The Gulden Leeuw has been the Tall Ship for Class Afloat from 2014 to 2019.

Class Afloat – Founded in 1984, West Island College International is one of the world's premier, leading providers of experiential education.

Class Afloat continuously strives to provide the most effective and appropriate platform for their academic goals, community program and sail training experience.
Both the owners of the Gulden Leeuw and Class Afloat are proud and enthusiastic about the collaboration. For over 30 years, aboard 4 different ships, visiting hundreds of different ports and covering many thousands of nautical miles, Class Afloat has given over 1500 students the experience of a lifetime.
Both sides believe that the 2014 – 2019 classes have developed the same bonds of love and respect for the ship and will experience the same magic of the Class Afloat program as the alumni who have sailed in the previous five years.

Sail training program
In 2013, the Gulden Leeuw won the Sail Training International (STI) award for the most innovative Sailtraining program. The sail training program involves students in every aspect of tall ship sailing, from voyage planning to setting course, organizing watch, setting sail, steering the ship and starting and checking the engines. . The sail training program aims to equip the students with the knowledge and skills necessary to take full command of the ship on set days (under the watchful eye of the captain and professional crew).

Once we depart, the sail training really starts. You will be part of the watch system and rotate in watches during the day and night. During your watch, you and your fellow shipmates will be responsible for setting and trimming the sails, manoeuvring the ship, maintenance, navigating, and everything else that comes with sailing a tall ship. Sailing experience is not required, as the professional sailing crew will teach you all the skills you need.

The sleeping arrangements are an experience on their own, as you will share a dorm with all other trainees. Everyone will have their own bunk bed and locker to store luggage, and after an exhilarating watch you can enjoy a good rest while being comfortably rocked to sleep by the waves.

Food is always an important part of living on board. The ship’s cook will provide lovely meals to energise you for a new day, or warm you up after a watch. Either way, the thrill of sailing and living on board will ensure that it always tastes wonderful.

Outside of your watch, you’ll have some free time. Time to enjoy the views, work on special projects with a crew member, catch up on some sleep, or socialize with your fellow shipmates. One of the wonderous aspects of sail training is the blend of different nationalities on board. So, you can use the opportunity to get to know different cultures, their traditions, cuisine and maybe even learn a few phrases in a new language!

When we’re in harbour, you will have time to explore the city and all it has to offer. Go for a walk in the city with your shipmates, learn about its history and culture, or enjoy a landscape different from what you already know, before setting sail again for another journey.

The GULDEN LEEUW has participated in the Tall Ship Races as 'Class A Vessel' every year for the past decade. Since 1956, The Tall Ships Races are the world's largest international ocean races for Sail Training ships. Countless tall ships from all over the world take part. The race is divided into several stages that end in different countries. We sail every summer with young people aged 15-25. The tall ship races are organised by Sail Training International. We are very proud that this organisation has awarded us with 'vessel operator of the year' and 'most innovative initiative':

VESSEL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR (LARGE VESSEL):
GULDEN LEEUW, (NETHERLANDS) 2018
Awarded to a Sail Training organisation that operates larger ships, which shows excellence in "innovation" and "best practices" in Sail Training for young people. Gulden Leeuw (Netherlands) sails the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean, the North and South Atlantic and the Caribbean. During the summer, trainees take part in The Tall Ships Races or other Sail Training programmes, and during the winter they stay on board for a full school year to study the regular academic school curriculum and master all aspects of sailing the ship. Gulden Leeuw has a specific Sail Training protocol that is unique and innovative in its approach.

Most Innovative Initiative
The Gulden Leeuw had already received the award for 'Most Innovative Initiative' back in 2013.
Awarded to the Sail Training Ship that developed their own version of the S.T.A.N sail training programme (*2010). The Sail Training Programme on board the Gulden Leeuw offers trainees the opportunity to use their talents and qualities to ultimately run the ship on their own.

EZS Medal of Honor
As owners, we are also very proud to have been awarded the EZS Medal of Honor for making an outstanding contribution to the professional sailing community. A very special award from the Enkhuizen Maritime School, which presents this award annually to captains, politicians and entrepreneurs.

An advantage of hosting your event on the Gulden Leeuw is that you can make use of the branding opportunities; the ship is the perfect eye-catcher for your product. For instance, banners and flags can be placed/hung up and it is even possible to print your logo or message on a sail. We are happy to help you come up with ideas on how to get the most out of your messaging and branding.