Soren Larsen - Bay of Islands Discovery - 7 Days

Submitted by adam on Thu, 21/01/2010 - 15:56
Sailing in New Zealand in the Bay of Islands
Voyage Number V307
Voyage price NZ $ 2200Fixed Price (Approx £978 GB - ring for current quote)
Voyage Dates 20/03/2010 - 10:00 - 27/03/2010 - 10:00
Depart from Opua
Finishing Port Russell, NZ
Voyage area New Zealand
Voyage type Adventure Voyage , Wildlife Voyages
Vessel Soren Larsen
Availability Available
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Voyage Description

Soren Larsen -Bay of Islands Discovery - 4 days
 

Sub Tropical island Hopping in New Zealand

Sign on 1949 wooden tall ship Soren Larsen for a voyage exploring North Island, New Zealand in the style of Captain Cook. The rich deep waters off the coast are home to whales, dolphins and big game fish and the forests ashore are home to colourful native birdlife. Anchoring each night, we explore these pristine islands with their untouched beaches, breathtaking bush walks and unique ecology. See places beyond the reach of even the most adventurous land traveller and learn to sail this well loved and well travelled square rigger.

What to expect

On arriving aboard you will be shown your berths, introduced to the crew, and signed on Ship's Articles as Voyage Crew members. Much of the first day will be spent introducing you to the ship and explaining the various routines, safety procedures and equipment and how the watch system works. For those who wish we try to give you a chance to be shown aloft in the rigging before we get underway.

The Bay of Islands

The Bay of 140 tranquil islands is steeped in the country's early history. Russell is the former whaling town which became the country's initial capital. Nearby is Waitangi, where the first treaty was signed between the British and Maori chiefs. We will drop anchor at Roberton Island where Cook first landed in 1769, and overnight there, for this is one of the most significant places in the Bay and is a favourite anchorage. Today the whole area is a scene of overwhelming natural beauty whose passages and channels we shall cruise at our leisure. Winds are usually reliable and the many options available in a voyage plan mean safe and exciting square rig sailing is assured. The exact passage plan will be decided by the Master depending on wind directions

(If you are travelling up from Auckland the regular coach connection to Russell in the Bay of Islands takes a little over 4 hours and is a most scenic drive. It is easy to arrange tickets. Use the tab above for port information on Russell and how to get to the ship. )
 

Cavalli Islands

Sailing out of the protected entrance to the Bay we will turn northwards along the coast to the Cavallis. This small group of pretty islands lies 3-4 miles off the coast and affords us quiet anchorages from which to explore deserted beaches and gentle hills. Here lies the wreck of the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior. Laid to rest here after the French terrorist bombing in Auckland in 1986 it has become a world renowned dive site.
 

Whangaroa

Just north lies the sheltered entrance to Whangaroa harbour. This stunning natural feature is the principle destination for this voyage. The narrow entrance opens up into a spectacular Y shaped waterway. Awe-inspiring vertical bluffs tower over the sheltered inlets and volcanic plugs rise above the native sub tropical forest as striking promentories.
There's a superb bush walk and challenging climb to the peak high above our northern anchorage that rewards with unlimited views above the forest canopy and over this sparsely inhabited part of Northland.
At a southern anchorage we can get ashore to visit the small picturesque township of Whangaroa, where the game fishing club is centre to this world famous Marlin fishing area.
  

 

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Opua - Bay of Islands

 

The Town

 

Location of the Shipin Opua

Accommodation

 

Things to Do in Opua & Beyond

more soon.

 

Travelling Between Auckland & Opua. There is a regular coach service between Auckland and Opua, Bay of Islands which takes approx 4 hours and is quite a scenic drive.

 Trip advice for New Zealand

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand there is a wealth of information on adventure activities, cultural experiences and independant travel options to chose from. Almost too much choice. The nice thing about adding a 4-5 day voyage on Soren Larsen to your New Zealand itinerary, is that you can indulge in relatively slow travel, with the winds dictating your daily itinerary. You also have a chance to offset all that carbon created to fly you to New Zealand by exploring a significant part of the North Island powered by the wind.

The ships crew are well travelled and enthusiastic about much more than just square rig sailing, so they make great ambassadors to introduce you to New Zealand. If you are flying into Auckland a voyage on Soren Larsen could make the perfect start to your holiday. You can chill out after a long flight; exert a bit of physical energy, learn about the wildlife and culture without feeling like a tourist, make some potential travel friends, and get some tips on where to go next. The age range on board is really mixed.

