Sail into Pirates Weekend Plymouth aboard a tall ship

29th January 2020

Visitors are being given the chance to sail into Pirates Weekend Plymouth feeling like a real pirate, after a journey aboard the tall ship Atyla.

Atyla was built by hand in Spain in the 1980s and is based on a 19^th century schooner, meaning she looks like a real pirate ship. She’ll be moored in Sutton Harbour during Pirates Weekend Plymouth, which takes place on 9 to 10 May.

Starting from Atyla’s home in Bilbao, Spain on 4 May, adventurous sailors will spend four days sailing across the Atlantic Ocean before arriving in Plymouth on Friday 8 May.

Shipmates can then stay on board the ship for the duration of Pirates Weekend, which will see thousands of visitors heading to Plymouth’s historic waterfront for a swashbuckling day out.

This year, the annual family-friendly event is part of the Mayflower Ocean Festival, an extra special week of water-based activity including a shanty festival and the OSTAR and TWOSTAR races, as part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations.

Pirates Weekend Plymouth involves a fun-filled programme of children’s activities, street entertainers and live music, with the tall ships moored in the harbour one of the most popular attractions.

Aspiring adventurers who choose to sail on the Atyla and become part of this popular weekend event can either join the ship as a participant - which means helping out with duties on board - or as a passenger for a more relaxing trip.

There is also the option to sail the return journey from Plymouth to Bilbao after Pirates Weekend, setting sail on 10 May and disembarking in Spain on 15 May.

Sailing as a participant costs €590, while sailing as a passenger costs €960 each way. The cost includes accommodation on board, three meals a day and an official Atyla t-shirt. There is a 10 per cent discount for doing both trips using the code ‘2PIRATETRIPS’.

Find out more and book at atyla.org/voyages