Thalassa Journal

Ships journal Thalassa

The whereabouts of Thalassa and School at sea

On Sunday, October 13, the new group of youngsters boarded, greeted by a guard of honor from former SAS members. The Thalassa stayed in port for the first few days and everything focused on getting accustomed: to each other, life on board, cooking, and of course, safety! From learning to recognize the alarm to properly putting on a life jacket – it all was covered. Then it was finally time: ready, set, go! Off to Spain. The first dolphins have been spotted, the first fish caught and eaten and the first cases of seasickness (fortunately only temporary) have occurred. To see where the Thalassa is currently located, we refer you to the following link: Marinetraffic.

To follow the experiences of the young people on board, we invite you to visit the School at Sea website: School at sea.

Our journeys in 2025

This year we performed some beautiful trips to Scotland, France, and England. For the upcoming spring we have more exciting themed voyages planned: whisky, hiking, and adventurous journeys.

Through this newsletter we would like to tell you more about the first two whisky trips in Scotland, spring 2025, 10-17th of May and 17th-24th of May. Both whisky trips will be guided by our whisky expert Bob Wenting.

Bob Wenting, an introduction and personal note

Bob is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to whisky, or as he might say himself, a whisky mercenary. He is a co-owner and organizer of Maltstock, founder of Comedus where he helps people obtain whisky diplomas (Whisky Ambassador certificate), a board member of the International Whisky Society, writes courses on alcohol and last but not least, he is the Brand Ambassador for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We asked Bob to write a personal note to introduce himself (to those who may not know him yet) and perhaps give a sneak peek into his plans for the two trips he will be leading with us:

“Traveling in Scotland is fantastic but traveling by water in Scotland feels truly extraordinary to me! It offers a completely different view of the country. From the water, you experience Scotland’s grandeur and its deep connection with the sea. You get to admire the landscape from a slight distance, yet many places feel closer from the water than ever, revealing beauty unlike any other perspective. This applies to the scenery and nature but especially to the whisky distilleries along the coast.

It’s quite special, almost intimate, that as a traveler you can see distilleries from afar and then visit them directly from the ship. In the evening, after a day on Islay, you can savor a dram of Laphroaig in the dusk, watching the sun set behind the distillery. At Tobermory you approach the harbor in a small inflatable boat to visit the distillery. And anchored near Ardnamurchan, surrounded by mist-covered hills around Eilean Mór, it’s almost easy to forget you came for the distillery. From the dock you walk there directly, avoiding at least an hour and a half on single-track roads. These are just a few memories that bring a huge smile to my face.

And all of this happens on a beautiful sailing ship with a crew brimming with passion. A little dependent on what the weather, tides, and currents allow but always unforgettable. In short, I feel privileged to guide travelers on their journey of discovery from the water. I’ll do my utmost to make it a memorable whisky trip and I’m very curious to meet the guests I’ll be guiding! See you aboard the Thalassa!

Sláinte! “

Whiskysailing journey Ullapool – Oban: 10 – 17 mai 2025

Planning:

An enchanting journey through the Scottish islands and their unique distilleries begins in the picturesque fishing town of Ullapool. Under the guidance of our whisky expert Bob Wenting we visit several distilleries along the route, including the Ardnamurchan, Tobermory, Talisker on Skye and Isle of Raasay Distilleries. Raasay, located in the Inner Hebrides, is famous for its pipers and known from the tune “Mrs. MacLeod of Raasay.” Here every drop of whisky and gin is distilled, aged and bottled on the island, using water from the Raasay Distillery’s own spring.

Also on the wish list for this journey is the Harris Distillery in Tarbert, the largest town on the Isle of Harris. Local men and women combine ingredients from the island’s natural landscape to produce an exceptional Outer Hebridean whisky.

Via Loch Harport the ship sails to Carbost, home to the renowned Talisker distillery, the oldest working distillery on Skye, famous for its sea-influenced whiskies (subject to the availability of entry tickets).

Rum, also known as the "playground of nature," is an alternative destination, home to wild goats and Rum ponies for centuries. In poor weather we’ll divert to Mallaig, a remote fishing village with walking trails and stunning views of Loch Nevis.

If possible we’ll visit the Ardnamurchan distillery, a modern distillery focused on sustainability and cooperation with the local community.

Thalassa continues to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, known for its colorful houses and artisan shops. The journey ends in Oban, a charming town full of galleries and local shops, easily explored on foot.

More information and booking: Whisky journey Ullapool - Oban 2025.

NOTE: For all our trips and their programs the wind and weather conditions apply!

Whisky Sailing Tour Oban – Troon: 17 – 24 May 2025

Sail with the currents and wind, enjoying Scotland’s stunning landscapes from the unique perspective of a ship. Departing from Oban on Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Thalassa will take us to Troon over seven days. Guided by an onboard whisky expert Bob Wenting, we’ll visit distilleries along the route.

Scotland, like France with its wine regions, has distinct whisky regions. This tour intends to explore four of six regions: Highlands, Islands, Islay, and Campbeltown, offering a perfect chance to learn about regional whisky differences and unique characteristics.

We’ll visit historic distilleries from the late 17th century and modern ones, all producing whisky with craftsmanship and regional influences. Depending on wind and weather, potential stops include Oban, Ardnamurchan, Tobermory, Jura, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Ardnahoe, Kilchoman, Bruichladdich, Bushmills, Glen Scotia, Springbank, and Glengyle. Laphroaig fans can even plant their plot flag and enjoy a dram.

Evening workshops delve into flavor profiles, regional differences and the art of whisky. There will be ample opportunity to share tasting experiences with fellow travelers.

In addition to Scottish distilleries we’ll also visit Bushmills in Northern Ireland, adding a taste of Irish whiskey to our journey.

Alternatively, some days may focus on exploring the breathtaking Scottish island landscapes instead of distilleries.

At each stop there are walks available, ranging from short excursions to longer routes. Guests should not miss the impressive landscape of the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, as well as the beautiful walks around Tobermory and Islay through local nature reserves.

The nautical life can be experienced in various port towns such as Port Ellen, Tobermory and Campbeltown.

Oban, Campbeltown and Tobermory also offer a good selection of museums, galleries, shops and local attractions.

More information and booking: Whisky journey Oban - Troon 2025.

NOTE: For all our trips and their programs the wind and weather conditions apply!

The three-masted barquentine Thalassa is an exceptionally strong, seaworthy ship. With her 16 sails she is an impressive sight on the horizon. Sailing on the Thalassa means relaxation, luxury and adventure, all at the same time. An experienced crew, an excellently equipped accommodation and the culinary surprises served on board, guarantee you a wonderful trip. During her sailing trips Thalassa can receive 30 persons. NOTE: For all our trips and their programs the wind and weather conditions apply!

Tall Ship Thalassa is an exceptionally comfortable ship, ideal for receptions and parties on board thanks to the spacious saloon and the covered afterdeck. The ship offers space for 140 guests

Information and bookings general

More information about this and other sailing trips can be found on our website.
If you have any other questions, we are of course happy to answer them personally. You can reach us by e-mail: Brigitte@tallshipthalassa.nl or by phone: +31 - (6)8 2446488