Classic Sailing skippers have been to New Zealand via stop over in Cook Islands and experienced many things from climbing upto the highest mountain pass accross the Southern Alps, to canyonning by jumping down waterfalls in the rainforest around Auckland. Over the next few weeks we will be adding some of our favourite New Zealand experiences and some of the quality outdoor activities we think our sailing customers might also like.

We think a voyage on Soren Larsen should be a 'must do' for anyone exploring North Island. National Geographic Adventure Magazine goes further and nominated the voyages as 25 best trips in the world.

 

Flight Advice

Classic Sailing are not flight brokers. If you are planning a world trip or multiple stop offs in Austrailia and New Zealand we recommend you speak to a specialist flight broker. Always allow a bit of leeway for possible delays in both long haul flights and adventure activities.

Main airlines serving New Zealand and Australia from UK. You can avoid the hassle of flying via USA by going via Far or Middle East.

Air New Zealand

Departures from London Heathrow to Auckland, Christchurch & Wellington

Stop Overs Los Angeles, Hong Kong & Pacific Islands

Emirates

Departures from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, to Auckland, Christchurch, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Stop overs Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok

Widest seats in economy at 34"

Singapore Airlines

Departures from Heathrow & Manchester to Auckland, Christchurch, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Stop overs Singapore

Qantas

Departures from Heathrow to Auckland, Christchurch, and heaps of Australian airports.

Stopovers - Bangkok, Hong Kong, Bali, Singapore, Bali, Fiji, New York, Los angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu.

Good for round the world tickets. Ask about Qantas Walkabout Fares

Cathay Pacific

Departures from Heathrow to Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne Perth, Sydney.

Stop over Hong Kong

Etihad Airways

Departure from London Heathrow, Manchester to Auckland and main Australian cities

Stop Overs Abu Dhabi, Dubai

National airline of United Arab Emirates. Worlds fastest growing airline with very new planes

Virgin Blue & Pacific Blue

 

 
 
 

 

 

Russell - Bay of Islands

 

The Town

 

Location of the Ship

Joining & departure times: 1000hrs at Russell Wharf

Accommodation

 

Things to Do in Russell & Beyond

more soon.

 

Travelling Between Auckland & Russell 

There is a regular coach service between Auckland and Russell, Bay of Islands which takes approx 4 hours and is quite a scenic drive.

 Trip advice for New Zealand

If you are planning a trip to New Zealand there is a wealth of information on adventure activities, cultural experiences and independant travel options to chose from. Almost too much choice. The nice thing about adding a 4-5 day voyage on Soren Larsen to your New Zealand itinerary, is that you can indulge in relatively slow travel, with the winds dictating your daily itinerary. You also have a chance to offset all that carbon created to fly you to New Zealand by exploring a significant part of the North Island powered by the wind.

The ships crew are well travelled and enthusiastic about much more than just square rig sailing, so they make great ambassadors to introduce you to New Zealand. If you are flying into Auckland a voyage on Soren Larsen could make the perfect start to your holiday. You can chill out after a long flight; exert a bit of physical energy, learn about the wildlife and culture without feeling like a tourist, make some potential travel friends, and get some tips on where to go next. The age range on board is really mixed.

Classic Sailing skippers have been to New Zealand via stop over in Cook Islands and experienced many things from climbing upto the highest mountain pass accross the Southern Alps, to canyonning by jumping down waterfalls in the rainforest around Auckland. Over the next few weeks we will be adding some of our favourite New Zealand experiences and some of the quality outdoor activities we think our sailing customers might also like.

We think a voyage on Soren Larsen should be a 'must do' for anyone exploring North Island. National Geographic Adventure Magazine goes further and nominated the voyages as 25 best trips in the world.

 

Flight Advice

Classic Sailing are not flight brokers. If you are planning a world trip or multiple stop offs in Austrailia and New Zealand we recommend you speak to a specialist flight broker. Always allow a bit of leeway for possible delays in both long haul flights and adventure activities.

Main airlines serving New Zealand and Australia from UK. You can avoid the hassle of flying via USA by going via Far or Middle East.

Air New Zealand

Departures from London Heathrow to Auckland, Christchurch & Wellington

Stop Overs Los Angeles, Hong Kong & Pacific Islands

Emirates

Departures from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, to Auckland, Christchurch, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Stop overs Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok

Widest seats in economy at 34"

Singapore Airlines

Departures from Heathrow & Manchester to Auckland, Christchurch, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Stop overs Singapore

Qantas

Departures from Heathrow to Auckland, Christchurch, and heaps of Australian airports.

