Sailing ship Johann Schmidt goes around the world

In the summer of 2027, 27 young people will set off aboard the sailing ship Johann Smidt for a school year like they have never experienced before: around the world on a German school ship.

The Johann Smidt is currently on her second, six-month voyage, for Ocean College GmbH. The successful cooperation between Clipper DJS e.V. and Ocean College GmbH will continue with a 12-month voyage with 27 students, accompanied by teachers and an experienced permanent crew. The voyage is scheduled to start in August 2027, with return in August 2028.

Route via Panama Canal

The route will take the ship the pupils and crew around the world: across the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific, past Australia and back to the Atlantic via the Indian Ocean.
After about 33,000 nautical miles, the “Johann Smidt” will arrive back in Kiel – with young people on board who have not only aged a year, but have entered five continents, sailed three oceans and gained a wealth of life experience. Preparations for the trip are running smoothly and the first registrations are already in.

School on board.

The focus is on practical education, tailored to where the ship is at the time. This will automatically motivate young people to learn.
For the alternating system of watchkeeping, galley duty, cleaning and school, students work in small groups and can receive personal guidance. The curricula tie in with the main curriculum of their own schools.

The ship itself also offers many opportunities to learn by doing and experiencing. The youngsters are given responsibility for various tasks on board from the start of the voyage. Education is tailored to where the ship is at the time.

The ship

Built in 1974 at the Camminga shipyard in Amsterdam, the gaff-topsail schooner was launched as Eendracht and sailed for Stichting Het Zeilend Zeeschip until 1989.
In 1989, the ship was sold to Clipper Deutsches Jugendwerk zur See. She was renamed Johann Smidt with home port Bremen. She has since made several ocean crossings with groups of schoolchildren. The a permanent crew and instructors consist entirely of volunteers.

Sources: Oceancollege, Clipper-dsj and Sailonboard.
Image: Oceancollege

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