SKIRR Adventures Reviews 12

Enjoyed sailing SKIRR 2025 Leg 1 to Oban, we were given an excellent send off by the shore team followed by helpful instructions on the key roles on the boat. We visited ports including Cowes, Dublin and Tobermory and saw some wildlife along the way.

What an incredible adventure! Jeannie and I embarked on our first big ocean crossing, sailing from Scotland to Iceland. Huge thanks to the one and only Emily C and her amazing team for making it such an unforgettable experience!

We were treated to incredible sights—whales, dolphins, and some outstanding sea birds. The weather was a mixed bag, as expected, but we had some amazing sailing moments, both day and night, including exhilarating upwind surfing with strong winds. The atmosphere on board was fantastic, with both watches working hard to get the best out of the boat.

I used this experience as a warm-up for a couple of legs in the Clipper Round the World Race, and we were fortunate to have several experienced leggers onboard who generously shared their knowledge, guiding and advising Jeannie and me throughout.

Arriving in the remote archipelago of Västermire late at night under the midnight sun was truly unforgettable. Jeannie and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the trip and can’t recommend Skirr enough. I’ll forever cherish the memories of this adventure with my amazing daughter."

First, Captain and mates were absolutely terrific. Their off-shore sailing experience and focus on safety and comfort of their guests addressed any concerns I had while off-shore and they did everything they could to make the experience fulfilling for guests. The boat is clearly set up as a "racer" for traditional sailing purists. All sail work required going on deck versus lines lead into cockpit, no roller furlings, main traveler design actually makes most of cockpit off-limits for safety reasons and requires crawling on your knees under the traveler to get to steering station, there was little to no top-side protection like a dodger or Bimini, no auto-helm, bare bones top side seating, bilges that require hand bailing as opposed to automatic bilge pumps, etc. (Bunk space while limited was comfortable with sufficient storage) I realize this is personal choice as to what type of sailing experience you want and makes sense of you want a racing type experience, and the crew did amazing things to keep everyone comfortable and well fed. For me personally and at my age, for my next off-shore trip, I will look for some more creature comforts more aligned with cruising versus racing. This distinction could be more clearly described in marketing. Also, the Leg 5 intended landfalls seem to be more of a pipe dream with little chance of actually happening (my understanding that weather has resulted in not making the Shetlands or other east coast Islands more often than not). Much of the trip seemed more like a delivery effort with more Urban Landfalls instead of an adventure to more remote Islands that was advertised. Again, I think the captains changes were well thought out given circumstances and weather, and I was personally ok with the changes to the west coast of the UK versus the east coast - but if that is the most likely course, marketing should reflect which landfalls are realistic versus a stretch.

Setting off on this sailing expedition from Iceland to Greenland was an experience that challenged and inspired me in ways I hadn't expected. The journey began by navigating the winding fjords of Iceland, stopping in charming towns like Grundarfjörður, Ólafsvík and Ísafjörður. These places offered an authentic taste of Icelandic life—away from the typical tourist crowds—with opportunities to hike up volcanoes and connect with the locals. Sailing through these incredible waters, the landscape around us constantly shifted, offering new and breathtaking sights each day.

Crossing from Iceland to Greenland was a whole new level of adventure. The North Atlantic is known for its unpredictable weather, and we definitely got to see that firsthand. We encountered a storm that lasted for a couple of days, pushing the crew and the boat to their limits. It was intense, exhausting, and, honestly, one of the most unforgettable parts of the trip. For me, moments like sailing in maximum wind conditions at Force 8 really made the experience something special. The adrenaline rush and the camaraderie among us sailors, including legends like Wavy and Sascha, are memories that will stay with me.

Our time in Greenland was nothing short of extraordinary. Sailing north toward Kap Vedel, we were greeted by landscapes unlike any I’ve seen before—vast icebergs, jagged coastlines, and the kind of serene silence you only find in remote places. The chance to learn about the complex meteorology of the region was a huge bonus. Wavy, our skipper, is not only a fantastic sailor but also a gifted meteorologist. His insights on navigating the often-turbulent North Sea were invaluable and gave us all a deeper appreciation for the art and science of sailing in these waters. The wildlife sightings were also incredible—whales breaching, dolphins riding the bow waves, orcas in the distance, puffins dotting the sky, and even the massive icebergs silently drifting by.

