1/9
1 May - 6 Jun
£4,350
2 spaces available
Sint Maarten via Horta, Azores to Lagos, Portugal This is the trip of your life. The southern trade wind routes have very little to do with the northern route back to Europe and you can prepare to meet the wild forces of nature. We have done it many times and every single trip jumps out of the script to become something of its own. The weather can take spectacular forms and the wildlife is something special with lots of whales and other sea mammals. Your watch comrades and rest of crew usually makes friends for life. This trip changes and elevates people. The starting date from Antigua is 12.5 and you are welcome to arrive a few days in advance to get to know the boat and crew a little better before we leave. We have quite a liberal view on arrival dates since flights can be hard to match and we fully understand that everyone wants to get a piece of the Caribbean before we leave. This trip requires that you have been on a sailing boat before. If you suffer from constant motion or seasickness, this might not be the trip for you. A combination of sun (dehydration) and seasickness (not being able to hold in liquids) is a bad combo and makes your trip a misery. On the other hand most of us feel seasick from times to times and nowadays there are remedies for that. Before you sign up, just give it a thought, if you are unsure of your capabilities to do the trip you are most welcome to turn to us for consultation. We feel responsible for all crew and want to be sure everyone comes along for the right reasons and equipped with the mindset and physical condition to meet the challenge. Everyone onboard is expected to join in on everyday duties on the boat. If the weather gets rough we usually simplify the watch rota to ensure there is enough helm and decision power on deck. You are free to grab as much responsibility you want to match your experience and skills. And of course we do this trip the “old fashion way”, meaning the traditional stopover at Horta – a beautiful small city at the island of Faial in the middle of the Atlantic. This place has been visited by many famous sailors like Sir Francis Chichester, Eric Tabarly and Joshua Slocum, just to mention a few. There is a small bar right next to the marina run by the Azevedo family. They have proudly run it for generations. The bar serves drinks and heavenly food to locals and passing sailors alike. According to tradition you paint your mark on the wall, along with hundreds of other sailors beautifully crafted paintings. The whole place just vibrates whaling and yachting history. The rest of the island is also astonishing in its natural beauty. You can hire a car or a moped and do the island in a day or two discovering one wonder after another. The seismic effect the atlantic ridge has had on the island is seen everywhere, collapsed volcanoes, peninsulas risen from the sea, all the vegetation and fauna that reflects on the local food produce. This is not an easy place to leave. After the stop-over in Horta we start heading east towards Portugal. This stretch is usually around 7 days and the arrival to mainland Europe is finally at Lagos, Portugal. By the time we end up in Portugal you are a part of an exclusive club of people that are allowed to use red trousers with all bragging rights!
A proper Atlantic crossing from the Caribbean to Europe, complete with the traditional stop in Horta where sailors swap stories and paint their mark on the harbour wall. By the time you reach Portugal you’ve crossed an ocean, seen more whales than cars, and quietly earned the right to wear red trousers.
Join the boat
Azores is the traditional place to stop when crossing the Atlantic West to East.
