Ireland · June - November
Expedition Zero Yacht
Sailing the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way
VIEW DATES
Overview
The coast of Ireland unfolds like a legend — jagged cliffs, sea caves, and fishing harbours that still live by the tides. This passage sails the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way, where every bend in the coastline reveals another windswept wonder. Time slows down while sailing. Ashore, the world feels rich with stories. At sea, the swell reminds you you’re alive. What kind of sailing can you expect? The coast of Ireland is spectacular and its jagged coastline means that careful navigation is paramount. Under the ever watchful guidance of the skipper, the crew will use the latest navigational technology on board Expedition Zero, alongside traditional paper charts, radar, depth soundings and many other means to plot a safe passage south along the coast while enjoying the fantastic scenery. It's a chance to hone seamanship skills and, with some lovely stopovers along the way, there will be plenty of opportunity to practice pilotage, especially navigating the channels in and out of Londonderry and Cork.
Highlights
Sailing Ireland’s Iconic West Coast
Trace a spectacular route from Donegal to Galway and onward to Cork, sailing a coastline rich with natural drama and Atlantic energy. Each stretch offers changing scenery, from rugged headlands to sweeping bays — a journey through some of Ireland’s most legendary seascapes.
Local Culture & Scenic Anchorages
Step ashore in harbours where local charm runs deep and the welcome is always genuine, with music, stories, and heritage woven into daily life. Between stops, anchor in quiet coves and cliff-fringed bays — moments of stillness that balance the adventure with reflection.
Hands-On Coastal Adventure
This leg offers dynamic, ever-changing coastal sailing — perfect for refining techniques, testing instincts, and gaining confidence in new conditions. With shorter hops and varied challenges, it’s a hands-on learning environment wrapped in some of the most stunning maritime scenery in Europe.
Skippers
Nigel Parry
Nigel Parry
Nigel Parry is an accomplished offshore sailor, skipper and instructor with over 100,000nm in his log book, including several Atlantic and Pacific crossings. His love for the sport started when he was a child; his father saw a dinghy for sale on the side of the road and brought it home for the family to learn how to sail.
Currently residing in Hanover, Germany, but hailing from Cheshire in the United Kingdom, he started sailing professionally in 1994. Nigel has worked all over the world, spending time in the Mediterranean as a flotilla skipper, working for RYA sailing schools in the Canary Islands, as well as in schools across the UK and he also worked for a time as an instructor delivering ASA coastal and offshore cruising schemes in California. He ran a sailing school in Germany for many years, and also worked in a team of civilian adventurous training instructors in Kiel, training British military personnel in offshore sailing and powerboating.
His experience also includes cruising, racing and maintaining boats of over 60 feet in length and he has been a regular member of the training department for the Clipper Round the World Race since 2013. In 2022 he skippered the Clipper 70 ‘Dare To Lead’ from Subic Bay in the Philippines to the finish in London.
Sailing is Nigel’s life, when not teaching others, he can be found working and sailing on his 35 footclassic yacht.
What's Included
What's Included
All food and drink (non-alcoholic) on board
Safety equipment including life-jackets.
All mooring and port entry fees for the boat.
• Hands on sailing, watch keeping, helming and opportunity to fully immerse in life on board.
Overnight accommodation onboard, your own bunk and bedding
• Waterproof Clothing available to hire
What's Not Included
• Travel to and from Oban
• Meals Ashore
• Entrance fees to visitor centres or distilleries
• Sailing & Travel Insurance
Accommodation
Single Berth
Your own comfortable berth with plenty of storage space (shown is a double cabin, which will be split with a Lee cloth)
Gallery
You'll Be Staying Here
Expedition Zero
The yacht is "Expedition Zero" which is the first of a new generation of sailing yachts.
Custom designed for modern adventure sailing and, most importantly, capable of doing this with almost no environmental impact.
Originally built as a “Challenge 72”, she was always a rugged, go-anywhere yacht. Expedition Zero has now completed an incredible refit, featuring a revolutionary electric drive system and generating 100% of her power from natural sources. This is supported by latest navigation, communication and remote systems monitoring as well as a full on-board media production suite, giving her unparalleled capability in expedition sailing, marine research and film making.
