Bessie Ellen Scotland 2012v2.pub - Classic Sailing

S/V Bessie Ellen 

1904 British sailing trader & happy tall ship 

Western Isles, Hebrides - Wildlife & Exploration 2012

Bessie Ellen 

Built: Plymouth 1904 

Gross Registered Tonnage: 87 T 

Rig: gaff ketch with 8 sails 

Sparred Length Overall: 35.5m 

Length on Deck: 25.6m 

Beam: 6m 

Draft: 2.4m 

Crew : 4 Guest Crew: 12 

Our maritime heritage - still sailing the oceans 

Built in 1904, Bessie Ellen is one of the last three surviving West Country trading ketches (out of a fleet of over 700) still sailing and the 

only one with a worldwide charter licence from the UK Marine Coastguard Agency. Bessie Ellen traded cargoes during the final era of 

sail when these ships were an everyday sight in the small ports and harbours throughout Europe. She continued to run cargoes under 

sail through both world wars until 1947. Bessie Ellen then began a new life in Denmark, where she continued to run local cargoes 

under motor. Her current Cornwall based owner Nikki Alford saw her potential in a Danish shipyard. With considerable determination, 

she managed to buy Bessie Ellen in 2000 and complete her restoration to a magnificent sailing ship once again. Classic Sailing worked 

with Nikki for 4 years and her voyaging from the Scillies to Morbihan and Scotland to Norway built up a loyal band of regular guest 

crew. The Scandinavians lured her away to the Baltic for a few years, but now she is back to stay as a British flagged vessel. 

Running Cargoes Under Sail for 100 years 

Now on the UK Core Historic Ships Register but with no intention of retiring to a museum, Bessie Ellen continues to earn her keep. 

Even as recently as 2010 Bessie Ellen converted her lovely saloon back to a hold space and ran wine cargoes, but now the ship is back 

doing what she and Nikki do best: Adventurous ‘hands-on’ charter holidays where her precious cargo is any adventurous soul who 

wants an authentic experience of traditional ships in the best cruising grounds we can find. 

Lively Sailing & Plenty of Deck Space 

With two masts and lofty topmasts increasing her height further, Bessie Ellen has a lot of sail to play with, and it takes team work to 

hoist the heavy main and mizzen gaff sails. In light winds or racing she can carry topsails on both masts, and forward there are 4 

headsails to tack:- Staysail, inner and out jib and jib topsail, so if you like the idea of being out on the bowsprit with the ships bow 

wave beneath you, then there are plenty of sails to stow out there. Bessie Ellen has fine underwater lines and is fairly shallow draught 

so she is surprisingly responsive under sail. 

Accommodation Below 

The heart of this tough wooden ship is the cargo hold, now an impressive 

communal living space, where you can lie in your bunk and still feel the huge ships 

timbers surrounding you, or relax in the evening with new found friends (sleeps up 

to 12 guest crew). You will feel part of a bygone era, but with the homely comforts 

of a hot and spacious shower, and freshly cooked food on the spacious tables made 

of wood salvaged from a Perry Orchard. The bunks down each side of this huge 

space have a reading light and curtains for privacy, with storage for your things in 

lockers under the bench seating. The floors are oak, and on sunny days in port or at 

anchor the cargo hold roof can be opened up to let the sun stream in. If you are 

taller than average then Bessie Ellen has ample headroom below decks. There is a 

separate galley and crew quarters. 

Reservations UK Office: 0044 (0) 1872 580022 

www.classic-sailing.co.uk

Crewing a traditional sailing ship 

Bessie Ellen has 8 sails and is gaff rigged on main and mizzen 

masts with lofty topsails, so there is plenty to play with in order 

to manoeuvre this lively little ship in the narrow straits. She is 

an impressive vessel to steer with the big ships wheel, and you 

will be fully trained throughout the voyage, so don’t worry if you 

have never sailed before. 

