Your stay at the Gaia

Port of departure: Lemmer

The Gaia, a robust two-mast clipper of the Frisian Sailing Company fleet, underwent major rejuvenation works in 2012. With its width of nearly 7 metres, the ship looks exceptionally spacious. At the same time, the large number of double cabins and tastefully decorated lounge area, or saloon, ensure that guests will feel right at home and that they can comfortably enjoy the elements. Gaia's large cockpit, its excellent stability, and the high railing make the ship a wonderful place to stay, even when out at the open sea.

With its ample size and warm atmosphere, the Gaia is an excellent ship for many kinds of events, whether it is a company outing, team building activity, or a training or management session. But also when you want to go out on a sailing trip with family, friends or a youth society, or when you want to organise a school trip, you are most welcome on board of the Gaia.

Staying on the Gaia means that you’ll be spending a lot of your time outdoors, sniff in the fresh air, with the wind your hair, so you can let everyday life behind!

Sailing on the Gaia

We love you to join in when we are hoisting the sails and execute the necessary sailing manoeuvres. For this, sound collaboration and communication are vital. The better the group communicates and works as a team, the faster the ship can tack and turn. You don't need to be an experienced sailor; the crew will instruct the group in all the ins and outs of sailing a traditional sailing ship. And rest assured, there will still be plenty of time to relax in between the sailing manoeuvres!

The Gaia mostly sails around the IJsselmeer and Markermeer. We sail during the day and, later in the afternoon, we berth in one of the lively harbour towns like Enkhuizen, Medemblik, Hoorn, or Urk. Here, you can go ashore, enjoy a drink on one of the many terraces, do some shopping, visit a museum, or go for a walk or a cycling tour.

When we head out to the Wadden Sea, we often spend some time on the island of Texel where you can make wonderful cycling tours or visit dune and marine park Ecomare.

The Gaia can also access the Frisian inland waterways, although we might not be able to sail with the full rigging when we are there. On the other hand, it is great fun to berth at an uninhabited island in one of the Frisian Lakes, where the group can tell each other ghost stories around the campfire at night and sing songs.

Layout

The spacious and light saloon has four large tables with benches along the walls and offers plenty of seating for up to 32 people. This is where you can enjoy your meals and spend lovely times together during the day or evening in a relaxed atmosphere. The fully equipped kitchen also includes a beer pump. The cosy and intimate seating corner in the kitchen is great for having a drink and chat while preparing the meals.

There are three toilets and three showers between the saloon and the sleeping quarters. The showers offer enough space to hang your clothes while you shower. The twelve sleeping cabins are at the front of the ship and include six large double cabins, four triple cabins, and two cabins with four berths. Every cabin has a washbasin with hot and cold water, central heating, and a porthole and/or deck hatch that can be opened. There is plenty of storage space underneath the beds to keep your bags.

On deck, the Gaia has a large seating area where you can enjoy the landscape and splashing water, and feel the rustling of the wind in the sails. When the sun is too fierce or it rains, we can cover this area with a canopy so that you can remain on deck in nearly all weather conditions.
Facilities Gaia

De crew van de Gaia

Skipper and owner Rob has been sailing the Gaia for more than 15 years. The first years as a sailor, after which he purchased the Gaia over 10 years ago. He knows the ship and the waterways like the back of his hand and can set out the most fitting route for any kind of group or occasion.

Gaia's history

The Gaia was built at the Van Suijlekom wharf in Raamsdonkveer in 1910. The ship was initially used for transporting gravel, beetroots, and grain along the rivers in the south of the Netherlands.