Wylde Swan

Story Wylde Swan

The tale of the Wylde Swan is a classic; a story of sailing through storms and adjusting course to make a dream come true.

The Wylde Swan is the largest and fastest topsail schooner in the world. Masterskip's pride was launched 100 years ago in Germany as a steamship for the herring fleet. The Wylde Swan's history began in 1920 with the hull of the German-built herring vessel, Jemo. Originally a steamship for bringing fresh catches from the North Atlantic, its sleek design continued to capture attention long after it was decommissioned.

It was the hull that captured the attention of captain Willem Sligting. He had a dream: to build a ship for training youngsters and to win races. Sligting envisioned transforming the ship into a training vessel for young people, leveraging its light hull and over-rigged sails. In 2007, the Jemo's hull was brought to the Netherlands to fulfill his dream. Hard work, long hours, and boundless passion were poured into the ship. But then, tragedy struck—Willem Sligting passed away in 2009, halfway through the transformation project.

After Sligting's sudden death, his widow, Hinke, and their supportive community decided to carry on his legacy. The project resumed, and the nearly 100-year-old Jemo was eventually transformed into the stunning topsail schooner Wylde Swan, as we know it today.

On June 11, 2010, the Wylde Swan was launched, and its crew set sail for the first time. Around the same time, the economic recession prompted the creation of the Masterskip program—a school at sea where students could experience their first world trip while continuing their education.

The program turned out to have an incredibly positive impact on the lives of its trainees. Its popularity grew rapidly, and applications poured in as the sails caught the wind. Now, fully developed, Masterskip continues to offer training at sea, operating for eight months a year with secondary school students on international waters.

The founders' dream has been realized, and the team now sails toward an even brighter future.