Antwerp to Stavanger: Tall Ships Races 2026 Aboard Excelsior

On the deck of the Excelsior, with the wind filling towering canvas and a horizon that runs from the low-lying ports of Belgium to the fjord-carved coast of Norway, the Tall Ships Races 2026 Leg 3, Race 2: Antwerp to Stavanger offers eleven days of hands-on ocean sailing. This race starts in Antwerp, Belgium, crosses the North Sea, and finishes in Stavanger, Norway; the Excelsior departs under the flag of the Excelsior Trust with international crews and trainees aboard. The route delivers open-water sailing, tidal channels, and a chance to approach Norway’s rocky coastline. The experience is rooted in a tradition that began in 1956 and mixes friendly competition with festival culture in each port.

This trip is more than passage: it’s a classroom at sea. The Excelsior Trust provides full safety training, sail-handling instruction, navigation coaching, and watches; no previous experience is required. Trainees learn to set and furl sails, helm, stand lookout, and log passages while living in the rhythm of the ship—mealtimes, watch schedules, and seamanship drills. All meals and lifejackets are included; wet weather gear and sleeping bag details are provided in the pre-departure kit list. The voyage is Duke of Edinburgh Gold (Residential) approved, making it ideal for ambitious young adventurers seeking accredited sea time.

Beyond skills, the race plugs you into a circuit of public festivals—crew parades, costume competitions, music, and local food in each host port—so the landfall social scene is as intense as the days at sea. The passage itself rewards attention: keep an eye for granite headlands and fjord mouths as you approach Stavanger, and for marine life like porpoises or large flocks of gannets on the North Sea.

Why choose this outing? Few travel experiences combine sustained physical teamwork, long-range navigation, and the spectacle of historic tall ships racing for prizes. The Excelsior’s emphasis on inclusive training and safety makes it a standout operator for newcomers and returning trainees alike. Practical perks include USB points at each bunk, dietary accommodation, and a logbook-friendly structure—ideal for building seamanship credentials.

Plan to arrive at the join location by 17:00 on day one and be ready to disembark by 10:00 on the final day. Bring your passport, a willingness to climb aloft, and a readiness to swap shore stories with sailors from around the world. Expect shifts that test your stamina and reward attention to detail: hauling halyards in spitting spray, reading changing barometer lines, and joining night watches under a sky thick with unfamiliar constellations when you pass beyond light pollution. Veterans insist the best souvenir is competence—the muscle memory of a worn cleat, a neat knot, and a logbook entry that reads '850 nautical miles.' Book early; berths fill fast now.