Small Professional Crew 

There is a generally a skipper, mate / cook and 2 deckhands, so 

everyone who signs up for adventure on Bessie Ellen will get 

plenty of hands on sailing, and we are happy to explain or 

involve you in the navigation. If there is any night sailing then 

you will be split into watches, but generally you will be at anchor 

overnight. There is no specific upper age limit but you do need 

reasonable agility and fitness as you are living on a ship that 

heels at an angle under sail, and the usual route ashore is by 

climbing down a short ladder to a ships boat. 


Midsummer in the Hebrides & Western Isles 

Bessie Ellen will sail from Cornwall to Western Scotland in June 

and again in July to offer several special sailing and wildlife expeditions 

starting and finishing in Oban. If you are looking for a 

proper sailing ship that has plenty of room above and below 

decks, but still offers an intimate sailing experience with only 12 

guest crew, the Bessie Ellen is a great choice. Although Bessie 

Ellen roves around Europe, the ships crew have explored Scotland 

many times. 

Getting to and from her home waters of Cornwall is no mean 

feat, in fact, it is a seafaring adventure. Bessie Ellen leaves 

Cornish waters in May, visiting both the Whitehaven and Liverpool 

Maritime Festivals. She will then head North and into the 

Irish Sea arriving in Oban 5 days later. Her return is in July, and 

will be a slightly faster voyage with few or no stops en route. 

Both voyages are suitable for beginners, and those wishing to 


Chose an outdoor life this winter 



Explore West Coast of Scotland under Sail 

Bessie Ellen is 116ft long overall which makes for comfortable passage making and a sailing ground that can extend from Skye to the 

Outer Hebrides in a week. After safety briefings and training you have plenty of open water in the Firth of Lorne to get your sea legs. 

Enjoy dramatic scenery whether you go North though the Sound of Mull past the brooding Duart Castle, or southwards toward the 

open sea. 

Western Mull & Iona: There any many idyllic anchorages in the West of Mull if the weather is settled. Iona is a pilgrimage for many 

and famous for its Monastery in a stunning remote location. Once beyond Iona you can either head out towards Tiree and Coll or 

explore the Atlantic facing side of Mull with its long headlands and the little islands in between like Inch Kenneth, Little Colonsay, 

Lunga and Ulva where there are many magical bays and anchorages. 

Mull & Loch Sunart: The Sound of Mull offers flat water and winds from all directions. Tobermory sits in a small sheltered bay and is 

an ideal stopping place, apart from the sea plane which spectacularly lands in the same anchorage ! Ashore are multi coloured houses 

and famous Mish Nish Inn - stocking almost every whisky ever made. A more tranquil option is Loch Sunart which has several bays like 

the temptingly named Loch Drambuie. 

Outer Hebrides—Mingulay to Benbecula 

Across the shimmering sea lies the Southern tip of the Outer Hebrides luring you across what can sometimes be a challenging stretch 

of water. In past years Bessie Ellen has reached remote but friendly island communities from Minulay to Benebecula within a week 

voyage from Oban. The long midsummer days extend the sailing day and give more options navigating the gaps between the islands. 

The Small Isles - Rum, Eigg & Muck: Rum and Canna are famous for White Tailed Sea Eagles and on Rum there are three of four 

breeding pairs of Golden Eagles. A stone roofed chapel, orchids amongst the grass, a lovely sandy beach and sheer sea cliffs teeming 

with breeding birds at nesting season are some of Canna's many charms. 

Loch Nevis & Knoydart Peninsula: The isolated Loch Nevis has the remotest pub on the mainland of Great Britain. The Old Forge sits 

at the centre of the tiny hamlet of Inverie which is not connected by road to anywhere else. The Knoydart Peninsula and vast tracts of 

uninhabited moorland and mountain lie behind the hamlet so transport to and from Inverie is solely by water craft. 

Over the Sea to Skye 

Dominating the skyline for miles is the island of Skye with the mighty Cullin Ridge and the Red Cullins forming the mountainous 

backbone of the island. Skye also has over 400 miles of coastline and deep sea lochs. 



Live on the ocean and the wildlife comes to you 

Sail natures wild playground ….where the 

mountains touch the sea 

Western Scotland is a rich marine ecosystem which offers fantastic 

seafood and wildlife watching from the sea eagles of Mull to the 

dolphins and whales that cruise the deep waters between the Inner 

& Outer Hebrides. 

