Lord Nelson - 700 mile ocean passage Canaries to the Azores £975 for 12 days

photo: Annick Morgenthaler, Upside down humpback whale rollling and diving under the ship 2007

"There she blows....." Humpback whale viewed from crows nest

The Azores whalers used small boats and harpoons from their island shores, as the archipelago has always been blessed by passing whales of many species.  Today the islands economy is heavily into whale and dolphin watching and ceteacean research instead.  This 10 day voyage on Lord Nelson has a cetacean expert guide John Arnott on board this voyage so you have several advantages:

• 100 foot mast to climb as a vantage point like the old whaling ships
• Live on an ocean going tall ship 24 hours a day so much more chance to see cetaceans
• Sail between the islands and cover more miles than local day trip boats
• 50 pairs of eyes on board

PDF Crew Handbook - everything you need to know about life on board - 12 pages

Island Hopping in the Azores - Atlantic Outpost

Discovered in the 15th century by navigators en route to the New World, the Portuguese islands of the Azores are an archipelago of nine beautiful islands set in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 1,400 km from Portugal's capital city, Lisbon and 3,900 km from the east coast of North America. The islands are in fact the highest mountains in the world although the highest point is only 7,700ft above sea level. They fall in-between three tectonic plates and are part of the tallest mountain range in the world found below sea level known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Portuguese is the main language although the dialect is different from main land Portugal and the currency is the Euro.

The picturesque capital city of Ponta Delgada, which is situated to the west of the island of Sao Miguel, has both character and amenities as well as historical buildings and narrow cobbled streets. Just a short drive away the town of Sete Cidades is well worth visiting for its extinct volcano crater within which there are two lakes that are emerald green and dark blue in colour.

Azores: Home to quarter of  the worlds' dolphin & whale species

The Azores can justifiably be counted amongst the best whalewatching destinations in the world. This small group of nine islands is home to just over a quarter of the known species of whale and dolphin. 

 According to legend, these islands are all that remain of the lost continent of Atlantis. The truth is that they are volcanic in origin and rise dramatically out of the sea over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, about 950 miles west of Portugal. Surrounded by deep, food-rich waters, some twenty-four species of whales and dolphins have been recorded in these seas.
 

Sperm Whales Spurt Forwards

You can identify whale species from their BLOW.  Sperm whales have a blow hole on the front of their 'head' and the spray gets blown forwards when they expell a breath, so they are the easiest to identify.

(Our other vessel out in the Azores is wooden sailing cargo ship Bessie Ellen and she saw some huge Sperm whales alongside in winter 2011. She returns to the Azores in 2012 if you prefer a smaller sailing ship.)

The Sperm Whale (of Moby Dick fame) is perhaps the best known here and is the deepest diving of all marine mammals as well as the largest toothed predator in the world. Short-finned Pilot Whales are also reguarly seen, as are dolphins including Bottlenose, Common, Striped, Risso’s and Atlantic Spotted. Amongst the large whales, Sei, Fin, Humpback and, if we are lucky, the largest animal ever to have lived on the planet, the Blue Whale can be encountered. The lesser known beaked whales such as Northern Bottlenose, Cuvier’s and Sowerby’s have also been identified. These are medium-sized whales of deep waters yet here can be seen remarkably close to the islands due to the spectacular way the sea bed plunges deeply from the shoreline.

It is important to remember that some species are rarer than others and that the seasons have an effect as some species are migratory. However the good news is that there is always something to be seen in these waters year-round and, whether it is an encounter with an awesome big whale or with the charismatic and often acrobatic dolphins, a treasured memory is always the result.

Whale & Dolphin Watching Guide John Arnott

Our guide, John Arnott, has worked for over thirty years in further education as a field studies lecturer in wildlife identification and habitat management. For six years he was a Wildlife Officer for the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme on the Portsmouth/Bilbao ferry and made well over a hundred trips across the Bay of Biscay helping passengers to discover and learn more about whales and dolphins. In addition he has travelled to South Africa, Canada, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, the North Sea, the Irish Sea and several sites around Britain to encounter whales, dolphins and other marine life.

