North Atlantic up to Greenland - 2024
Programme 2024
Split into ten legs, each one to two week duration as follows :
#1 Avilés - Horta : 10 days - 1200 Nm (13 - 23 May)
Take a leap of an Atlantic crossing with this oceanic trip, in between Asturias and the Azores. Along the coast to catch the Portuguese winds and then rounding to the West, into the magnificent swell of the high seas.
#2 Horta - Brest - 10 days - 1100 Nm (27 May - 05 June)
In this mostly downwind voyage we will do our best to keep a good pace and maybe break a record.
#3 Brest - Valentia - One week - 400 Nm (08 - 14 June)
West Ireland cruising
#4 Valentia - Stornoway - 1 week - 500 Nm (16-22 June)
Along the western coast of Ireland, we will explore St Kilda islands, as well as the outer Hebrides, before reaching Stornoway, Northern port of the isle of Lewis.
#5 Stornoway - Shetlands - Feroe - Iceland - 2 week - 900 Nm (24/06 - 07/07)
Explore the Viking kingdom of the Isles, and enjoy the friendly welcoming of their inhabitants, in between refreshing and short 200 Nm legs.
#6 Reykjavik - Kangerdlugsuak - Siglufjordur 15 days - 700 Nm (15 - 30 July)
Exploring Iceland by the sea is a wonderful experience, the crisp air, the millions of birds, humpback whales and lovely little harbours along our way. If ice condition allows, we will push up to the wildest part of Groenland.
#7 Eastern Iceland coast - Bergen - 10 days - 800 Nm (02 - 12 Aug)
From Iceland we will be jumping to the Bergen coast in a 800 Nm passage.
#8 Bergen - Shetlands - Inverness - 7 days - 500 Nm (15-21 Aug)
Back into the Norwegian Sea, we will call into these beautiful gems of the North, ending our trip in East Scotland.
#9 Inverness - Caledonian Canal - Inner Hebrides - Belfast - 1 week - 200 Nm - Coastal (23/08 - 31/08)
Going through the Loch Ness, this relaxed cruise will bring us into the sea of Hebrides, until Belfast.
Option : #9 Inverness to Brest : 10 days - 700 Nm - 23/08 - 02/09
#10 Belfast - Canal `st George - W Bretagne - 1 week - 500 Nm (02 - 09 Sept)
Prices are per trip/week per crew member. They include accommodation on board, food, fuel, satcoms and marina fees), except drinks.
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For offshore legs, you ideally will have spent at least few nights at sea, and have experienced some strong or heavy weather conditions for a significant time.
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For coastal legs even few experienced sailors will be fine.
Total crew will be 4-6 people for efficient and fast sailing and various training opportunities.
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We will do celestial navigation training and practise. We will go into every aspect of managing a boat and a crew when offshore over a long duration.
We will do several foresail changes, reefing, and flying spinnakers.
Preferably no heavy smokers ; and of course no alcohol at sea, and no drugs at all....
We strongly encourage more female crew to join us!
Aviles to Azores
Joined Stephane for a passage from Aviles to the Azores, which I used as my Ocean qualifying passage. I was made very welcome on board his very well maintained and comfortable boat from the start. Stephane runs a very happy and relaxed boat and goes out his way to make sure that you are well looked after and well fed on passage. Stephane has a wealth of maritime knowledge which I certainly benefited from both by observation and discussion. I would not hesitate to recommend sailing with Stephane and I’m contemplating doing so again if he does ventures into the high latitudes.
26th May 2023