Tenacious - 3000 mile Trans Atlantic Crossing Bermuda - UK via Azores.

Trans Atlantic on a Windjammer: Bermuda - Azores - UK 

Fast & Wild Westerly route

Sail Between Continents

If you are planning to travel the world why not consider doing at least one major hop between continents by boat. How much more cool to say you have done the trans ocean voyage under square rig – with few modern concessions and a lot of physical bravery and effort from you. The wind might be free, but you do have to constantly add (set sail) and take away (hand) sail so the ship can crack on at a decent pace without being too much of a handful for the human crew.

GAP year or Career Break, or Adventurous Retirement

The lovely thing about Tenacious's voyages is the great mix of ages and people come from all walks of life with amazing stories.  28 days on a sailing ship is not a voyage to take lightly. You need to be fairly confident you have no serious health problems likely to be agravated by being at sea, where there is constant movement, watch rotas where you will be up for 4 hours in the night, and limited privacy.  It helps if you have sailed or spent time on ships before, and that you like the company and working as part of a close knit team. It's a healthy life for most - out in the open doing straightforward physical work, and often a very hard thing to leave the ship at the end.

Do I Need Sailing Experience?

You do not need any sailing experience to go on our tall ships as you will be trained and well looked after. However these are the most challenging voyages we offer and not to be taken lightly. We want you to enjoy it, so if you have never spent longer than a few hours on a boat or ferry then please speak to us for realistic advice. This ocean voyage is often a long way from land - but not beyond the ambitions of an adventurous newcomer to sailing. If you prefer we may be able to suggest a 2-3 trial voyage before the big challenge.

On Watch At Four Bells

Being woken up in the middle of the night has its compensations; helming the ship under the brightest stars you have ever seen, being in charge as the ship as she ploughs through the unseen waves and the welcome hot drink at the end of your watch. You do need to be reasonable confident in your level of fitness and stamina for Ocean Passages and settling into the ships routine as she sails day and night is the key to becoming an ocean sailor. Taking advantage of opportunities to rest or sleep when off watch in the daytime will help you enjoy this extended period at sea. Life back on shore will feel very strange once you get used to the rhythms of the sea and shipboard life.

Blue Water Sailors

There is more to becoming a blue water sailor than swapping oilskins for shorts, but a 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.

Guadaloupe & French Caribbean

Guadaloupe, the centre of the Caribbean's Creole culture, boasts a spirited blend of French and African Influences.  The island archipelago consists of Grand Terre and the 1467m steaming volcanic peak (La Soufriere) on Basse Terre, and offshore islands of Les Saintes, Marie Galante and La Desirade.

The average daily high temperature in January is 28 degrees Centigrade (83 F) with lows of 19 degrees centigrade. The 3 voyages in January and February are well outside the wettest months (July-Nov) with the driest period being Feb- April. 

Guadaloupe is actually an overseas department of France.  Bananas, sugar and rum are her main exports, and tourism is relatively stylish. Pointe De Pitre is the race finish for the famous singlehanded French yacht race 'Route de Ruhm' from St Malo in France to Guadaloupe.

Humming birds, mangroves & rainforest waterfalls

There is an extensive national park on the rugged slopes of La Soufriere with verdant rainforest and magnificent waterfalls, with mangroves and fine beaches. There are humming birds on Guadaloupe, as well as mongooses, racoons and on La Desirade and Les Saintes you may even see an iguana.  The ships crew are well used to planning shore excursions and hiring minibuses so you can enjoy a mix of tall ship sailing and the occasional 'day safari' ashore.

See our destinations pages for more on sailing voyages in the Caribbean and the other islands around Guadaloupe.

Largest wooden tall ship to be built in the UK for 100 years

Even on a 680 ton sailing ship there will be times when Tenacious  will feel a very small vessel. There will be days when you may not see another vessel or sign of modern life –but usually there are ships and fishing vessels to spot. Look out for the world’s ocean wildlife – seabirds like gannets and storm petrels, Whales and large schools of dolphins. As you head south the seas get bluer and warmer, its more shorts than wet weather gear and Africa is not far over the horizon to the South East.

 

Watch keeping 

Able bodied & disabled crews sailing as equals