ABOUT
NAUTIC HORIZONS

OUR MISSION .

Nautic Horizons is a unique educational project that offers participants the opportunity to combine their academic studies with practical sailing experience . By traveling to different cities on three different continents , participants aged 14-17 ( lower and upper secondary school) experience different cultures up close and broaden their horizons. The program combines challenging academic courses with maritime training to promote both intellectual and personal development. Participants not only learn to navigate a ship but also develop skills such as teamwork, perseverance, and intercultural understanding. Nautic Horizons thus offers a transformative learning experience that goes far beyond the traditional classroom. Your classroom under sail awaits you!

Stay abroad

Nautic Horizons – A Study Abroad Program on a Sailing Ship

The Nautic Horizons project offers 14- to 17-year-old students from grades 10 and 11 the opportunity to live and learn for several months on board a traditional sailing vessel — without interrupting their academic progress.
Our goal: students return seamlessly to their home school and continue their education without any gaps.

Learning on Board – Structured & Personally Supported

Lessons take place six days per week and follow a fixed daily schedule.
Depending on your assigned watch, learning times may shift — ensuring the ship’s operations run smoothly while classes remain reliable.

Daily Learning Schedule on Board

10:00 – 13:00
→ Core subject lessons
→ taught by qualified teachers

14:00 – 17:00
→ Individual study time & small group work
→ supervised and supported by the teaching staff

The Logbook – Weekly Structure & Transparency

Every Sunday, teachers and students work together to create a weekly timetable, which is documented in the logbook. This ensures full clarity about upcoming tasks and how learning standards are maintained.

Digital Learning Platforms & Individual Support

We use platforms such as To Teach and School to go, which follow state-specific curricula within Germany.

Before the journey begins, our teachers compare the curriculum provided by the home school with our onboard program.

With the help of AI-supported learning platforms, individual materials are created that adapt to each student’s needs — always reviewed and guided by the teaching staff.

Learning progress, completed tasks, and feedback are digitally recorded and made transparent and accessible to students, parents, and home schools.

In addition, students bring the materials provided by their home school on board — especially for subjects outside the core curriculum.

Examinations & Academic Assessments

At the request of the home school, written tests, oral exams, or class assessments can be conducted on board.

All results are submitted digitally.

After completing the journey, each student receives:

a transcript of academic performance
a subject-specific evaluation
a portfolio of learning progress
a certificate and reference letter for their future educational path

Role of the Home School – Simple & Clear

To ensure seamless alignment with the curriculum, we only require the following from the home school:

the relevant curriculum plans for the leave of absence period
any exam requirements or materials (if applicable)
formal approval of the leave of absence

Nautic Horizons takes care of all further arrangements — lesson planning, progress monitoring, exam handling, and documentation.
→ This means: no additional workload for the home school.

Learning Through Daily Life on Board

Beyond classroom learning, students take responsibility in everyday life at sea:

in the rotating watch system for navigation, weather observation, and sail handling
in teams during projects and practical tasks
during shared activities on board and on land

Through this, they develop teamwork, responsibility, self-organization, and intercultural competence — essential skills that go far beyond a traditional classroom.

Who Is the Program For?

Nautic Horizons is ideal for motivated young people (14–17 years old) who:

are open to new ways of learning
want to take on responsibility
enjoy teamwork, adventure, and exploration

A leave of absence from the home school is required. We provide all necessary documents to ensure the stay on board is officially recognized as a study abroad experience.

Conclusion

Nautic Horizons combines academic learning with a unique life experience at sea.
Thanks to structured lessons, modern learning platforms, and close collaboration with home schools, educational progress is secured — and enriched by valuable personal, social, and linguistic skills.

A study abroad experience that expands education — without losing the academic thread.

A WORLD FULL OF HORIZONS

Nautic Horizons – Your Atlantic Adventure

Over the course of six months, you will sail more than 12,000 nautical miles and visit up to 14 countries. The exact route always depends on wind, weather, and maritime conditions — because at sea, nature sets the rhythm.
Every stop is flexible: Portugal might become France or Spain, and land projects may shift to a different location. If one activity can’t take place as planned, it will simply be carried out elsewhere.
There is always an alternative.

On board, you learn according to the German curriculum, take responsibility in daily ship life, and experience unique cultural projects on land. This journey combines school, adventure, and personal growth.

Europe – Starting Point & First Leg

The journey begins in the Netherlands.
From there, the route follows the European coastline — depending on wind and harbour availability, the first stop may be Portugal, France, or Spain.

Possible highlights include:

Team training
Surf courses or coastal hikes
Interactive challenges that build strong teamwork

Canary Islands & Cape Verde – Nature, Schools & Marine Conservation

The exact arrival at each island depends on weather windows.
Planned stops may include:

Tenerife: Mount Teide, mountain trekking & an international school
Mindelo (Cape Verde): marine conservation & local island culture

If individual projects cannot take place, they will be moved to another island.

Atlantic Crossing – Two Weeks at Sea

The Atlantic crossing is an unforgettable adventure.
You navigate, stand watch, and learn how to cross an ocean as a team.
This phase will challenge you — and bring the crew even closer together.

Caribbean – Nature & Cultural Exchange

Depending on the route, the Caribbean may include:

Jungle hikes & waterfalls
Living with local communities
Visiting schools and connecting with young people

Typical project locations include Dominica, Martinique, Aruba, and the San Blas Islands — but as always:

If a destination cannot be reached, the project will take place somewhere else.

South & Central America – Learning from Indigenous Cultures

Possible stages:

Colombia: life in an indigenous village & social projects
Panama: small group travel with a fixed budget — independence and responsibility
Costa Rica: supporting a sea turtle conservation organisation
Jamaica: explore the country & visit local schools

The duration and route always depend on wind and harbour clearance.