One of the highlights was crossing into the Arctic Circle under sail. We marked the occasion with a fun "blue noses" ceremony that added a light-hearted moment to such a significant milestone. I also have to give a shout-out to Sascha and Kitti, who were fantastic at fostering a sense of teamwork among a crew with varying levels of experience. Their leadership and ability to bring everyone together made the trip not just a sailing expedition, but a genuine adventure shared with friends.

For me this expedition was the perfect blend of challenge, beauty, and discovery. If you're looking for an authentic and raw sailing experience that pushes you out of your comfort zone and immerses you in some of the most stunning seascapes imaginable, this is it.

Skirt 24 leg 4

Organisation was good from the start. Crew on CV11, Wavy, Rachel, and Kitty were outstanding and went the extra mile to make sure everyone got the most out of the trip. We could maybe have used a little more wind at times but overall we were incredibly lucky with the weather, blue skies, white (and blue) ice and at time mirror flat water reflecting the peaks above. Overall a wonderful experience.

Leg 4 of Skirr Adventures- Iceland to Greenland was absolutely brilliant. We got to see and experience so much. Icebergs, Whales galore, the Inuit people, Huskies fjord's, floating ice, erupting volcano and more. Wavy was a great Skipper. He knew so much which meant we could get close but not so close to be a risk. The mates were brilliant. Allowed us to sail the boat but always there to help. Would recommend this trip to sailors who want a very unique experience and don’t mind the cold!

It was great being back on a Clipper boat for an adventure second to none, heading over from Iceland to Greenland. The professional team on board was outstanding, Wavy as skipper with his experience in weather and ice, Sascha as the friendly 1st mate and always smiling face and Kitty, the caring buddy. All three made sure we had a great time. Now Greenland is a weather lottery and it turned out that way. We became struck by a nasty arctic hurricane system that would not let us go over for a week. All expeditions we met were locked in Iceland or returned early after they tried to get over. But skipper and mates did not leave any chance to find a window for us getting over. So in the last week we headed West, we found icebergs and glaciers, we saw whales and we crossed the arctic circle making us all Blue Noses. Mission accomplished. We were the crew to see bergs, killer whales (Orcas), humpbacks and arctic dolphins in one mission. We learned to sail in the cold. And we had extensive excursions in Iceland to learn about people and country. Honestly all of it was really great. Thank you for making this type of sailing available. Great crew, great team, an experience for a lifetime.

The paid crew and guests all had a great attitude. We were together on the boat and ashore for two weeks and I never once heard one of the crew or guests complain about anything. Always a positive can-do attitude about helping each other out, going out of the way to lift each other up. I have a lot of sea time and this was the best group of people I've been around in terms of just 100% positivity. It all started with the Skipper, David Wavy Immelman and echoed by the First Mate Sascha Bonus and the 2nd mate Kitty Philips. Well done Clipper/SKIRR, you guys nailed it!

The SKIRR Adventure High Latitude Sailing Leg 1 Gosport to Oban was everything we hoped for and more. We were supported by an excellent team of both guests and professionals which was so important for both team work and living in close quarters. We were blessed with good wind in the first half to Dublin. Rounding Land's End was the toughest and most exhilarating part of our second passage which added to the proper sense of adventure and achievement. The second half was an unusual glassy and sunny Irish sea into the inner Hebrides to Oban to allow us to enjoy breath taking scenery and at the same time learn everything about sailing on a Global Racing Clipper without the stresses of racing! The team were amazing and supportive helping me personally to develop my confidence about night-time sailing and watches in all conditions. I would not hesitate to return again for another leg which for us, as retirees,was a life-time sailing experience.

Great opportunity to sail a big boat to interesting locations with a professional and fun staff. Weather prevented us from doing everything we originally planned, but we adapted and had a great sail anyway. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.

Discovering Unfamiliar territories in expert hands. Phenomenal adventures with exceptional people. Bucket list or this summers list. I’ve learnt. I’ve seen. I’ve lived it and I know a little more. Amazing crew. Privileged to have met them and worked with them. Thank you.