Week 1: Rotterdam – Brest
For six weeks, sailing on a tall ship with strangers, with no prior experience. Eating, sleeping, and learning to sail together. That’s what we chose. Would it turn out to be the best experience of our lives or just one big chaos?
The journey began with a bang: strong winds and heavy swells on the North Sea, right from the moment we passed Rotterdam and the Waterweg at Hoek van Holland. Because of these conditions, our departure was delayed by a day. Even though we all took anti-seasickness pills as a precaution, almost everyone still fed the fish. Sharing this ordeal quickly brought us together as a close-knit group. We discovered that dry crackers and bananas really help with seasickness, so these were handed out constantly. We cleaned up each other’s messy buckets and supported one another. After seeing each other at our worst, we began to appreciate each other’s best sides.
The first sighting of dolphins came sooner than expected. Just as we sailed out of the English Channel, someone shouted, “Dolphins!” Everyone rushed to the rail—running on deck being strictly forbidden. A pod of dolphins leaped through the waves alongside the ship. Although they were common dolphins, the experience was anything but ordinary. Even at night they returned, putting on a late-night show. A faint blue bioluminescent glow could be seen as the dolphins streaked past the hull at high speed. It was the perfect reward after a first day plagued by seasickness. What a fin-tastic day!
With time for an extra stop, we anchored on the fourth day at the island of Île d’Ouessant, a tiny island of just 1,000 inhabitants off the French coast. Its centre features a church, a small supermarket, a crêperie, a pub, and little else. The sight of the Eendracht nestled in a rugged, rocky bay was breathtaking. Visiting such an out-of-the-way place was an adventure in itself. Naturally, we took the opportunity to buy our first souvenirs. It was also our first time on solid ground in days, and almost everyone felt the wobble of sea legs.
From there we sailed onward to our final stop, Brest. Officially registered as a cargo vessel, we were moored among rusting, decaying ships—a stark contrast to the picturesque Île d’Ouessant. We were within walking distance of the city centre, perfect for some shopping. As young passengers, we even brought back crêpes for everyone on board. Evenings were spent playing games on deck or enjoying a beer in a local pub. The absence of watches allowed everyone to relax. On the second day in Brest, we decided to visit the Oceanopolis aquarium—a fun excursion for a sunny Sunday.
Between these spectacular moments, our daily watches kept us busy. Hoisting and lowering sails, keeping the deck tidy, making paracord bracelets, and of course, learning the ropes—literally—about sailing. Within a week, we had already mastered more than half of the sailing terminology and could perform most tasks with confidence. Night watches were spent enjoying the starry sky and indulging in toasted sandwiches.
The start of our gap-year adventure was an enormous success. We’ve already had countless adventures and learned a tremendous amount about sailing. Spending day and night together has forged strong friendships, and we are excited to see what the coming weeks aboard the Eendracht will bring.
— The Gap Year Watch