Due to the prolific life under the surface and hundreds of miles of 

remote coastlines, the Hebrides, Western Isles and outer Hebrides 

are great places to spot seals, otters, minke whales, basking sharks 

and dolphins. 

The mountains provide inaccessible eyries for Sea Eagles, Golden 

Eagles, Choughs, Peregrine Falcons and cliffs are home to many 

large breeding colonies of seabirds like gannets and puffins. 

The weather in Scotland can range from shimmering heat haze on 

white sand beaches, to dramatic rain storms, sleet and snow or 

white capped waves and vivid blue skies. It changes….and it changes 

fast. 

Bessie Ellen has just returned from a winter season whale and 

dolphin watching in the Canaries so her crew have a lot of practical 

knowledge about cetaceans and what to look for to increase your 

chances of seeing common or bottlenose dolphins, pilot or minke 

whales. Basking sharks are slow when surface feeding, so you can 

look over the ships side and get some scale of these often huge ‘sea 

monsters’ with their mouth open. 

Bird species are not limited to seabirds with hooded crows, 

shelducks, great northern divers and many migrants passing 

through. 



Voyage Preparation for Bessie Ellen 

Luggage 

Your main piece of luggage should be a soft kit bag. A hard suitcase is 

NOT suitable as space is strictly limited. A small rucksack as your hand 

luggage could be useful later for trips ashore. 

Accommodation 

The ship has 12 bunks down the side of the ship in her massive saloon. 

There are curtains for each bunk and a reading light, and both top and 

bottom bunks are big enough to sit up and read. Being a traditional 

timber ship she does not have air conditioning so in peak summer or 

hot destinations like the Canaries the accommodation may get quite 

warm, but at anchor or in harbour the roof of the hold can be opened. 

Scotland—Climate & Clothing 

Scotland climate can vary from heat wave to wild gales, or drizzle. 

Summer midges are rarely a problem at sea or on windy days, but on a 

still damp evening ashore you may need long trousers and mosquito 

repellant. 

Footwear 

Basically a couple of pairs of shoes with a good grip. If one gets wet 

then you have a spare. If you are running around on deck it is useful to 

have at least one pair of shoes that protect your toes e.g. trainers 

Lightweight walking boots or shoes might be useful alternative to 

trainers if you go walking in the mountains, and are fine on deck too. 

(there is enough storage on the ship for wellies / sailing boots if you 

prefer). 

Kit List 

There is bed linen / duvets pillows on board so no need to bring a 

sleeping bag. 

The ship has offshore waterproof jackets and trousers for everyone. 

Equipment to bring with you. 

Passport & travel documents and travel insurance. 

High factor sun- block and sunglasses are recommended. 

You need protection from the reflection of the sun on the water along 

with Sea Sickness tablets (Stugeron) if you are susceptible. 

A large and Small towel 

Swimsuit (maybe a facemask and snorkel if you have one -optional) 

Earplugs if you are a light sleeper 

Torch and spare batteries (optional) 

Camera and film or charger (220v on Bessie Ellen) 

Binoculars (optional) 

Waterbottle (optional) 

t shirts and shorts 

Long trousers and fleece shirts, jumper or 2 and a windproof shirt or 

jacket. Outdoor hill walking type clothing is great for sailing as it dries 

quickly. 

Personal Expenses; You’ll need some extra money to cover drinks and 

souvenirs not included in the voyage price. 

Freshly Cooked Meals & Special Diets 

Three freshly cooked meals a day and non alcoholic drinks are included 

in the voyage price. If you are ashore for a day trip then you will have to 

buy your own meals. Alcoholic drinks like bottles of wine can usually be 

bought on board. 

Customers on Bessie Ellen have consistently voted the food as 

excellent, and it is definitely part of the experience. Coming originally 

from a organic farming and catering background Nikki places great 

importance on delicious freshly cooked food wherever the ship sails, 

taking the best of local specialities. There is usually a choice and 

vegetarians and other diets can be catered for if you let us know on the 

booking form. 

