Golden Horizon’s inaugural voyage from Harwich moves to July 1 – and first month’s cruises will all be around UK

Important update: Tradewind Voyages has now replaced its round-Britain voyages with a series of sailings from Dover. For details, please click here

The inaugural voyage of the world’s largest tall ship has been moved back two months to comply with the UK government’s new timetable out of lockdown.

Golden Horizon, which was originally due to debut in Harwich on May 1, will now set sail from the Essex port on July 1 – and all voyages that month will be in British waters.

After the first Eastern Coastal Contrasts cruise to Scotland, the ship will embark on the following voyages:

July 6: Scotland East to West from Leith (Edinburgh);

July 15: West Coast Gems of Scotland from Greenock (Glasgow)

July 21: Maritime Cities of the North West from Greenock

July 25: Rounding the South West Peninsula from Liverpool

From August 4, voyages from the UK will remain as previously published, starting with English South Coast and Islands from Harwich, which includes calling in at the Cowes regatta on the Isle of Wight.

After cruises to the Norwegian fjords and Denmark, Golden Horizon will cross the Mediterranean for three Adriatic voyages including visits to Venice and Split – the Croatian city where the ship was built.

The planned Maritime Silk Route voyages will be replaced by two voyages in the Arabian Gulf and a 14-night sailing from Dubai to Singapore.

Golden Horizon, operated by Tradewind Voyages of Suffolk, is designed as a replica of a five-masted barque built in 1913, and will be powered by its 35 sails for around 70 per cent of the time, with an engine back-up.

The 272-passenger ship will include a two-tier restaurant, five bars, three pools – including an 18ft dive pool spanning two decks – and a water sports platform, as well as a spa.

A planned delivery voyage of Golden Horizon from Lisbon to Portsmouth in April has been replaced by a ‘dress rehearsal’ round trip from Portsmouth, sailing from June 22-28 to Weymouth Bay, Falmouth, Fowey, Dartmouth and Poole.

Tradewind Voyages sales and marketing director Jeremy McKenna said: ‘It is of course disappointing to have to change our itineraries due to the restrictions imposed to combat the global pandemic, but I am sure that the new voyages and destinations will be of great interest to our guests and travel agent partners.

‘All the team at Tradewind Voyages are very excited to be taking delivery of Golden Horizon in Portsmouth on June 22 before she starts her global journey.’

Full details are available here

See also:

World’s largest square rigger to sail from Britain (Telegraph subscription service)