Soren Larsen - Island Hopping & Ocean Sailing to Australia

Submitted by adam on Wed, 07/04/2010 - 15:55

Description
Itinerary
Starting Port
End Port
Vessel Details

Voyage Number	V318
Voyage price	£2735 for 18 nights
Voyage Dates	27/09/2010 - 10:00 - 15/10/2010 - 10:00
Depart from	New Caledonia
Finishing Port	Sydney
Voyage area	Pacific , South Pacific
Voyage type	Adventure Voyage , Ocean Passages , Tall Ships
Vessel	Soren Larsen
Availability	Available
	BOOKING FORM >>>

Voyage Description

Soren Larsen - South Pacific 2012

Tall Ship Adventures in the South Seas

From April 2012 tall ship Soren Larsen will undertaken a series of voyages to the very best of the tropical South Seas. There are ten voyages to chose from - varying in length from 10 to 22 days. Some are pure ocean passages, others have island hopping as a main theme, and a few have a combination of a long ocean passage and some exploring amongst island groups.

A true ocean passage takes us from Auckland to the Kingdom of Tonga via the volcanic Kermadec islands. In the islands of Haapa'i and the whale breeding grounds of Vava'u we find South Pacific cruising t its best.

From there we sail Westwards with the trade winds on a series of voyagesaccross the best of Polynesia and Melanesia from Tonga to the outer islands of colourful Fiji.

We explore the wild untouched beauty and undisturbed culture of the islands of Vanuatu; sailing as far North as the rarely visited islands of the Banks and Torres Group and we see the classical South Sea beauty of New Caledonia.

The last leg is an authentic square rig passage from New Caledonia to Sydney harbour in Australia.

Classic Sailing Office: 0044 (0) 1872 580022

Soren Larsen Booking Agent UK & Tall Ship Holiday Specialists

Classic Sailing office is run by working skippers. We all have extensive experience of sailing all types of tall ship in many parts of the world, so you can ask us just about anything. Adam in the office has sailed in New Zealand and on Soren Larsen and our new Cornwall skipper James MacKenzie has just returned from sailing in the Caribbean so we are very excited about helping you book this amazing series of blue water voyages.

Leg 10 - Blue Water Passage To Australia

Around Noumea lie reef fringed atolls with white beaches, palm lined shores and local sailing canoes which make an idyllic spot to spend a night before setting out on our ocean voyage. Once we clear customs at Noumea we set sail south.

On arriving onboard you will be shown your berths, introduced to the crew and signed on Ships Articles as Voyage Crew members. Much of the first morning will be spent introducing you to the ship and explaining 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.

Here we have a proper ocean passage of 1200 miles, possibly broken by a visit to Middleton Reef and then Lord Howe island some 700 miles south of Noumea. A visit to Lord Howe will depend on weather as it has a fairly exposed anchorage but it is a rare chance to visit this beautiful and spectacular sub-tropical island. There may be a landing fee which is paid individually.

All At Sea

The first 4-5 days should be in favourable conditions with light following breezes but before the halfway mark we should expect more boisterous conditions and will have a challenging sail in order to make the most of the variable conditions. This blue water passage is an exciting and challenging voyage for the novice and committed sailor alike. On the longer sea passage there’s time for talks about basic navigation, seamanship theory, rope work, history and development of square rigged ships.

The timeless routines of the sea and unique beauty and grandeur of the ocean can only really be appreciated by those who have undertaken a blue water passage several days out from land.
Tallships run at the call of the wind and the passage down the east coast of Australia will depend on this but if we make good time we could call into one of the beautiful harbours on the New South Wales coast before we reach Sydney.

Sailing into Sydney Harbour is always a thrilling occasion. It was here that Soren Larsen sailed in as Flagship of the First Fleet Re-enactmant Voyage with the fleet of Tallships for Australia’s 200th birthday in 1988. This will be the ship’s return to Sydney in 10 years and we expect a memorable welcome.
There are 13 permanent crew who maintain and sail the ship and who are there to assist and help you enjoy your time aboard. Once we drop anchor the deck watch is undertaken by the permanent crew and you the Voyage Crew are free to explore ashore.