Stopovers - Bangkok, Hong Kong, Bali, Singapore, Bali, Fiji, New York, Los angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu.

Good for round the world tickets. Ask about Qantas Walkabout Fares

Cathay Pacific

Departures from Heathrow to Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne Perth, Sydney.

Stop over Hong Kong

Etihad Airways

Departure from London Heathrow, Manchester to Auckland and main Australian cities

Stop Overs Abu Dhabi, Dubai

National airline of United Arab Emirates. Worlds fastest growing airline with very new planes

Virgin Blue & Pacific Blue

 

 
 
 

 

Soren Larsen - Brigantine

South Pacific Voyages 2010

List of New Zealand Voyages 2011

South Pacific Voyages 2011

 
 
 

Flagship to Auckland – City of Sails

 
Brigantine Søren Larsen has been based in New Zealand long enough to be adopted as Auckland Harbour’s flagship, but she roams far and wide from her home port for much of the year, and had done more than her fair share of epic ocean crossings in her 60 years life as a wooden sailing ship. For her fascinating journeys of cultural discovery to some of the most unspoilt South Pacific islands, and for introducing her guest crews to the breathtakingly beautiful New Zealand coastline in her own unique style, Søren Larsen has several won tourism awards. 
 
National Geographic Adventure Magazine nominated Soren Larsen as on of the ‘25 Greatest Trips in the World’

 

 1996 Tourism Auckland - Hauraki Gulf Development and Protection Award at the inaugural tourism awards  

 

 1999  Tourism Auckland Annual Awards – the ship won the 'Adventure and Experience' Category 

 

Star of The Onedin Line 

 

If she looks strangely familiar to British sailors then that is because she is ! Famous as the star of the BBC TV historical drama series ‘The Onedin Line’ with that stirring title music by Katchaturian (Adagio from Spartacus). Søren Larsen’s authentic period rig starred in several filmsincluding "The French Lieutenant's Woman", "Count of Monte Cristo" and "Shackleton" - which involved sailing north to the Arctic Circle into the pack-ice of Greenland. 
 

History

The ship was built in northern Denmark in by Soren Larsen & Sons at Nykobing Mors in 1949. One of the last cargo carrying sailing ships trading through Scandinavia and Europe, Soren Larsen was constructed entirely of oak. She was massively built with oak outer planking on double oak frames with an inner hull planking of oak to carry timber grain and general cargo and traded until 1972. 
 
She was bought and saved from destruction by family of square rig enthusiast s in Colchester, England. There Captain Tony Davies assembled a team of skilled shipwrights to commence the restoration work. New decks, masts, yards and spars were made and she was entirely re-rigged as the graceful late 19th century brigantine she is today. Film work earnings like the Onedin Line helped pay for her restoration and up keep. 
 
In 1987 Soren Larsen was invited to be the Flagship for the Australian Bicentenary re-enactment voyage of the First Fleet. She led a fleet of eight tall ships on a 22,000 mile voyage from England to Australia via Rio de Janerio and Cape Town, arriving to a tumultuous welcome in Sydney in January 1988.  
 

Round Cape Horn & Transatlantic Tall Ship Race Winner

As part of her ‘Homeward round the Horn’ project – an Australia via Southern Ocean to Europe voyage with 'Eye of the Wind' – Soren became the first British flagged tall ship to sail round Cape Horn since 1936. In 1992 she topped this by winning her class in the Transatlantic Tall Ship Race via New York and Liverpool during the Columbus Grand Regatta. It was a fitting way to complete the ship's first circumnavigation.  
 

Extensive Refit 1992 - 1993

After some pretty tough world voyaging Soren Larsen underwent an extensive refit and further restoration work in Britain. She returned to her home Pacific waters via the Caribbean, Panama and the Galapagos. In 1996 it was decided to re sheath of hull with native totara to preserve the original oak planking.
 
Each southern hemisphere winter she cruises the romantic and barely accessible islands of the South Pacific, giving many first time sailors and adventurers of all ages a genuine 'experience of a lifetime'. From November to April she sails the beautiful New Zealand coast, giving individuals the chance to enjoy a glimpse of traditional square rig sailing and providing groups and companies with an opportunity to stage spectacular events aboard this unique ship. 
 

Around The World Again

To celebrate the new Millennium Soren Larsen undertook a world voyage, the Global Odyssey 2000. Departing Auckland in March she sailed 30,000 miles to Britain via USA, Canada and Europe. She set out on the return journey via the Canaries, Caribbean, Panama Canal, Galapagos, Easter Island, Pitcairn and across the South Pacific returning home to Auckland New Zealand in October 2001. 
 

