Tenacious - Island Hopping in the Caribbean - Abled bodied and disabled crew - Guadaloupe, Dominica, Martinique 11 days for £999

Tall Ship Tenacious in the Caribbean

New for this winter 2011-2012 we have a series of unique tall ship adventures exploring the Caribbean. Spoilt for choice there are seven 10- 14 day voyages on Britain's largest square rigger - exploring the Eastern Caribbean ( Lesser Antilles) right up the island chain to the Bahamas Banks and an ocean passage on to Bermuda.  Voyages start from Guadaloupe, Antigua The Bahamas and Bermuda for the Trans Atlantic voyage home to the UK

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

Trade Winds & Tropical Sun

The Caribbean West Indies is perhaps the most perfect sailing ground in the world in terms of wind, sunshine and variety of places to visit. The Caribbean sits squarely in the North East trade wind belt and this time of year (Jan-April 2012) is peak season and well outside the hurricane season. Ships like Tenacious revell in strong winds and boisterious turquiose seas and the white square sails look magnificent against the deep blue skies.  There is few things to beat a tropical sunset below the yard arm at anchor away from the tourist hustle and bustle ashore, or landing on a remote beach anchorage under a forest covered volcanic peak. The ship engineer's deck barbeques and punch are legendary too.

Lush rainforests, mountains and waterfalls

If you have been dazzled by the natural scenery in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies then both Guadaloupe and Dominica are much closer to that lush volcanic island paradise than more well known Caribbean tourism locations.  The second movie 'Dead Mans Chest' and 3rd Capt Jack Sparrow adventure At 'World's End' were filmed in the rainforests of Dominica, close to Guadaloupe.

Coral Reefs & Marine Wildlife

Some of the best dive sites in the world are in the Caribbean, but you don't have to be a diver to enjoy them. In Scotts Bay, Dominica you can swim off the beach with a snorkel and face mask and swim from shallow coral and 12ft of water to a sheer underwater wall of coral and cliff - decending 4000ft. Alive with fish and coral and upwelling plankton, this sunken volcanic crater is also deep enough for Sperm Whales to swim close inshore. Further North the Bahamas Banks contain approximately 5 percent of the worlds coral reefs and the crystal clear visability over white sand bottom means you may see sharks, dolphins and turtles from the ships deck without getting wet.

Caribbean Island Life

The cliche is that the Caribbean is very laid back.  The relality is that every island community and culture is different. Compare the French sophistication and fashion concious young people of Guadaloupe and Martinique, where people watching is an art form, to the Caribs of Dominica pushing their solid dugout canoes out into the ocean with hand woven fish traps.

A Very Special Ships Company

Tenacious is a ship specially designed to take disabled crew sailing where they can participate as equals. If you are lucky enough not to have any disabilities - just think how the rewards of being about to explore the Caribbean in an adventurous context on a an eye catching ship feels to those who would normally have a very restricted choice of holiday abroad.  The local islanders have seen plenty of rich tourists sipping rum punches and trying to look laid back and cool.  It is far easier to talk and relate to local people when you are a bunch of sailors ashore struggling with a friend in a wheel chair or having a laugh with an ex soldier with a leg missing !.....especially when they hear you have arrived as crew on a square rigger.

New Sailing Base in Guadaloupe

British barque Tenacious has sailed accross the Atlantic several times to spend the winter based in the Caribbean, usually based in Antigua. This year she has been invited to a new base in Guadalope, which opens up a whole new area to explore.  There are only 3 voyages (Jan - Feb 2012) starting from Pointe a Pitre on Grand Terre, Guadaloupe so don't leave it too late to book.

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. 

Route de Rhum

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.

Dominica - for Marine Nature Reserves

Some of the best dive sites in the Caribbean are on Dominica, only 60 miles sailing South from Guadaloupe to the capital Roseau. The coast of this lush, green island has many Marine Nature Reserves that attract divers from all over the world but you don't have to be a diver to enjoy them. In Scotts Bay, Dominica you can swim off the beach with a snorkel and face mask and swim from shallow coral and 12ft of water to a sheer underwater wall of coral and cliff - decending 1000ft. Alive with fish and coral and upwelling plankton, this sunken volcanic crater is also deep enough for Sperm Whales to swim close inshore.  Whilst Tenacious cannot anchor in the marine reserves, she does have large ships boats to go where the mother ship cannot.  Frigate birds with their huge wingspan often swoop the beaches, and the local fishermen still use canoes dug out from a single tree.

Martinique - Volcanoes, flowers & Josephine Bonaparte

Martinique's most famous colonial daughter married Napoloeon Bonaparte and became Empress Josephine. The island towns have shops full of Parisian high fashion, every village sells bagettes but nearly a third of Martinique is forested and other parts are gven over to pineapples and sugar cane.  The coastline is cut by deep bays and coves and the steep volcanic interior feeds many rivers. You can still anchor off sleepy fishing villages and remote beaches untouched by development. When Columbus sighted Martinque, the local carib indians called the island Madinina or 'island of flowers'

St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines

In 10 days you may reach as far South as the Grenadines in your tropical island hopping by tall ship, passing St Lucia or St Vincent on the way down or back. With North East trades sailing back to Guadaloupe on a square rigger would definately be the harder direction, but the downwind blast may be worth the struggle back. Bequia has a rich seafaring tradition of boat building, whaling and sailing and Mustique is a get away haven for the rich and famous. The attraction of the Grenadines for sailors are the stunning white sand beaches,  crystal clear seas and extensive coral reefs. 

Caribbean style Itinerary

As with all our sailing holidays the Captain has many considerations to plan for when chosing the weeks itinerary so these islands are only an informed guess at where you might sail.  Weather, swell from unusual directions, customs clearance regulations and new marine wildlife reserve anchoring restrictions or even booking an alongside berth to change crews, fuel or water the ship can all affect the plans for the 10-15 days. Even the time of day and whether the sun it ahead or behind you can influence pilotage in these coral reef strewn coastlines - but it is all facinating stuff the the Captain or mate will brief you each day to explain the latest plan !

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

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 Tenacious

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 or Career Break, or Adventurous Retirement

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. The lovely thing about Tenacious's voyages is the great mix of ages and people come from all walks of life with amazing stories. For longer voyages and ocean crossings 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.

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.