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Drift safely between islands whilst you swim in the deep blue sea

Blue water sailing - a true sailing holiday in the Canary Islands.

The Atlantic Islands of The Azores, Madeira, and Canary Islands sit on the latitude where the butter melts and Trans Atlantic sailors turn westwards with the trade winds. Staging posts for square rig sailors and yachtsmen through the centuries, these mountainous island landfalls with lush vegetation are a welcome reward on our 10-14 day ocean passages. There is more to becoming a blue water sailor than swapping oilskins for shorts, but a winter suntan certainly helps. Ocean sailors happily adapt to a watch routine and the constant motion of the ship day and night. Experience all the ships moods from glassy calms to white capped swells launching flying fish from crest to crest.

Tall Ships in the Canary islands use Santa Cruz on Tenerife as there home port so you will often see them as you join or leave Bessie Ellen.

Mini brochure on Bessie Ellen in the Canaries - downloadable PDF

Explore the Western Canary Islands on a historic sailing ship

From November to March the European tall ships gather in the Canaries archipelago like migrating seabirds, recognising the best winter sailing in the sun with affordable airfares (from £91 return in 2011 rising to about £239 for Christmas).

1904 Sailing Ship Bessie Ellen will be using Tenerife as a winter base for 7 day Canary Island holiday  hopping voyages. The ships crew have a deep interest in marine wildlife and with a maximum of 12 guests it will be possible to hire transport ashore to try some trekking on the spectacular volcanic rims on unspoilt islands like La Palma.

Poised on the edge of the tropics, the scenery inland ranges from volcanic peaks to primeval forest and the rich marine life offers a feeding frenzy for passing whales and dolphins. There are acceleration zones where the wind blasts between the mountains for exciting sailing and calmer spots where the ship can drift safely between islands whilst you swim in the ‘deep blue’ sea. This is helped by Tenerife having the tallest mountain in the European Union - Mt Teide.

Bessie Ellen Canaries Sailing Programme - Oct 2011 to March 2012 - 7 day voyages from £720

CURRENT LAST MINUTE SPECIAL OFFERS FOR WINTER SUN THIS MONTH

>> More on Tenerife - La Gomera - La Palma & El Hierro - sailing and exploring ashore

>> More on Canaries Marine wildlife and what you can see in this cetacean hotspot.

Sail from Canaries to the Azores Archipelago

If you are looking from something a bit different then why not sail either Bessie Ellen or the British square rigger Lord Nelson from their winter sun base in the Canaries to the Azores Archipelago. The ocean passage between the two groups of volcanic islands is about 700 miles of blue water sailing.

Bessie Ellen is offering two 7 day island hopping voyages (totally different from the Canaries) in the Azores and Lord Nelson has a longer 11 day exploration with a whale and dolphin expert on board.

Ocean wandering square riggers Europa and Eye of the Wind are also crew changing in Azores.

Tenacious will be stopping in the Azores on the way back from the Caribbean in the Spring, but not crew changing so you will have to sail all the way from Bermuda if you want a purist Trans Atlantic landfall in the Azores.

>>See our page on the Azores as a destination for more information, voyage dates and photos