Turku to Szczecin (via Mariehamn)

This is a bumper Tall Ships experience – starting with a Cruise in Company from Turku to Mariehamm giving you plenty of time to learn the ropes, before then starting the final Tall Ships Race from Mariehamm to Szczecin – we want everyone who takes part to have fun… but don’t forget that it’s a race, with lots of trophies and prizes up for grabs when we reach Szczecin (victorious!).

You will be sailing/racing alongside everything from the biggest Class A tall ships (barques, brigs and ship rigged) to the smallest Class Ds (sloops, ketches and schooners). An amazing experience not to be missed.

Turku is situated on the banks of the River Aura, and was previously the capital of Finland. The vessels will travel on a spectacular route through the archipelago, before arriving right in the middle of the city. The Tall Ships Races 2024 will mark the sixth time that the Host Port city has welcomed The Tall Ships Races since 1996.

Located in Åland, an autonomous collection of islands at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, the town of Mariehamn is no stranger to Tall Ships events. Its rich maritime history is married with a warm and welcoming nature from its 11,700 inhabitants and visitors can expect a relaxed and picturesque town to explore. A particular highlight is the unique museum, the Tall Ship Pommern – the only four-masted barque in the world in original condition, never having had any large structural changes made.

Szczecin is one of the largest cities in the north of Poland. It’s known as Poland’s “green city of ecology” and it’s famous for its yachting. It was the final port for the Tall Ships Races in 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2017 where over two million people came to see the world’s magnificent Tall Ships during the event.

This fantastic cruise in company and race combination will offer a wide range of festivities, attractions and crew activities during Europe’s largest, free, family festival. All of which is sure to make this edition of The Tall Ships Races a truly unforgettable experience.

This voyage will spend slightly longer in port than a regular JST voyage, due to the fantastic event programme laid on by the Tall Ships Race Host port organisers. You will be able to explore other tall ships and take in the sights and sounds of the local culture and history. You will likely also be asked to help out for a few hours whilst Tenacious hosts her own ‘open ship’. As the hardened seafarers who sailed her there, who better to tell people all about your experience and our wonderful tall ship!

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 £1,696 for the 16 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.