ALL ABOARD THE TALL SHIP MOONFLEET
Not a pirate or smuggler aboard the tall ship Moonfleet as we headed east north east for Lulworth Cove in Dorset.
Mind you there was a ‘Jez’ and not a parrot or wooden leg to be seen. He was the skipper for the 5hour sailing day trip along part of the Jurassic Coast on a brilliant bright warm and sunny day.
Skipper Jez, centre, with his port and starboard socks on the Tall Ship Moonfleet.
The only thing missing was a little more breeze for our return journey to Portland later in the day allowing the sails to fill and the boat to heel in response to a surging wind. Alas not our day!
A gaff rigged cutter from the 1930’s has seen much service in Holland carrying cargo and more recently she was converted into a sail training vessel. Further works at Mashfords yard in Cornwall and she was prepared for operations from Portland a former Naval dockyard.
Tall Ship Moonfleet taking passengers for short or long sailing trips along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
Based at Portland Marina the ship can currently take 12 passengers for a variety of seagoing adventures from 2hour taster cruises to longer 5 hour trips which gives you the opportunity to get stuck into some hauling of the sheets (ropes)!
Get Knotted…Tall Ship Moonfleet passengers learning the ropes.
Novice or experienced helping to take the wheel or raise and lower the sails is not only some great exersize but helps you bond with your fellow cruise crew members.
Lulworth Cove and village from the Tall Ship Moonfleet.
As well as locations like Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door longer trips to Chapmans Pool or Worbarrow Bay are possible too.
If you think you could get tied up in knots on such a trip well fear not!
Ken has them in knots. Tall Ship Moonfleet taking passengers along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
Second Mate Ken will teach you the ropes or rather the ways to tie knots that are useful on the trip but also perhaps in your regular life too!
A bowline is the most often used of the knots but a neat and tidy reef knot is good to know as well!
Stunning views of the Dorset coast from the Moonfleet .
Longer trips it is suggested that you bring a packed meal and some drink. However, with advance notice they can provide food for you. Tea, coffee and biscuits from the galley are there for the whole trip to keep ‘you’ the crew refreshed if you want it.
Moonfleet sail training ship with sails rigged and ready at Portland.
Sailing or as we had to on my trip motor up the Jurassic coast to Lulworth where we had a brief lunch stop just yards from the sloping cliffs and cove.
The view of Durdle Door from the Moonfleet.
Slowly, either under power or sail this offers such a great vantage point to take in the sheer beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Depending on sea and wind conditions and anchorages available at the different locations then its possible to stop for swims or snorkelling in some of the crystal-clear shallow water coves.
Entrance to shallow and clear Lulworth Cove from the stern of the Tall Ship Moonfleet.
Prices start from about £35 for a two hour taster sail and £65 for longer 4 hour trips. They also offer a one hour sunset sails at £20 or the trip I sampled which cost £75. The longer Warbarrow Bay excursion would be £85 per person. Food is not included and is the same price point across all ages.
Moonfleet sail training ship with cruise ship Sea Princess in the background at Portland.
All in all, it’s a really enchanting day out, sometimes there are dolphins to accompany you but it’s the coastal views that are always there for company come rain or shine for it is this coastline is unique and this is a unique way to see it from the tall ship Moonfleet too!
