Golden Horizon Visits Poole: Largest Sailing Cruise Ship

When the Golden Horizon glided into Poole Harbour, she brought with her the romance and elegance of early 20th-century sea travel. As the world’s largest square-rigged sailing cruise ship, her maiden calls to the Dorset coast turned heads and captured the imaginations of locals and maritime enthusiasts alike.

A Modern Replica of a Maritime Legend

Built at the Brodosplit shipyard in Croatia and originally operated by Tradewind Voyages, the Golden Horizon is a near-identical replica of the famous 1913 ocean-going cargo vessel, France II. However, beneath her classic wooden decking and vintage aesthetic lies a state-of-the-art marvel of modern engineering.

Measuring an impressive 162 metres (531 feet) in length, she boasts five towering masts and 36 cross sails. When fully unfurled, the sail area covers a massive 6,345 square metres—roughly the size of a football pitch! Her tallest mast reaches a staggering 63 metres into the sky, allowing her to harness the wind and reach speeds of up to 17 knots purely by natural sail power.

Luxury on the High Seas

Despite her traditional exterior, the onboard experience is nothing short of pure luxury. Accommodating up to 274 guests across 140 sea-view cabins, the ship offers a remarkably intimate cruising experience with a near two-to-one guest-to-crew ratio.

Guests can enjoy three swimming pools on the upper decks—including an 18-foot central diving pool with a fascinating glass bottom that looks directly down into the magnificent two-tier dining room below. When the ship is safely at anchor, a hydraulic marina platform lowers into the sea from the stern, providing guests with direct access to the water for paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkelling.

The Historic Maiden Calls to Poole

During her inaugural 2021 UK season, the Golden Horizon made several highly anticipated maiden calls to the Port of Poole. Her arrival was a major milestone for the town, perfectly utilizing Poole Harbour’s newly completed £10 million South Quay cruise berth.

The vessel’s visits were part of a series of domestic “staycation” and British Isles sailings. Her presence in the world’s second-largest natural harbour offered a breathtaking spectacle for onlookers at Sandbanks and gave her passengers the unique opportunity to step ashore and explore the UNESCO Jurassic Coast before returning to the luxury of this floating masterpiece.