Mexico – History & Adventure

Experience the diversity of Mexico:

The history of the Maya
Cenotes (underwater cave systems)
Student exchange with an international school

Return Across the Atlantic

On the way back, you typically experience:

Bermuda: maritime history & seafaring traditions
Azores: 24-hour survival training — inspired by 7 vs. Wild

Return to the Netherlands

After around six months, you return with new confidence, deep friendships, and unforgettable experiences.
You haven’t just travelled to different countries —
you’ve learned to take responsibility and discovered the world with new eyes.

Important for Students & Parents

➤ The educational content always remains — only the location adapts to real conditions at sea.
➤ We plan professionally, yet flexibly. Safety and learning always come first.
➤ Every challenge brings new opportunities — that’s sailing. And that’s life.

YOUR DAILY LIFE ON THE REGINA MARIS

Life on Board – School and Daily Life at Sea

Life at sea is a unique combination of academics, teamwork and hands-on experience. With Nautic Horizons, your school year abroad takes place not only in the classroom on board, but also right in the middle of ship life and in direct exchange with people from all around the world. You stay on track academically — while gaining valuable experiences that shape your life.

Switching Between School & Watch – Taking Responsibility

Besides regular classes, watch duty is part of your everyday routine. During your watch, you take on tasks such as:

• steering the ship
• monitoring the weather
• checking sail trim
• making logbook entries

Night watches are often a highlight: under a clear starry sky, at sunrise, or in complete silence — carrying responsibility for the ship becomes an experience that builds confidence and strengthens team spirit.

Projects on Land – Learning Through Encounters

During the six-month voyage, the ship visits up to 14 different countries. Each arrival opens new learning opportunities:

• Cultural exchange: You learn directly from the people — through shared projects, conversations, and insights into their everyday life.
• School visits: In several countries, we connect with local schools and students. You experience how young people in other parts of the world live and learn.
• Hands-on projects: Whether environmental protection, social initiatives or craft workshops — every land project links academic knowledge with real-life encounters.

This turns learning into an experience that goes far beyond the classroom and gives you new perspectives.

Cooking Together – Meals as a Team Effort

Food keeps the crew together. That’s why cooking and nutrition are an important part of life on board. With guidance from our chef, you learn how to:

• plan meals for a large group
• divide tasks as a team
• take responsibility for the wellbeing of everyone on board

This way, you grow not only academically — but also in practical life skills.

Safety on Board

Your safety always comes first:

• All crew members are trained according to international standards.
• A fully equipped medical kit is checked by a doctor before every voyage.
• On long ocean passages — such as the Atlantic crossing — an experienced doctor accompanies us on board.

Taking Over the Ship – Learning to Lead

A special highlight is the ship takeover: for a certain time, students take on leadership roles themselves — e.g. as captain, engineer or watch leader. You learn how to make decisions, take responsibility and lead a team.

Personal Growth – A School for Life

Life on board is much more than school:

• In reflection talks, you discover your strengths and set new goals.
• With a learning journal or blog, you document your experiences and reflect on your journey.
• Through the combination of school, watch duty and land projects, you grow in confidence, autonomy and intercultural understanding.

Conclusion – A Daily Life That Shapes You

With Nautic Horizons, you combine academic learning with a unique life on board and meaningful projects in up to 14 countries. You stay on track with school, experience everyday life at sea and learn directly from the people you meet along the way.

A daily life between classroom, sailing adventure and the cultures of the world — one that will shape you far beyond your time on board.

YOUR DEVELOPMENT ON THE HIGH SEA

School at Sea with Nautic Horizons – Personal Growth on the Open Ocean

Nautic Horizons is more than a sailing journey – it’s your adventure of growth.
In the middle of the Atlantic, far away from everyday life, you discover a world full of new experiences. You learn to face challenges, take responsibility, and grow beyond yourself — wave by wave.

The variety of countries and cultures you encounter during your time abroad at sea opens your mind, sharpens your intercultural understanding, and fosters a truly global perspective.

Challenges as Opportunities – Growing with Every Wave

Every day on board brings new learning moments:
• navigating through changing weather conditions
• structuring your learning independently
• taking on diverse responsibilities in daily life on board

You meet people from different cultures, experience new ways of living, and realise how enriching diversity can be.
Living closely together strengthens your teamwork, communication and conflict resolution skills — competencies that will benefit you in school, work and everyday life.

Strengthening Your Key Skills

On board, you grow academically and personally:

✔ Confidence – mastering unfamiliar situations and overcoming obstacles
✔ Responsibility – making decisions and taking ownership
✔ Resilience – turning setbacks into learning experiences
✔ Leadership – taking initiative and motivating others
✔ Intercultural competence – engaging with diversity respectfully and openly
✔ Global mindset – gaining new perspectives and expanding your horizons

Guidance & Reflection – Your Growth in Focus

You are never alone on this journey.
Experienced teachers and crew members support you, offer feedback, and help you identify and strengthen your potential. In regular reflection sessions, you track your progress, set new goals, and receive personal guidance for your academic and personal development.

Your Reward – A Journey That Shapes You

You return home with unforgettable experiences, new friendships – and valuable skills that will stay with you for life. Whether in school, university or your future career, you will approach challenges with courage, confidence and an open mind.

Set sail with Nautic Horizons and discover what you’re capable of –
school, adventure and personal development in one unique study abroad experience.

THE COSTS

Here you will find all the details and comprehensive information about the prices.

Come and find out more!

COST

ABOUT NAUTIC HORIZONS