Land of the Giants: Norway adventure
Enjoy an epic sail across the North Sea to Norway, the Land of the Giants, for just £2950 per person
NEW for 2024, this 13-day trip combines offshore sailing to one of Norway’s best-loved towns with adventuring in the fjords from the 8th to the 20th June. Highlights include Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), Stavanger harbour and charming old town, the North Sea crossing, 1000nm of offshore sailing, cruising around the fjords, and skerries of southern Norway.
Beginners and experienced sailors are all welcome; no experience is required on this fantastic experience of a lifetime! At CatZero, we support each other to expand our horizons, and our skilled instructors will be there to teach and support you at every step of the journey. There is also the opportunity to complete the RYA Competent Crew certificate.
Itinerary
The journey will take you 450 miles across the North Sea from Hull Marina arriving in Stavanger on Day 3. Once in open water you’ll settle into a watch system, taking turns to sail through the night.
Days 4 and 5 will give you an opportunity to experience Norwegian life in Stavanger, with its colourful harbour and winding backstreets. Don’t miss coffee (kaffe) and waffles (vafler), though the faint-hearted may want to think twice before trying the brunost!
On day 6, you’ll set sail for Lysefjord where the iconic Pulpit Rock awaits you. A moderate hike will take you to the top of the cliff, which drops 600m down into the fjord below and provides great views of the ‘Land of the Giants’. The next few days will then provide an opportunity to make the most of the immense landscape of the granite-sided fjords and hundreds of islands to explore. If weather allows, there might also be a chance for a spot of fishing, a BBQ, and some swimming for the bold amongst you! You might have a chance to return to Stavanger prior to leaving Norway, or perhaps spend the final night on the peaceful island of Klosteroy, home to a 13th century monastery.
When the right weather conditions become available you’ll set sail for Hull, aiming to arrive on the 19th June for a final night on board. On the 20th June, you’ll help to secure the boat, swap photos, and say your goodbyes.
Places are going fast for this new adventure so don’t hesitate to get in touch. For more information about the voyage, please contact the Skipper and Director of Sailing, Danny, on 07920 553976, or for a booking form please email [email protected] or call the office on 01482 333303.
Rolex Fastnet Race 2025
The Rolex Fastnet Race is one of the most iconic races in the world attracting many entrants from around the globe. This 695nm race is the highlight of the sailing calendar and is one of the most demanding offshore races. Crossing the Celtic Sea to round the Fastnet Rock off the coast of Ireland, the race finishes in Cherbourg, France.
Although places for this race are not yet open, please do get in touch if you are interested in the 2025 Rolex Fastnet race to be one of the first to know when it becomes available.
Corporate Team Building (Sea & Land)
Great teamwork is key to all success and CatZero offers a unique opportunity to challenge, motivate and bond teams – and you take part knowing that you are supporting the work of this vital and unique charity. Tailored to individual needs, we offer management team days, teamwork and leadership challenges, reward and incentive packages and corporate hospitality.
“We are a communications company and as a team we have never communicated better than we did today,” an employee at the end of a day sail activity.
For more details and to discuss your individual needs, contact us.
Sailing and our programmes
Those who sail will appreciate all the skills that a person requires to successfully take part in such an adventure. On board, they need to be a team, working together and helping each other. They are also challenged and must overcome fear and trepidation – in short, the experience builds self-esteem and confidence, in an environment that takes them away from the peer pressure and confines of everyday life back at home.
Our programmes combine this experience – offering both short and long sails – alongside the true challenges our delegates are facing to overcome the obstacles that have so far prevented them from turning their lives around. They are certainly outside their comfort zone as they take part in everything – from being the galley chef, to the engineer and the navigator! Indeed, participants recall overcoming dreadful sea sickness, to cook full meals for their fellow crew members!
We use sailing to underpin the values that people learn on our programmes – we help them find ways to help themselves, and this new-found confidence is put into practice on our sails.
What Will I Need?
You don’t need to be on a programme to sail with us, and for many of our opportunities you don’t need sailing experience. We pulled together a list of frequently asked questions, but please feel free to email [email protected] if you have a question not covered here.
What experience do I need?
For most of our sails, you don’t need any experience of sailing. The only exceptions are the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Round the Island Race, which do benefit from a small level of experience- and it helps to know what you’re getting into!
On each of our sails there are 5 or 6 members of crew who are there to guide you. This is includes either a Skipper and a First Mate, or two Co-Skippers, who are very knowledgeable about sailing and about how to get the best out of the whole team. The rest are then volunteers who often have a wide base of experience themselves.
Many different people sail with us, ranging from people who are looking to get into sailing to veteran sailors. For some, it’s an opportunity to learn a completely new skill, but even for the experienced sailors it can be a chance to sail on a larger vessel and pick up new skills.
If you are worried about what experience is required, please enquire about our taster and day sails, which can give you a feel for the longer voyages.
What is provided?
All food and drink while you are on board is provided, as well as CatZero sailing kit. The kit consists of a life jacket, and then depending on the weather and voyage destination and length can include sailing boots, a warm inner layer (blacks), and a rain-proof outer layer (reds).
What should I wear?
For day or taster sails, make sure that you wear warm and comfortable clothing. It can be especially cold out on the water, and in summer the suns rays are amplified by the water so it is beneficial to wear long sleeves etc to protect yourself from sunburn.
For longer sails, we recommend that most of your clothing is warm and comfortable and that you bring plenty of layers, though it is often useful to pack some different clothes for when you go ashore.