Ways to go to sea

THE BARK EUROPA

The Europa — a three-master dating from 1911 — sails to places like Antarctica and the islands of the South Atlantic. She has 14 professional crew and up to 48 “voyage crew ”— fare-paying passengers who sleep in two-, four- and six-berth, en-suite cabins.

Voyages this year range from 69 days from Cape Town to Rouen, France (from à4,890 or about R77,000 per person), to eight days from Scheveningen, Netherlands, to Aalborg, Denmark (from à815/R12,800). ● See barkeuropa.com

THE OOSTERSCHELDE

The last of a fleet of gorgeous Dutch topsail schooners, the 50m-long Oosterschelde mostly sails in Europe but is currently exploring the Cape Verde archipelago. She carries seven professional crew and 24 guests, who can help run the vessel. Sleep is in two- and four-berth cabins.

This year’s voyages include 28 days from Sal, Cape Verde, to Rotterdam, Netherlands (from à1,950pp), and five days from Bergen, Norway, to Hamburg, Germany (à550pp).

● oosterschelde.nl

CLASSIC YACHTS, CUTTERS AND SAILING TRAWLERS

For hands-on sailing experiences on smaller classic vessels, look no further than Classic Sailing, which offers trips all over the world.

Cruise up the Devon coast in a former sailing trawler or spend Easter on a restored pilot cutter off Cornwall. Day trips on a Brixham trawler start at £100 (R1,800), while a nine-night voyage from Brittany to the Scilly Isles starts at £740pp (R13,500).

● See classic-sailing.co.uk.