Travel Directions for Oban 

For Voyages starting in Oban you only need to walk away from the 

station a few metres and you are amongst the fisherman’s stalls selling 

fresh prawns, langostines and scallops. 

Rendezvous & Joining times: 

See your individual confirmation letter for joining times. 

Bessie Ellen will be either alongside North Pier or anchored just off the 

town and will pick you up by boat from the Kerrera island ferry slipway 

on the corner of North Pier. North Pier is 5 minutes walk along the 

waterfront from the station. 

Ships phone: 

If you have any difficulties finding one of the crew, or have transport 

problems the ship can be phoned on 07800 825 382. 

By Road: 

Head up the A82 from Glasgow and keep going all the way past Loch 

Lomond. When you get to Tyndrum turn to port (left) onto the A85 for 

Oban. Find the North Quay and then further into Town and near Tesco 

you will find secure paid for parking at Oban Car Hire which does have 

to be paid for. 

By Coach: CityLink offer connections from Glasgow Buchanan Street 

train and Bus Station and Glasgow Airport. 

By Train: ScotRail has trains for Oban that also leave from Glasgow 

Buchanan Street Station. Journey time 3 hours but one of the most 

spectacular train journeys in Britain. 

Cheap flights to Glasgow: There are bus links (15-30 mins duration) 

from Glasgow airport to all Glasgow stations. 

Accommodation 

There are lots of places to stay in Oban, The Official Oban Tourist Office 

has the best local directory. 

Reservations UK Office: 0044 (0) 1872 580022 www.classic-sailing.co.uk

Voyage No Date from Date to Days ports from and to 


Bessie Ellen 

Summer Schedule 2012 

Details * voyage Itineraries are subject to 

weather 

Voyage 

Fee 

BE213 Sun 27 May Fri 1 June 5 

Falmouth to Whitehaven 

Mile building passage voyage £499 

BE214 Fri 1 June Sun 3 June 2 Whitehaven Whitehaven Tall Ship Festival FULL 

BE215 Mon 4 June Fri 8 June 4 

Whitehaven to Liverpool 

Irish Sea Adventure £299 

BE216 Fri 8 June Sun 10 June 2 Liverpool Liverpool on the Waterfront FULL 

BE217 Mon 11 June Sun 17 June 5 Liverpool Oban Celtic Sea Adventure £499 

BE218 Mon 18 June Thu 21 June 3 Oban Oban Scottish Taster Voyage £395 

BE219 Thu 21 June Sun 24 June 3 Oban Oban Scottish Taster Voyage £395 

BE220 Mon 25 June Sun 1 July 6 Oban Oban Explore Western Isles of Scotland £780 

BE221 Mon 2 July Sat 7 July 5 Oban to Falmouth Mile building passage voyage £499 

BE222 Sun 8 July Fir 13 July 5 Falmouth to Brest Voyage to Brest with B&B options in Brest £499 

BE223 Fri 13 July Mon 23 July 11 Brest to DZ Brest and DZ Festival B&B only POA 

BE224 Sun 22 July Sat 28 July 6 DZ to Falmouth Brittany Adventure £599 

BE225 Sun 29 July Sat 4 Aug 6 

Falmouth to Greenock 

Mile building passage voyage £599 

BE226 Sun 5 Aug Sat 11 Aug 6 Greenock to Oban Explore Western Isles of Scotland £780 

BE227 Sun 12 Aug Wed 15 Aug 3 Oban to Oban Scottish Taster Voyage £395 

BE228 Wed 15 Aug Sat 18 Aug 3 Oban to Oban Scottish Taster Voyage £395 

BE229 Mon 20 Aug Wed 29 Aug 9 Oban to Oban 

The Big Explore of the Western Isles of 

Scotland 

£1,190 

BE230 Thu 30 Aug Sun 2 Sep 3 Oban to Oban Scottish Taster Voyage £395 

BE231 Mon 3 Sep Sun 9 Sep 6 Oban Oban Explore Western Isles of Scotland £780 

BE232 Mon 10 Sep Sat 15 Sep 5 Oban to Falmouth Mile building passage voyage £499

Bessie Ellen Scotland 2012v2.pub - Classic Sailing

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