Steady Sailing

A happy trip on Steady with good company, excellent food, some great sailing, and stunning places - even in the rain! We saw our fill of dolphins one day, the odd minke whale, and enough seabirds to keep me happy! A well designed and beautifully maintained boat made it very comfortable too. Really, the only thing that could have been more favourable was the weather... but the waterproofs were good too! Thank you Jan-WIllem and Marielle for a memorable week.

Dear Jan & Marielle Just to say 'thank you' for an amazing adventure. The 12 day trip around the Western Isles and the Outer Hebrides was truly superb - it exceeded all of my expectations. The warmth, knowledge and interest you both gave to all guests throughout the trip was customer service at it's very highest . When discussing the trip with experienced sailors at overnight anchorages; the comments were so genuinely positive about your boat and how much hard work goes into keeping it looking so good. This love for 'Steady' was so evident with great care and attention to detail given to all aspects. All of the guests agreed that the sailing package would be hard to beat anywhere in the world . 12 days of fun, laughter, excellent food , superb sailing and anchorages that simply took your breath away - what more could you ask for! David K June 2025

We joined Steady for a week's trip in the Scottish small isles. The boat is a lovely size for it's 8 guests and 2 crew, although I would choose to be a bit further from the loo next time. Sadly they're was virtually no wind for the first three days, so sailing wasn't really an option and this meant that we motored out to Eig and Rhum. Obviously the weather is in the lap of the gods, so anything can happen! The walks were lovely, although challenging here and there as you climb to the top of the highest peaks to see the view. Always worth the effort, if you are able. Walking boots are highly recommended as is a good waterproof coat. We saw dolphins, gannets, seals, Shearwaters and even a minki whale, although not close up. We did get some sailing towards the end of the week. Steady has all mod cons, so it wasn't hard to help, although not enough work for all 8 of us to assist. The food was plentiful and tasty, Marielle made sure it was suitable for various food issues on board. Overall this was a lovely trip. Willem and Marielle couldn't have made us more welcome onboard and the other 6 lovely guests made it a fun and friendly trip. The small isles are very beautiful and the quiet was so different to life at home. We came from the South of England and drove to Oban. This was a full day's driving, so possibly book somewhere to stay part way, or try the train if you don't enjoy a drive. Thank you to Willem and Marielle and the great guests we shared there week with.

An amazing week of sailing and walking round amazing islands, on a wonderful vessel, with a crew of expert sailors and great seamen. Not only a wonderful chef but both so welcoming and caring. Strongly recommend.

Our June journey with Steady Sailing was fantastic. Professional sailors, good food, great boat! Excellent mixture of sailing, nature and walking!

Mariëlle and Willem are such warmhearted people and gave us , 8 German friends, a perfect welcome on board of the Steady.They like to sail as often as possible.They showed us the beauty of the Scottish landscape on board of the very comfortable and clean Steady.But the best was the delicious food made fresh from Mariëlle with the best ingredients.Thanks

What a wonderful week! A great combination of sailing boat and island visiting, under sail whenever the weather permitted (but moving under motor when there was zero wind didn’t detract). Mariella and Jan-Willem are brilliant hosts, and the food was incredible. The friendly atmosphere on board was wonderful, and the walks were beautiful. Thank you both for a highly memorable week. Sue x

Hi Mariëlle and Jan-Willem, Thank you again so much for the wonderful holiday we had on your sailing ship Steady. We had a wonderful week with so many new experiences. The wildlife, both in and above sea level was stunning: dolphins literally swimming under the bow, Minke whales at close distance, thousands of puffins, gannets and many more. Your hospitality, never ending enthusiasm when telling about the sailing itself, the sea life and many many more subjects made us feel very welcome aboard the Steady. Your keen eyes as hosts and looking after the wellbeing of all on board was very much appreciated. And last (but certainly not least!) we enjoyed the excellent food on board. Thank you once again!