"All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by" - From "Sea-Fever" by John Masefield

Imagine yourself steering an authentic wooden Viking ship on a new adventure, just like the Vikings of 1000 years ago. With your hands gripping the rudder ("steerboard"), you feel the pressure against your hands of the sparkling blue water rushing beneath the ship, your friends holding the lines feel the thrill as a strong gust puts more pressure on the sail, your heart beats a little faster as the ship heals over and picks up speed. It is a feeling of being alive, of being in a natural rhythm, connected with the elements, the sun, the wind, the water and the ship.

Harnessing the forces of wind and water, we sail the ship where we want her to go. Maybe today we sail to see some Orca whales, or sail to a secluded harbor and sleep under the stars, or we sail to visit an ancient First Nations burial ground with 400 year old totem poles.

As the sun moves closer to the horizon, we set up camp, start a fire and cook the fresh salmon and Dungeness crabs we just caught. Darkness descends and the sky lights up with bright stars. We sit by the fire to tell stories from today’s adventures. We also tell stories from the old times, legends of courage, strength and adventure. Myths that help us learn how to get the most out of life.

The nights cool off. After a day on the water, sleep comes easily in a warm sleeping bag under the stars.

When we wake up, to the rising sun, we cook a hot breakfast and study the charts. We select our adventure for the day and choose the best route and time to work with the tides, currents and available wind.  By the end of this trip everyone knows how to navigate, how to read charts, tide tables and current tables. In fact, by the end of the trip, the participants can sail the ship on their own, with the crew standing by.  

We take time to come together as a group, sitting in a circle, talking about our victories and about our challenges, our intentions for the day and how we can work together as a team. We make sure to listen to each other, to speak our truth, and to work through conflict in a good way. The trust in each other builds day by day and so does a strong feeling of community and brotherhood.

We offer one and three week expeditions. Expeditions are specifically designed for different age groups and intentionally incorporate leadership, communication, seamanship, community building, ecology, navigation, sailing, character building and many other lessons.

Expeditions are offered July through September. September through June, the ship is available in Seattle for school groups and other outings.

Call 360-774-6888 for more information