Pic: Aaron Tough
ADVENTURE travel is booming as the free spirited among us look for more than a beach and a poolside bar, but few will have considered venturing out from Hull city’s stylish marina.
The ultimate experience for people keen to give back to the community, Yorkshire-based charity CatZero Humber began utilising its 72-foot Challenge yacht to fundraise for its land-based programmes in 2009. Already taking paying clients on trips to the Netherlands and as part of teams in the famed Round the Island and Rolex Fastnet races, the charity launched its first public Norway sailing adventure in 2023 to high praise from clients on this inaugural journey.
Sailing from Hull to the charming town of Stavanger before taking in the stunning region around Lysefjord and the famous Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), clients will be a full crew member during this journey, taking part in day and night watches, cooking, hoisting the sail, helmsmanship, and all other associated tasks. All voyages are overseen by two sailing professionals and an experienced crew, who will support clients during the trip and help them to achieve their RYA Competent Crew certificates.
Anthony Horan, who took the trip with his Swedish father-in-law, said: “The sail is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss. It was a bit choppy over the North Sea from Hull, due to high winds, but calmer waters came when we arrived in Norway.
“It was absolutely gorgeous and picturesque, relaxing as we gently sailed through from Stavanger to Lysefjord.
“The expertise of the crew was amazing – they are all so experienced and knowledgeable. When you are out there, you aren’t just a passenger, you are a part of the crew and have your own jobs to do. Everyone is on the watch rota and cooking rota, the latter of which I really enjoyed doing on part of the journey.
“My advice to people is that life is for living so embrace it, go out there and challenge yourself! Yes, I was a bit nervous before doing it, but it really was the trip of a lifetime, and I would definitely do it again.”
Anthony’s father-in-law, Örjan Borgström, said: “Sailing over the North Sea with CatZero gave me a lot of new perspectives and experiences that were different to the sailing I am used to in the Swedish archipelago or in the Baltic Sea, such as sailing with a big yacht, seeing dolphins and seals, planning for the tide, and learning and sharing experiences with the fantastic crew of CatZero!
“Above all, I got to know new friends and I am hoping for the opportunity to sail with CatZero again in the future.”
Forces’ veteran and CatZero veterans’ programme participant, Aaron Tough, who took part in the sail, commented: “I was in the Army for 10 years and have since been diagnosed with adjustment disorder, so this sail was a really big thing for me.
“It was a bit rough, but the weather made it fun and exciting, and when we arrived in Stavanger I was blown away by the incredible views. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
“The trip is definitely for anyone, not just people with sailing experience. There were people on there who had barely set foot on a sailboat before, but there is no pressure for anyone to do anything they can’t or don’t want to do. Everyone was amazing and I felt very safe and supported the entire trip.
“Now, I can’t get enough of sailing and have been well and truly bitten by the sailing bug!”
Pic: Örjan Borgström
CatZero Humber is a charity dedicated to the support of people of all ages, including young people and full families, helping them into employment or training, and supporting families at the point of crisis. Its unique way of working for the last 16 years, through confidence-building activities, tailored plans and by using the organisation’s 72-foot Challenge yacht as a tool for change, has helped hundreds of people back into education, training, or simply on the path towards their goals.
Danny Watson, CatZero’s Director of Sailing, finished: “Building on the successes of our school trips to Norway, we opened this route to the general public last year. In 2025, we are looking to make it accessible to even more people by offering two, eight-day sails, to include a three-day crossing of the North Sea, followed by visits to Lysefjord and the surrounding area, including Pulpit Rock, before mooring in Stavanger and disembarking. The second Norway sail will see clients joining the boat in Stavanger before taking in the same destinations and sailing back across the North Sea to Hull.
“This new schedule enables travellers to enjoy a packed itinerary of sailing adventures in just eight days, with many sights and experiences along the way. A bonus is that clients are supporting a great social cause, with any funds raised underwriting CatZero’s future.”
Each Norway adventure sail is priced at £1750 per person (flights not included), with food, sailing kit, instruction, and the RYA Competent Crew certificate included. To find out more or to book your place, visit www.catzero/sailing or email: [email protected] or [email protected]