This 10 day voyage around the nine volcanic islands should also provide some wonderful whale watching opportunities as several species of whale will be migraiting north at this time of year

Watch Keeping & Decent Sailing Passages between islands

The islands of the Azores have some quite long passages between them so you may well be sailing overnight to reach the next anchorage.

To keep LORD NELSON and TENACIOUS manned 24 hours a day, voyage crew are divided into four watches called Forward Port (FP), Forward Starboard (FS), Aft Port (AP) and Aft Starboard (AS). The Mate will explain the watchkeeping system and the ship’s routine. Watchkeeping means steering, keeping lookout, handling sails etc. under the supervision of your Watchleader and one of the ship’s Permanent Crew. When you are not “on watch” you may be asked to help the watch on deck with setting and trimming sails.

Each watch ideally comprises 10 people:
One Watchleader who is someone who has previously sailed on board LORD NELSON or TENACIOUS and has been recommended by the permanent crew for this role. Voyage Crew Up to 9 people of all ages and physical abilities.

Night Sailing

Crossing an ocean requires sailing through the night, sometimes under stars so bright you feel you could read a book, or moonlight casting a shadow version of your sailing ship on the silvery sea alongside. On a passage this far South you don't need to get out of bed and dress up like a 'Michellin man' - just a few thin layers and a wind proof jacket is usually enough.

You may be on watch from 4am to 8am one night with the tantilising smell of bacon to welcome you off watch, and the next night it will be midnight until 4am. Curling up for a snooze in the afternoon will seem quite natural after a while.

“ Classic Sailing gift vouchers are up there with Oxfam ‘buy a goat for Christmas’ as a present most likely to change a life.” Georgie D , Norfolk

Able bodied & disabled crews sailing as equals

Tenacious (and her smaller sister ship Lord Nelson) are the only two of their kind in the world that have been designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side by side on equal terms. 36 000 people have sailed on the two ships since they were built. Facilities on board include wide flat decks for ease of movement around the ship, wheel chair lifts between deck levels, a hearing hoop, a speaking compass when required and hydraulic power assisted steering to enable people with limited strength or mobility to experience the thrill of steering a 586 ton sailing ship. (see vessel details for more on her special facilities for the disabled).

A Challenge for All

The safety of everyone is top priority and so every activity is conducted at a pace comfortable for all. The forces of nature show no compromise and Tenacious is still a powerful square rigger so with main course, upper and lower topsails traditionally rigged so there is still considerable challenge in every voyage. Perhaps going aloft (climbing the rigging is optional) will be the biggest adrenalin buzz or simply the challenge and rewards of being part of a very special floating community.

The Buddy System

On Board Tenacious & Lord Nelson we operate a buddy system, which pairs able bodied and physically disabled people together. Everyone is there to help one another and share the experience, so the buddy system works both ways! You’ll get the chance to share skills and life experiences and, as many of our crew have found, make friendships that can last a lifetime. (On the booking form able bodied crew are asked if they are happy to buddy a mildly disabled crew member or a severely disabled crew member.)

Debbie in the Classic Sailing office has been a buddy for young wheelchair users and blind crew, as well as sailed on Tenacious as Watch Leader and Lord Nelson as a deck officer so if you are worried about your role on board, do give her a ring on 01872 580022.

GAP Year Challenge or Career Break

If you are taking time out to re appraise your life or do something worthwhile for your fellow humans, then a voyage on Tenacious or Lord Nelson can be both re-affirm your faith in human nature and take you on some interesting paths.

If you are aged 16-24 find out more about the ships Youth Leadership @ Sea programme - available on some voyages. There are bursaries available if you can't afford it.

A Tenacious voyage is also an accredited Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award residential programme