1/8
Oct 4-11
€1,300
7 spaces available
Lagos to Las Palmas – The “Small ARC” This is a true blue-water leg and one of our favourite offshore passages. We sometimes call it the “Small ARC” because it offers a taste of the conditions sailors can expect on the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, which leaves Las Palmas for the Caribbean later in November. By the time we head south from Portugal towards the Canary Islands, we are entering the trade-wind belt and beginning to feel the influence of the ocean currents that help carry Atlantic sailors south and west. From Lagos we set out into the Atlantic aboard Swan 51 Eira, with approximately 700 nautical miles of open ocean ahead of us. Once clear of the Portuguese coast, this is proper offshore sailing: day and night watches, changing weather, navigation, meals at sea and several days when the boat simply keeps moving while life aboard settles into the rhythm of an ocean passage. Conditions can vary, but this route often delivers fast and rewarding sailing as we work our way south towards the Canaries. It is long enough to experience genuine blue-water sailing and life on watch, while remaining considerably more accessible than committing to a full Atlantic crossing. Everyone aboard becomes part of the crew. You'll take part in watchkeeping, helming, trimming, navigation and the everyday running of the yacht. For more experienced sailors, we are happy to give additional responsibility, including the opportunity to serve as a watch captain. This voyage requires some previous sailing experience. You don't need to arrive as an experienced ocean sailor, but you should be comfortable aboard a sailing yacht and come with a positive attitude, willingness to participate and understanding that offshore sailing is very much a team effort. For anyone considering a future Atlantic crossing, looking to build meaningful offshore miles, or simply wanting to find out what several days of life on the open ocean actually feels like, this is an excellent passage. By the time the mountains of the Canary Islands appear on the horizon, you'll have added around 700 genuine offshore miles to your sailing experience – and have a much better idea of why some of us keep wanting to go back to sea. Portugal behind us. Las Palmas ahead. And several days of Atlantic Ocean in between.
Want to try ocean sailing but don't have the time to do a full crossing? This is a great taster.
Starting point.
End point of event.
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 one is a true blue water leg. Prepare for trade wind and ocean conditions.
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.
Tried and tested sailing experiences, from our pick of the world's best operators
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 €1,300 EUR per person
Prices shown in USD are approximate conversions, using today's conversion rate. This trip is priced by the operator in EUR and payment will be taken in EUR.