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Enjoy Portland, England by boat! Moonfleet sails daily from Portland Marina in Dorset, out into Weymouth Bay and to remarkable destinations along Dorset's beautiful coastline! All boat trips depart from and return to Portland Marina - come down, see us and have a look around in between excursions. Treat yourself to a maritime adventure sailing our classic Tall Ship, Moonfleet! Here’s a real opportunity for both novice and sailor to try your hand at classic Tall Ship sailing around Southern England’s stunning Jurassic Coastline and the fascinating chalk downlands of The Isle of Purbeck and stone cliffs on The Isle of Portland. For those keen to have a go, our crew will provide an opportunity to try most activities that can be fitted into the short voyage, from weighing anchor to hoisting the mainsail - and even taking the helm! Or alternatively If you don’t yet have the confidence to be hands on, you may sit back to watch and enjoy the ride! We only provide catering by prior arrangement but, if it gets a little chilly, we’ll break out the biscuit barrel and put the kettle on the stove. Tea and coffee for the crew – that means you! If your voyage is more than a couple of hours, we recommend you order a packed lunch with us when you book. Alternatively you're welcome to bring your own food and drinks. Also, regardless of the weather forecast, bring something warm and dry to wear. We’re not sailing into rough seas, but we are putting to sea! Moonfleet is a steel hulled Gaff Cutter, robustly built by the great seafaring people of Holland in 1930. During her early working life she would take cargo from Amsterdam to her neighbouring countries on The North Sea - possibly even Great Britain! After her time carrying cargo, around the turn of the century she was given a major refit in Urk, a small fishing and shipbuilding town on Holland’s inland waterways. Here she was converted to be a Sail Training Vessel and operated as such from Amsterdam for the next decade. Our aim to provide an affordable range of sailing introductions that are available throughout an extended season (Mar - Nov), whenever the weather allows, and therefore provide a tallship sailing experience at a time and price that suits you! No previous sailing experience is necessary and no special clothing or equipment is required - just dress sensibly for the weather! The sailing introduction is all based around a ‘toe in the water’ experience, where you can have a go at the skills and activities needed to take a tall-ship to sea and learn how to harness the power of the wind. For those keen to have a go, our crew will provide a supervised hands on opportunity to try most activities that can be fitted into the short voyage, from weighing anchor to hoisting the mainsail - and even taking the helm! However, if you just want to come along for the ride, then be our guest – sit back and enjoy the sail and the views! As well as the sailing trips on offer, Moonfleet is available for bespoke packages for group bookings, educational trips, parties and corporate events. Prices: Prices are per person. All trips depart and return to the end of Portland. - 1 Hour sail: £20 GBP - Sunset sail around Portland Harbour. - 2 Hour Sail: £35 GBP - Portland Sea Forts, Nothe Fort and Weymouth Bay. Day out and bring your own picnic lunch trips: - 3 Hour Sail: £50 GBP - Weymouth Bay, Bowleaze Cove and Osmington Mills. Anchor near this wonderful stretch of The Jurassic Coastline. - 4 Hour sail: £65 GBP - Durdle Door - sail along to this stunning rock formation and drop anchor for a picnic - 5 Hour sail: £75 GBP - Lulworth Cove - sail across Weymouth Bay and past Durdle Door to this famous and picturesque cove! Drop anchor for a picnic. - 6 Hour Sail: £85 GBP - Anchor in Mupe or Worbarrow Bay for a picnic aboard. See Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door along the way! A minimum of six passengers is required for trips. If you have any questions, we can answer those through GetMyBoat’s messaging platform before you pay. Just hit, “Request to Book” and send us an inquiry for a custom offer.
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Moonfleet is a classic gaff rigged sailing vessel built in 1930 in Holland today used as a sail training vessel based in Swanage, Dorset.
You’ll get directions to the departure location when you make a booking.
Full refund up to 7 days prior.
What to Bring: - Beer and wine Additional Fees: - Packed and buffet lunches can be provided for groups from £7.50 GBP per person. Frequently Asked Questions: • What should I wear? Just sensible clothing really. We won't be going out into rough seas but sometimes the sea air can be a little cooler so a jumper or rain jacket to keep the wind off is always a good idea. On your feet anything but stilettos should be fine, though the deck can get a little slippery if it has been raining so bear that in mind. • What if I get seasick? The ship is very stable so we don't often find people suffer from sickness while aboard but if you're particularly prone to motion sickness then there are some highly effective remedies available from Boots on the high street. We also have some seasickness pills on board for anyone who starts feeling a little queazy while out there. • Can kids come too? Yes absolutely! Children of all ages are welcome aboard and we will do everything we can to get them involved with every aspect of sailing the ship from raising the sails to taking the helm. • Do you have toilets on board? Down below we have all the facilities you'd expect from a home so when a call of nature comes along just speak to our crew and they will show you where to go. • Do I have to pull up the sails? We like to encourage everyone on board to have a go with some aspect of sailing the boat, but if you'd rather just sit back and watch the world go by that is also absolutely fine, our crew will get the sails raised and get the boat underway. • Do we take dogs? Well behaved dogs are more than welcome to meet the Captain Scrummage (Black Labrador). Naughty dogs will be denied treats and possibly clapped in irons (owners too). • Can I have a look at the ship's navigation and propulsion systems? Yes of course - Moonfleet's crew will be happy to show you the modern safety, communication and navigation systems that we use to back up our sailing trips and give you a tour of the engine room!