Disembark
Southern Ocean Company Southern Ocean Company has been taking people sailing, racing and across oceans since 2009. Our idea has always been simple: offer genuine sailing experiences on proper yachts, with small crews, active participation and the freedom to enjoy sailing for what it really is. We are not a conventional charter company or sailing school. Our programme ranges from offshore races and international regattas to ocean crossings and relaxed cruising in some of Europe's most beautiful sailing areas. Depending on the adventure, we sail aboard our Swan 51 Eira or our Bavaria 50, choosing the yacht that best suits the character of the trip. At the heart of our offshore and racing programme is Eira, a German Frers-designed Nautor Swan 51. Built in Finland and designed for serious offshore sailing, she combines the craftsmanship and character of a classic Swan with the performance, strength and seaworthiness for which these yachts have become known around the world. Eira has been part of Southern Ocean Company since 2009 and has accumulated an extensive sailing history ranging from ocean crossings to some of Europe's and the Caribbean's best-known regattas. Rather than moving her from event to event by other means, we sail her whenever practical. The passages, changing coastlines and people joining along the way are as much a part of her story as the races themselves. Our cruising programme has a different rhythm. Aboard our Bavaria 50, including our Finnish Archipelago adventures, the emphasis is on discovering places that are best experienced from the water. With a small number of guests, we can remain flexible, explore islands and anchorages away from the usual routes and let weather, curiosity and the crew help shape the journey. Whatever the yacht or destination, life aboard is hands-on. Guests are welcome to helm, trim sails, navigate and take part in the everyday running of the boat. On an ocean passage this can mean watchkeeping, night sailing and learning to live as a crew far from land. During a regatta the focus shifts towards teamwork, boat handling and getting the best possible performance from the yacht. On a summer cruise it may simply mean taking the helm for a few hours before finding a quiet anchorage for the evening. You don't need to be an expert sailor to join many of our adventures. What matters more is curiosity, a willingness to participate and an understanding that sailing is a shared experience. For our more demanding offshore races and ocean passages, previous experience may be required. We deliberately keep the atmosphere informal. Seamanship and safety are taken seriously, and when we race, we race to do well. But sailing is also about the people you meet, dinners after a long day at sea, quiet anchorages, conversations during night watches and the friendships that have a habit of developing when a small group shares a boat. Some people join us for their first real sailing adventure. Others come to race, build offshore miles or cross an ocean. Many return for another chapter. We're going somewhere. Come aboard for part of the journey.
Seb and his Swan 51, Eira, have been part of the charter racing scene since 2009. On board you’ll find the right balance of competitive racing and a friendly, welcoming crew. Between regattas, Eira runs some excellent sailing itineraries as she moves between race venues.
Your specific vessel is assigned based on your selected dates. All vessels meet our high standards for comfort and safety.
Swan - 51
LOA: 51ft (15.62m)
Beginner
No sailing experience required. Perfect for newcomers.
Intermediate
Some sailing experience helpful. Comfortable on the water.
Advanced
Significant sailing experience required. Challenging conditions.
Active Crew Member
Full participation in all sailing activities.
Optional Involvement
Participate as much or as little as you like.
Passenger
Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Yes
Sharing the cooking & washing up
18
This trip requires that you have been on a sailing boat before. If you suffer from constant motion or seasickness, this might not be the trip for you. A combination of sun (dehydration) and seasickness (not being able to hold in liquids) is a bad combo and makes your trip a misery. On the other hand most of us feel seasick from times to times and nowadays there are remedies for that. Before you sign up, just give it a thought, if you are unsure of your capabilities to do the trip you are most welcome to turn to us for consultation. We feel responsible for all crew and want to be sure everyone comes along for the right reasons and equipped with the mindset and physical condition to meet the challenge. Everyone onboard is expected to join in on everyday duties on the boat. If the weather gets rough we usually simplify the watch rota to ensure there is enough helm and decision power on deck. You are free to grab as much responsibility you want to match your experience and skills.
No optional extras
16-22°C
Mild temperatures, moderate winds. Azores high builds.
23-28°C
Warm and sunny with reliable Nortada winds.
19-24°C
Pleasant sailing conditions. Warm seas.
12-17°C
Cool with Atlantic weather systems. Algarve milder.
16-22°C
Mild temperatures, moderate winds. Azores high builds.
23-28°C
Warm and sunny with reliable Nortada winds.
19-24°C
Pleasant sailing conditions. Warm seas.
12-17°C
Cool with Atlantic weather systems. Algarve milder.
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All our trips are led by qualified skippers and sailing instructors
We only work with the most reputable sailing operators and yacht providers
Perfect for solo sailors looking to join a crew or groups wanting to charter
Our team is on-hand 24/7 to help you before, during and after your adventure
From £4,350 GBP per person
Secure your place today from £1,305 GBP
Prices shown in USD are approximate conversions, using today's conversion rate. This trip is priced by the operator in GBP and payment will be taken in GBP.