See Voyage Description for Typical Itinerary

The Voyage Description section (see tab above) includes typical destinations and highlights for each Pacific Adventure leg on brigantine Soren Larsen as she follows the trade winds around the South Seas. Some voyages are adventurous island hopping and a few are pure Ocean passages. The most popular are those that involve a mix of Pacific blue water passages and shorter sails between island groups with lots of anchoring and meeting the locals.

Wind Powered Travel

If you want to travel around the Pacific for several months powered only by the wind and your own efforts as crew, then spending a few pacific ocean legs living on Soren Larsen is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel.

Vessel Details

See the tab above for a full description of this historic wooden ship

New Caledonia, South Pacific - Travel Tips

Noumea is the capital of New Caledonia, where Paris meets the South Pacific. New Caledonia is 1500 km from Australia, 1700 km from New Zealand, and 20000 km away from France. Tourism and mining are the backbone of New Caledonia's economy. The first European to discover New Caledonia was Captain Cook.

Time Zone: GMT plus 11 hours.

Airports:
You will fly to Tontouta International Airport which is 45km North West of Noumea. From there Public buses run into Noumea. They are operated by ‘Carsud’ and they are, by far the cheaper option. Taxis are expensive.

Currency:
Cour de Franc Pacifique (CFP) 1.OO GBP=140.00 CFP
Typical costs:
Filled Baguette: 450 CFP
Cup of Coffee: 300 CFP
Short Taxi Ride: 1100 CFP
Number One beer: 350 CFP
Bus from Airport to Noumea town: 400 CFP
Noumea town buses 200 CFP per trip

Banks:
There are three major banks in Noumea, all of which have ATM services.

Internet:
Extensive wi-fi access in hotels but Internet Cafes are few and far between.

Food:
Always excellent but it comes at a price! Specialising in French and International Cuisine as well as seafood. Many places are closed on Sunday/ Monday. The ‘snacks’ (eateries) and cafes are the gems for finding good food; the flair and flavour is wonderful. Buffetts cost a bomb.

Accommodation:
Hotels in Noumea are best booked in advance on the web where they often have special deals including a free transfer service to/from the airport. For a mid- range hotel you are looking at 10,000 CFP per night.

The Lonely Planet Guide to the South Pacific offers a wide range of accommodation options.

www.office-tourisme.nc

Getting there….

V318 New Caledonia - Sydney in 2010

This voyage is great and a lot simpler as you can fly to Sydney and onto Noumea, then use wind power by sailing a square rigger accross the ocean back to your international airport.

Flight prices similar to above i.e. London - Sydney return £1030 plus one single to Noumea at approx £152

FLIGHT QUOTE 21-7-10 on line

New Caledonia is right out there in French Polynesia 1500km from Austraila so flights from UK to join the ship and back are at least £1500.

Fri 24 Sept 2010 1205hrs	London Heathrow- Sydney (Quantas QF32) 22 hrs 1 stop	arr Sat 25 Sept 1900hrs
Sun 17th Oct 2010 1740hrs	Sydney - London Heathrow (Quantas BA10) 23hrs 1 stop	arr Mon 18 Oct 0625hrs	return inc taxes £1113
Sun 26th Sept 2010 1705hrs	Sydney - New Caledonia, Noumea via Brisbane (Quantas QF540 and QF363)	arr 1835hrs Brisbane Dep Brisbane 2030hrs arr Noumea 2335hrs	single inc taxes £389
	Noumea - Sydney by Square Rigger

For Travel tips on Sydney see next voyage details

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Soren Larsen - Brigantine

Brigantine Søren Larsen makes Sydney her home port, but she roams far and wide from her home for much of the year, and has 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 films including "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 Sydney 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

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