The spacious interior is finished with natural mineral fibre material which is lightweight, strong and fully recyclable. With space for up to 16 guests in comfortable cabins or berths, plus up to four crew, “Expedition Zero” sets a new benchmark in off-shore adventure.
Related Blog Posts
Read about our previous Scottish adventures
Heather Deary · Sat 16 Sep 2023
Wavysail Scottish Islands Adventure 2023
Heather joined Wavysail's first Scottish adventure this summer - read about her experience of sailing the coast of Scotland under the expert guidance of Jim Dobie.
FAQs
Do I need to be experienced in sailing?
We design the trips for a wide range of experience which means that even if you’ve not sailed, our experienced Skippers will ensure you have a fantastic time.
The longer legs will suit “mile builders” who already have some sailing qualifications, and we can spend time supporting you with everything from helming to sail trimming or passage planning as you wish!
Before you join, we’ll ask about your previous sailing experience and what you want to get out of the trip. That way, we’ll tailor the tour to your specific needs.
What's the cancellation policy?
The group size is kept very small on our trips which gives you a real ‘masterclass’ with our highly experienced Skippers. However, that means each place is valuable and we need full groups.
We ask for a 10% deposit to secure your berth, with the balance being due 6 weeks before departure.
If you cancel your place over 8 weeks out, the deposit is fully refundable. Between 6-8 weeks, we will retain the deposit.
If you cancel 6 weeks or less, the full price will be payable.
What should I bring?
We’ll share a kit-list which will be adapted to the trip you’re taking.
All bed linen is provided as well as safety equipment. You will need some decent deck shoes (or sailing boots), otherwise it’s layers of clothing adapted to the conditions you’re likely to encounter.
Bring a camera. If you want to bring a drone, let us know beforehand and bear in mind drones tend not to be waterproof and are carried / used at your own risk!
How adventurous is it?
We want everyone to get the most out of their time on board – so we’ll work around your wants.
However, our trips are designed for you to take an active role – that means, for example, we’ll take turns in cooking (all the menus are planned already and step by step instructions given, so you don’t need to be a masterchef!)
You can get tips and instruction on all aspects of sailing from our Skippers and get as involved as you want, grinding, trimming, helming and learning. On the other hand, there’s also plenty of time to relax and just take in the beautiful ocean scenery. It’s your trip!
Dates
June 1 - 4 2026
FROM$0 /pp
June 6 - 16 2026
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
June 18 - 28 2026
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
June 30 - July 10 2026
FROM$4,204.98 /pp
July 17 - 27 2026
FROM$4,204.98 /pp
July 31 - August 14 2026
FROM$5,608.98 /pp
August 18 - September 1 2026
FROM$5,608.98 /pp
September 5 - 15 2026
FROM$4,204.98 /pp
September 22 - 26 2026
FROM$1,396.98 /pp
September 28 - October 6 2026
FROM$2,800.98 /pp
October 9 - 17 2026
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
October 20 - 27 2026
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
November 3 - 24 2026
FROM$9,820.98 /pp
December 27 2026 - January 3 2027
FROM$4,204.98 /pp
January 6 - 13 2027
FROM$2,098.98 /pp
January 16 - 23 2027
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
January 26 - February 2 2027
FROM$2,800.98 /pp
February 5 - 12 2027
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
February 15 - 22 2027
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
February 25 - March 2 2027
FROM$2,800.98 /pp
May 14 - 21 2027
FROM$2,800.98 /pp
May 24 - June 3 2027
FROM$2,800.98 /pp
June 6 - 13 2027
FROM$2,800.98 /pp
June 17 - July 1 2027
FROM$5,608.98 /pp
August 23 - September 6 2027
FROM$8,416.98 /pp
September 11 - 17 2027
FROM$3,502.98 /pp
September 21 - October 12 2027
FROM$8,416.98 /pp
October 19 - 29 2027
FROM$4,204.98 /pp
November 3 - 23 2027
FROM$8,416.98 /pp
November 28 - December 18 2027
FROM$9,820.98 /pp