SailTies vetted operator
True adventure runs through Panexplore's veins! Their voyages take you far offshore and into remote waters, with a hands-on approach where everyone is part of the crew. The team behind it combine serious seamanship with a real enthusiasm for teaching, creating trips that are adventurous, educational and genuinely memorable.
4.8 from 5 reviews on Tripadvisor
10 trips to choose from, with berths from £2,590.
Spain & St. Lucia · Europe
Next: 18 November - 20 December 2026
1 date in November
£10,000
Leave your name and email for Mike's monthly email. It's where we announce new trips, so you'll hear when Panexplore adds more.
Prefer to talk it through?
Where you'll sail
See where each trip goes and when it next sails, then pick the one that fits your dates.
Join SV Sea Dragon for the ultimate ocean adventure—the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). This 2,800-nautical-mile voyage takes you from the sun-drenched shores of Gran Canaria…
Trade the bright waterfront of Aruba for the palm-fringed anchorages of Panama’s legendary San Blas Islands on this fast-moving Caribbean adventure aboard SV Sea Dragon.
Set sail from the Pacific gateway of Panama City on an unforgettable offshore passage to the legendary Galápagos Islands.
This is ocean sailing in its purest form. Departing the Galápagos Islands, SV Sea Dragon sets a westerly course for the remote Marquesas, embarking on a 3,300-nautical-mile…
Depart the dramatic volcanic peaks of the Marquesas and sail south-west into the low-lying coral atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago.
This rare and remarkable 1,300-nautical-mile expedition crosses two of the world’s most significant invisible lines: the Equator and the International Date Line.
From the remote coral expanse of Kiritimati, SV Sea Dragon heads north-east toward some of the Pacific’s most isolated atolls before making landfall in Hawaii.
Late summer in the Pacific Northwest offers long daylight hours, thriving marine ecosystems, and ideal conditions for exploring the intricate waterways of the Salish Sea.
Following the rugged western edge of North America, Pacific Gold Rush is a true coastal passage southbound.
Baja Bound marks the transition from the cool Pacific waters of Northern California to the warmer coastline of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula.
About the operator
4.8 from 5 reviews on Tripadvisor
We are an adventure sailing company that offers immersive, hands-on sailing expeditions around the world aboard a 72ft steel-hull vessel. It’s not a simple cruise — participants become part of the crew and learn real offshore sailing skills while exploring remote seas, exotic islands, and major blue-water passages.
Your home at sea
Where you'll sleep, eat and learn the ropes for the whole trip.
Challenger 72
SV Sea Dragon is a 72ft (22m), 90,000lb displacement steel hulled sailing vessel built in the UK in 2000. Formerly known as CB 37, she is one of 11 second-generation yachts built for the Global Challenge Race – one of the longest, most demanding ocean voyages ever made with an upwind, west-about 32,000km circumnavigation. In her new role, the boat provides a superb platform for rugged capability, capacity, and efficiency with a naturally low environmental footprint – perfect for the type of remote sailing expeditions we do. The British Maritime and Coastal Agency rate Sea Dragon to the highest standard of Category 0 All Oceans. Designed to thrive in the Southern Ocean and safely handle the world’s worst sailing conditions, the boats were also specifically set up for volunteer crew with limited sailing experience while reaching cruising speeds of up to 10 knots – she is a genuine ocean explorer. We can accommodate up to 10 guest crew in comfortable sea berths. We have two heads with showers, a large well-stocked galley, and a comfortable salon with seating for the entire crew. We have refrigeration to keep the crew in fresh food for the duration of the voyage. The vessel is equipped with twin iridium satellite phones, HF radio, and all the modern navigation equipment to keep you safe and connected despite being well offshore. With extensive sails, on-board fresh-water making, extended fuel reserves, and almost 1kw of wind/solar power, we are equipped with everything we need for extended passage making. The boat is ready for coastal and atoll exploration with two inflatable boats with outboards. We carry extensive onboard medical capability and retain remote expert support through Medical Support Offshore and their team of highly experienced staff.
Layout
Meet the crew
The people behind Panexplore, with every mile they've logged on SailTies to back them up.
@sandra_marichal_398
General Manager · United States
Book with confidence with SailTies
We will help you pick the right trip and be there if anything unexpected happens.
We only list operators we know personally or have been recommended by past customers. All trips are checked before they go live.
Cancellation and refund terms shown on every trip page before you pay a deposit.
Our team sail, and they'll tell you honestly what a trip is like and whether it's right for you.
The SailTies community
SailTies is the leading digital logbook and sailor network. These are stories from the sailors who use it.
A cracked shroud 250 miles from the Rolex Middle Sea Race finish, three volcanoes in one campaign, and why Robert Šarić of Veruda Sailing School trains his crews on the Adriatic.
A Tall Ships bursary put Elouise Pemberton to sea at 19. Twenty years on she is working through all thirteen Challenge yachts, logging every mile on SailTies.
Jenny Whelan sailed 46 legs and 1,800 nautical miles around Britain with her partner Pete, their dog Svea, and an AI chatbot, logging every leg on SailTies.
Yes, and most people do. Trips are sold by the berth, so you join a crew rather than needing to bring one. Cabins are shared with someone of the same sex unless you book a whole cabin.
It depends on the trip, and every listing says which level it is written for. Beginner trips assume you have never sailed; advanced trips assume you can stand a night watch without supervision.
The berth, the skipper and crew, and the running of the boat. Flights, insurance and most meals ashore are not. Every trip page lists what is and is not included before you pay.
The operator's cancellation terms are published on the trip page before you pay a deposit, so you can read them before you commit. They vary by operator and by how close to departure you cancel.
The skipper decides the route, and changing it is normal seamanship rather than a problem. Trips are very rarely cancelled outright; when they are, the operator's terms say what happens.
Independent charter businesses and skippers we either know personally or have been recommended by past customers. Their registered business details are available upon request. All trips are checked before they go live.
Pick your trip, or ask a question first. We'll get you an answer before you book.
Panama · Americas
Next: 31 January - 8 February 2027
1 date in 2027
$3,495$4,990
30% off
Panama & Ecuador · Americas
Next: 2 - 11 April 2027
1 date in 2027
$7,695$10,990
30% off
Ecuador & French Polynesia · Americas
Next: 16 April - 14 May 2027
1 date in 2027
$9,235$13,190
30% off
French Polynesia · Asia-Pacific
Next: 21 - 30 May 2027
1 date in 2027
$6,435$9,190
30% off
French Polynesia & Kiribati · Asia-Pacific
Next: 7 - 21 June 2027
1 date in 2027
$7,835$11,190
30% off
Kiribati & United States · Asia-Pacific
Next: 25 June - 9 July 2027
1 date in 2027
$9,235$13,190
30% off
United States & Canada · Americas
Next: 27 August - 3 September 2027
1 date in 2027
$3,495$4,990
30% off
Canada & United States · Americas
Next: 10 - 18 September 2027
1 date in 2027
$4,895$6,990
30% off
United States & Mexico · Americas
Next: 26 September - 2 October 2027
1 date in 2027
$4,195$5,990
30% off
Taken by the people who were there, attached to the reviews they left.
