About Our Yacht
With a fascinating history, read all about our beautiful boat, ‘CatZero’.
Norway 2027
Register your interest for the 2027 Norway trip.
Dutch Dash & Brugge Blast
A long-standing trip of many years, sign up for our popular 5-day voyages.
Fastnet
Challenge yourself to one of the toughest sailing races in the world with our experienced team.
Corporate Teambuilding Sails
Looking to do something different? Find out more about how we can work with you.
Public Day and Taster Sails
Affordable and fun, join a sail open to anyone aged 16 – 80.
Schools and Bespoke Packages
Schools have already enjoyed our sailing experiences, and yours can too!
‘What Will I Need?’ & Other FAQs
What do you wear? Do you need sailing experience? Q&A’s for your information …
Norway 2027
Register your interest in the 2027 CatZero Norway Sail
Get in touch if you would like to be kept up to date with our 2027 Norway trip. Places will open soon!
Your place on board also supports CatZero’s life-changing charitable work with young people, families, and veterans across the Humber.
Rolex Fastnet Race 2027 – Book now!
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.
Twice Round the World Skipper Danny Watson and his experienced team will guide the crew throughout the training and the race. This will be the 10th consecutive race that CatZero have participated in. Participants will join the CatZero yacht on Thursday 22nd July 2027 at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth for inductions, kitting up and boat familiarisation. A training sail will take place on Friday 23rd July across to the Cowes Yacht Haven, Isle of Wight, ready for 6 days of action-packed racing, which commences on Saturday 24th July 2027.
The race starts just outside Cowes at the Royal Yacht Squadron start line. The fleet head west to Lands End, before heading over to the Fastnet Rock near the south-west corner of Ireland, before sailing back around the Isles of Scilly eventually finishing in Cherbourg, France (see map of course below). After celebrating the race finish, you will head back to Portsmouth for Sunday 1st August.
The CatZero Fastnet 2027 package includes:-
Training Session One: 23 – 25 April
Weekend on board CatZero (Humber), for boat familiarisation and training on River Humber/North Sea.
Training Session Two/North Sea Race 2027: 6 -10 May (Join 6 May)
Join the CatZero Yacht at Ipswich in readiness for the North Sea Race to start from Harwich on Friday 7th May. The race then finishes in Scheveningen on Saturday 8th and the evening can be spent taking in the atmosphere and relaxing before you make a steady sail back to the Humber on Monday 10th June.
Fastnet Race 2027: 22 July-1 August 2027 (Join 22 July)
Join the CatZero Yacht in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth before sailing across to Cowes Yacht Haven ready for racing which commences on Saturday 24th July. The race will finish in Cherbourg and hopefully there will be time for celebrations on shore before you then head back to Portsmouth for Sunday 1st August.
- All meals and refreshments on board
- All wet weather gear and safety equipment
- CatZero Polo Shirt
We recommend that everyone take part in the ISAF/World Sailing Offshore Safety (1 day online) course and the RYA Sea Survival course (1 day), though these are not prerequisites for taking part in the race. We will be looking to organise these if there is enough interest.
Please click on the link below to the RORC website with more information about the Fastnet Race 2027.
https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/en/.
Places are limited! For a place or further details please email [email protected] for an application form. For any further information please do not hesitate to contact Danny on 07920 553976 or email [email protected].
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.
CatZero Taster Sails
The 3-hour taster events sail out of Hull or Grimsby and are extremely popular both for a leisure experience for individual groups, or for business team-building and corporate entertaining. With sails to suit the tide, it is great to see the sun rise or set over the Humber! For a £95 per person donation, this is a unique opportunity to sit back and relax or have a go at sailing yourself. Each sail is limited to 12 places only.
The date for 2027 is yet to be announced – email [email protected] to enquire about booking a place!
CatZero Day Sails
The day sails offer a challenge away from the work environment or simply having some fun with your friends! Our 12-hour sails offer an extensive tour of the Humber area as you will have never seen it before. Skippered by our very own Danny Watson, he will lead you on an exciting, memorable and truly unique journey – not only of the Humber, but out into the North Sea. Friendships will be secured, while others made as we team you up with like-minded adventurers for the trip of a lifetime. We ask for a minimum donation of £195, to include breakfast, lunch and dinner along with all the kit you need. And remember, all the money goes into helping our charity to transform the lives of local people. Limited to 12 places only. For further information please email [email protected].
Gift vouchers can be purchased in advance to make an ideal Christmas or Birthday gift. Contact us to register your interest and for further details email [email protected].
The 2027 day sail date will be announced soon. Email [email protected] now to book your place.
School sails and bespoke opportunities
CatZero offers great individual sails for schools, with highly competitive rates depending on the size of the party and the length of the trip. All clothing and food is included, and all staff and volunteers have enhanced DBS checks. There is a free teacher place for every sail, with no hidden costs.
Meanwhile we offer a variety of bespoke sailing opportunities for all groups or organisations. No request is too much and will try our best to accommodate requests for private charters, especially out of season when the yacht is not used for programmes. Join us on a sail and help us to make a lasting difference, contact us today.
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.
History of the Yacht
CatZero (formerly known as One Hull) is a 72-foot Challenge Round the World Racing Yacht. The vessel is rated Category Zero hence her name, which means she can sail anywhere in the world in all conditions. We take this intrepid, adventurous attitude into our work with young people. Purchased using capital funds from NHS Hull, the yacht is primarily used with groups of young people and adults as a tool to build self-confidence, teamwork and co-operation. In addition, the CatZero yacht has now successfully been able to develop a number of exciting racing and other challenging adventures throughout the year.
What Will I Need?
We understand that signing up for a sailing adventure is a big step, and it’s normal to have questions. Who will you be sailing with? What will the days at sea be like? What should you bring?
Whatever you’re curious about, we’re here to guide you. Our team can provide all the details you need so you can feel confident, prepared, and excited for the journey ahead. Every question is welcome, after all, great adventures start with a little curiosity.
Read on the see the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Need a chat with our Skipper? Contact Danny on 07920 553976 or email [email protected].
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 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 reflected back at you 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. You then might want to pack some different clothes for when you go ashore.
Do you cater for different dietary requirements?
We do our best to cater to all dietary requirements, but can’t promise that food will be free of allergens as it is all cooked in a relatively small environment. That being said, we will always strive to prepare accordingly when provided with enough notice. For example, if someone is coming on board who has a severe nut allergy, we will ensure that there are no nuts on board, and that there is a deep clean of the galley before the sail.
On a mixed voyage we can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to supply any halal food, but we will always be able to ensure that vegetarian food is available.
How involved will I get?
Sailing on board CatZero is an interactive and rewarding experience. Anticipate getting involved with all aspects of sailing- even cleaning! On the longer voyages we distribute roles according to a rota so that everyone gets a chance to perform different tasks, but even on the shortest voyages we try to encourage everyone to have a go on the helm.
