Z09-26: Offshore tidal sail training – Brest → Rotterdam (ca. 450 NM)

An adventurous sailing course with tides, navigation and night sailing

This offshore sailing training is perfect for sailors who want to expand their experience with tidal waters, busy shipping routes, and night sailing at sea. From Brest in Brittany, we sail around Cape Finistère – literally “the end of the world” – in stages through the English Channel and across the North Sea to Rotterdam. Along the way, we practice navigation, VHF radio use, radar and AIS, and learn how to interpret weather charts and calculate tides — essential skills for every offshore sailor.

On the first day, we sail a short leg to the charming harbour of Camaret-sur-Mer, giving everyone time to get familiar with the yacht and each other. Here we’ll spend an afternoon on weather and tidal theory in preparation for the longer passages ahead. Depending on wind and tide, we then sail overnight to Paimpol or Saint-Malo – both beautiful medieval ports with a challenging approach and tidal lock.

From there, we cross to the Channel Islands, stopping in St. Peter Port on Guernsey – a picturesque harbour town with cosy pubs and small shops. The tidal sill at the harbour entrance makes arrival here an interesting navigational puzzle. Weather permitting, we’ll stay an extra day for more theory sessions and some time to stretch our legs and enjoy the island.

Next, we face the famous Alderney Race, where tidal streams can reach up to 10 knots – a perfect real-world lesson in tidal planning and timing. We then head to Dover, again with a night passage at sea. The busy ferry traffic makes navigation and VHF communication particularly interesting here. If the weather allows, there’s time for a walk up to the old lighthouse café on top of the white cliffs – a lovely spot for coffee or tea with scones and a stunning view across the Channel.

From Dover, we make a final long leg across the North Sea towards the Netherlands, a distance of around 230 nautical miles. We sail with a three-watch system (3 hours on, 6 hours off) so everyone gets enough rest. Night sailing with navigation lights, radar, and AIS is both educational and memorable: crossing busy shipping lanes, avoiding fishing areas and wind farms, and planning routes precisely.

The approach to Rotterdam is spectacular – fast-moving cargo ships, VTS traffic guidance, and the bustling port make this a dynamic navigation area. We follow the Nieuwe Waterweg into the city, sailing under the iconic Erasmus Bridge and along the impressive skyline of Rotterdam.
We end this intensive, educational, and unforgettable offshore sailing course with a cosy dinner in town — a perfect conclusion to both the voyage and the sailing season.

The daily sailing distances are between 15 and 240 miles. The above schedule is subject to weather, wind and tide.

Read more about our Offshore Sail Training

Information about this sailing holiday

Participants of this sailing holiday

Sailing holidays Prices 

The price is the rental cost for the ship with crew, including food and drinks on board, hence full board. The price mentioned is per person.

Included in the price:

– Food and drinks on board.
– Fuel, water, shore power, harbour fees and tourist tax.
– 1 towel set and bedding incl. duvet and, of course, a life jacket.
– For after sailing there is also wine and beer on board, based on average use. Should we run out, then you can purchase more yourself.

Not included:

– Your transfer, meaning your journey to and from the ship
– Sailing clothes and boots, you can rent these from us if you would like.
– Possible shore excursions such as renting a van, or visiting a museum etc.
– Food and drinks ashore, the last evening we will go out for dinner and this will be at your own expense. ( Should you wish to treat the crew as a thank you for a lovely sailing holiday, it would of course be greatly appreciated!)
– Optional tips. These are, of course, entirely voluntary, but always appreciated. Any tips are shared between the skipper and crew, as some guests assume that a tip is primarily intended for the Bosun, while the skipper is just as much a part of the team that makes the voyage possible. Contrary to what many guests assume, the skipper on board the Cherokee does not receive the highest salary.

Duration & Time on Board

The listed trip duration refers to full calendar days. Since you embark on the first evening and disembark on the final morning, your actual time on board is on average about 1.5 days shorter. We use this format to keep our trips comparable with other providers – but we like to be transparent about the real time you’ll spend on board.

Sailing holidays discount

Customer Discount:
If you book a second sailing holiday with us within a year, you’ll get 2.5% off the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays group discount:
If you book a sailing holiday as a group (more than 3 passengers), you will receive 2.5% discount per person on the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays youth Discount:
If you are under 29 years old, you will get 5% discount on the ‘board price’.

Sailing holidays discounts can not be combined with each other.

Bonus Discount:
€25 extra discount when you choose a vegetarian menu on board.

Private charter

You can also rent the ship and crew for a privat charter. Then multiply the price with 7. For a private charter, you can choose one of the offered sailing holidays, provided there are no other bookings for that sailing journey. If you would like more information on private charter, please contact us.

Sailing holidays with your own private cabin

If you are a solo traveler and would like the comfort of a private cabin (room), you can reserve it for 1.6 times the price (for crossings, it will be 1.9x).

Extend your sailing holidays with an extra day B&B

On some of our sailing holidays, it is possible to book an extra overnight stay on board based on Bed & Breakfast (B&B, so without dinner) for € 125 per person. This automatically applies when booking multiple trips in a row.

Sailing holiday categories

Category A:
Offshore crossings, includes also sailing throughout the nights. Passengers will also be grouped in the watch system.

Category B:
Offshore sailing holidays, there will be no sailing throughout the nights, but occasionally a late arrival at the harbour (or an early departure), depending on the weather.

Category C:
Relaxed sailing holidays with shorter sailing distances, including more time for sightseeing and sometimes a nice land excursion.

Category D:
Sailing holiday specials, from ‘Sailing holidays with Yoga’ up to expedition sailing. Not every season available.

Category E:
Sailing holiday’s with extra sailtraining.

Category F:
Sailing holidays with also small children on board.