narrow like a ladder and should be descended like one for safety.

We have enough life jackets for everyone on board and you'll be given one when you join us that you need to wear it at all times. Each one is numbered to make them more identifiable.

We have only 2 lifejackets suitable for small children but for this trip we don't recommend children younger than 14 come on board.

Excelsior can take up to 12 sail trainees. We have 6 bunks in the main saloon area, 4 on the starboard (right) side in the forward part of the boat, and 2 in a private cabin. With the exception of the cabin bunks, all others have a privacy curtain. There are 2 heads (toilets) on board but no shower, but there will be facilities in Whitby.

Each bunk space has enough room for your baggage, but don't bring too much as there isn't additional space to store things in.

Everyone is encouraged to get stuck in and that includes with the meal prep and domestic duties, learning how to prepare a dinner for up to 17 is part of the experience but as with the sailing, you'll never be left to just get on with it! Sail training is as much about living on a boat as it is about sailing a boat.