The ship is extremely spacious, particularly due to its width of almost 7 meters. The large number of double cabins and tasteful seating ensure that guests feel at home and can enjoy the weather in comfort. The large wheelhouse, excellent stability, and high railings of the Gaia make the ship a great place to be on the high seas.
On deck, the Gaia has a spacious seating area where you can enjoy the scenery, the wind hitting the sails, and the spray. In case of (too much) sun or rain, there is a tarpaulin so that you can still sit on deck in almost all weather conditions. The generous dimensions and warm atmosphere make the Gaia an excellent venue for many occasions, such as company outings, team-building activities, training courses, or management meetings. But the Gaia is also the perfect place for a sailing trip with family or friends, a youth association, a school trip, or a work week.
Sailing on the Gaia
Everyone is welcome to hoist the sails and perform the sailing maneuvers. Cooperation and communication are crucial. The better the group works together and communicates, the faster the ship will perform the various turning maneuvers. Sailing experience is not necessary; the sailor will instruct the group and teach them the tricks of sailing on a traditional sailing ship. And between sailing maneuvers, there is plenty of time to relax!
The Gaia mainly sails on the IJsselmeer and Markermeer lakes. During the day, the ship sails and in the afternoon, it moors in one of the cozy harbor towns such as Enkhuizen, Medemblik, Hoorn, or Urk. Here you can go ashore, have a drink on a terrace, go shopping, visit a museum, or take a walk or bike ride.
Texel is a frequently visited port on the Wadden Sea. Here, too, a bike ride or a visit to Ecomare is a must.
The Gaia also masters the Frisian inland waters with ease, although it is not always possible to sail with full sails. However, it is possible to moor at an uninhabited island in one of the Friese Meren, where the group can tell each other scary stories or sing songs around a campfire.
Layout
The spacious, bright saloon has four large tables with benches along the wall. The saloon can accommodate 32 people. In a relaxed atmosphere, you can enjoy meals together or simply socialize during the day or in the evening. The fully equipped kitchen also has a beer tap.
Between the saloon and the sleeping cabins there are three toilets and three showers. The shower rooms offer enough space to hang your clothes up to dry while you shower. At the front of the ship are the twelve sleeping cabins, which are divided into six spacious double cabins, four three-person cabins, and two equally spacious four-person cabins. Each cabin has a sink with hot and cold water, central heating, and an open porthole and/or deck hatch. There is enough space under the beds to store your travel bags.
All our ships are well equipped. Here is an overview of the equipment on the Gaia.
The crew
Skipper and owner Rob has been sailing the Gaia for a long time. He spent his early years as a sailor and has been the owner since 2007. He knows the ship and the sailing area like the back of his hand and has a suitable route for every group and every wish.
History of the Gaia
The Gaia was built in 1910 at the Van Suijlekom shipyard in Raamsdonkveer. The ship was mainly used to transport gravel, beets, and grain on the rivers in the south of the Netherlands.