Creating a Unique Tall Ship Experience in NZ and Polynesia

For the last 7 years Soren Larsen and her enthusiastic crew have developed their voyages and carved their own special niche in adventure travel. The ship works from her home base in Auckland New Zealand during the southern hemisphere summer and explores the tropical waters of the South Pacific from March to November. Classic Sailing are very pleased to be introducing one of our favourite ships to a new audience. If you are planning to visit the Southern Hemisphere, Soren Larsen’s voyages represent a way of experiencing New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, that should be on every traveller’s wish list. 
 

Vessel Specification

Rig: Brigantine.

Two masts. 12 sails in total and 7000 sq ft (650 sq metres)

Square Sails on the Foremast: Fore Course, Lower & Upper Topsail, t’gallant
 
Sparred Length Overall: 145ft (44.2m)
Length on Deck: 105ft (32m)
Beam: 25ft 6in (7.8m)
Draft: 11ft 3in (3.4m)
 
Displacement: 290 tonnes
Gross Registered Tonnage: 125 tonnes
 
Built: 1949, Denmark
Flag: Cook Islands
Safety Certification: NZ Safe Ship Management Scheme
 
Crew: 12 crew and 22 guest voyage crew
Hull: Oak with Iroko decks
 
Ships Boats & Leisure equipment:
DOTI Inflatable Rescue Boat & liferafts for 80
16ft Avon Inflatable
Workboat
Lugsail Sailing Dinghy
Windsurfer
Snorkelling equipment for all on board.
Fishing gear, assorted musical instruments
 
Accommodation below:
There is a characterful saloon with brass lamps and walnut panelling, an on board library and separate crew accommodation. For a maximum of 22 voyage guest crew there are 7 twin and 2 four berth cabins. Some twin cabins have wash basins. Twin berths can be reserved at time of booking at no extra cost but are available on first come first serve basis. All cabins are not large and storage space is at a premium. Duvets and bedding are supplied by the ship, but we ask guests to bring their own towels. On tropical voyages it can get quite hot below decks and some like the romance of sleeping on deck, so bringing a camping mat if you want to try sleeping under the stars.
 
Soren Larsen has hot fresh water showers and generators supply 240v electricity so you can charge up cameras / phones etc (NZ three pin sockets). The cooks provide 3 hearty freshly cooked meals a day. Our ship's cook is able to cater for vegetarians, and/or any other special dietary requirements as long as we are informed at time of booking Wine, beer and other drinks are available on board but you need to pay for these individually (major credit cards accepted for your bar bill)
.
Souvenirs:
There is a select range of quality souvenirs available aboard the ship including,   fleeces, rugby shirts, polo shirts & hats all with ship's logo and name embroidered on.
 
Captain for 2010: Jim Cottier - As the ship's senior Master he has sailed the ship and trained her crews over several decades, and is considered one of the most eminent skippers in square rig.
 

What to Bring

 
Luggage: One main piece of luggage, which should be a soft kit bag or rucksack. A hard suitcase will not be suitable due to limited storage space.
 
Clothing: Musto Waterproofs are provided on Soren but you might want light weight waterproofs for exploring ashore. When it rains in the tropics – it pours. If you are sailing at night it can be cold even in the tropics so a few fleece layer options and long trousers are recommended. Day time hopefully you will be in shorts, cotton tee shirts.
 
Footwear: In these tropical latitudes most go barefoot on deck but its not compulsory. All terrain type sandals are good e.g. reef, teva, keen for on deck or going ashore in the dinghy to explore. Unless you have tough feet, going aloft is much better in deck shoes / sandals that can’t fall off than bare feet.
 
High factor sun cream or sun block, sunglasses, straps for your prescription glasses, sea sickness tablets, large and small towel, earplugs, torch and spare batteries, camera, swimsuit, sun hat, small day sack for walks ashore. A sleeping mat if you plan to sleep on deck.
 
Passports & Visas
Don’t forget passport, travel insurance documents.
Please check any visa requirements very carefully if you are planning to travel either side of your trip.
 
For travel tips see our port information
 

Soren Larsen South Pacific Voyages: June - October 2010

New Zealand Voyages including Xmas 2010 & New Year 2011

Soren Larsen South Pacific Voyages: May 2011- Nov 2011

 

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Skippers Adam and Debbie Purser of Classic SailingSkippers Adam and Debbie Purser of Classic Sailing

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