Leith to Copenhagen

Leith is three miles from Edinburgh city centre, and home of the world-famous Royal Yacht Britannia. Although we will be leaving the coast of Scotland far behind us, Scotland’s waters are a playground for minke whales and porpoises – if we’re lucky they may choose to escort us at some point on our way!

You will be sailing into the North Sea, crossing it’s widest part until you join with the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak inlet and the straights of Kattegat, which run along the coastline of Sweden and Norway. Once you have left the oil rigs and wind farms behind, the long summer days will provide light evenings and amazing sunsets, followed by clear unpoluted night skies away from the influence of land and streetlights.

Sailing around the breathtaking scenery of Denmark and then Sweden, you will be tracing the return sailing routes of Viking longships as they expanded their empire.

You will sail finish your voyage sailing into the stunning harbour of Copenhagen, past a famous statue guarding the entrance to the city. Copenhagen is described as a maritime city jewel in the crown of the southern Baltic, and we recommend you take some time at the end of your voyage to explore the colourful 17th-century streets (beware, there are a lot of cobbles!) and world-class cuisine the city is famous for.

Bursary Funding for members of the Armed Forces!

We still have some LIBOR funding that can only be used by people with a Service Number (whether serving or retired) which would reduce this voyage down to £106 per person per day, so a total of £1,060 for the 10 days. Amazing!! Make sure you put ‘LIBOR‘ in the ‘Promotion or Group Code‘ box at the very end of the booking form. We will ask you to confirm that you have a Service Number, and please bear in mind that bursary funds are allocated on a first come, first served basis – and will run out one day!

What to expect

You’ll have been part of one of the most important teams you’ve ever experienced – without our Voyage Crew we can’t sail, you’re as crucial as that. And we know that with that will come a huge sense of self-achievement – and some new friends too.

Sailing on Tenacious 

Don’t worry if you’ve never sailed before – most people step on board with no experience of sailing a tall ship.

You’ll be part of our Voyage Crew, and be put into one of four teams called Watches. You’ll learn from our Permanent Crew and will take part in all the tasks necessary to operate the Ship, whether that’s setting sail, helming (steering) the Ship, assisting in the Galley or climbing the mast – though that one’s not compulsory!

And you’ll enjoy time off watch every day to take in the scenery, get to know others on board and take part in the activities we have planned. Our beautiful tall ship Tenacious becomes your home for the duration of your voyage – we want you to be comfortable and enjoy the experience of being on board.

*What you pay 

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters we are able to subsidise all our voyage places by 25% from the true cost to the JST to deliver. If you can, please consider making a donation or fundraising towards the full cost of your voyage. This means we can continue to offer this subsidy to those who are less able to afford our adventures.

Historically the JST has advertised our voyages with a larger subsidy, but sadly these levels are no longer sustainable. We realise that the cost of a voyage may be a prohibitive factor, so we fundraise throughout the year for bursaries to further reduce the cost to you, our voyage crew, so that we can still welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities onboard. We recommend anyone that does not think they can afford the existing subsidised rate to read more and apply for a bursary here – please state which voyage you wish to sail on at the same time. We recommend submitting a booking request at the same time as a bursary application as all berths and bursaries are allocated on a first come, first served basis. The Bursary Committee meets monthly.

Why sail with the JST? 

Our voyages are not just boat rides in amazing settings. JST sailing adventures are about giving people the freedom to explore their ability, potential and place in the world.

Life on board is about joining in and getting involved. Everyone is seen and treated as equal. Everyone has a role to play and contributes to the best of their ability.

It’s in this unique environment that we see daily challenges fade into the background.

As Sally says: “When people ask me if I would go again, I reply ‘in a heart beat’.  Seeing my buddy steering Tenacious at the helm and telling me that he felt in control for the first time in his life, was the biggest reward I could ask for”.

Read more stories like Sally’s from those who have experienced our voyages.