2023-10 | FALKEN | Trans-At // St. John's-Greenland-Isafjordur


The Passage
Rough itinerary
All 59º North passages are very much subject to weather. We pick our routes based on the "correct" time of year to be sailing in the different regions we visit, and we always build-in enough time to give us some margin for weather windows. The skipper has final say on departure dates and weather windows, but generally speaking, the intinerary for this passage will look like this:
July 28, 2023
Crew arrive to FALKEN at in St. John's, Canada. FALKEN orientation followed by crew dinner. All crew stay onboard FALKEN.
Prep Days
Between the joining and departure dates, all pre-passage preparation, provisioning, and safety briefings will be completed. The specific pre-departure schedule will be outlined and posted onboard FALKEN by the skipper.
July 30, 2023
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
August 15, 2023
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from Prince Christian Sound, Greenland.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
St. John's
St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, is the easternmost city in North America, known for its colorful row houses, rich history, and rugged coastal beauty. Perched on the edge of the Atlantic, the city offers stunning views of the harbor and the surrounding cliffs. The iconic Signal Hill, where Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal, is a must-visit for both its historical significance and panoramic views of the city.
St. John’s is also a lively cultural hub, with its vibrant arts scene, local pubs offering traditional Newfoundland music, and historic landmarks like the Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Whether you’re exploring the scenic coastline, learning about the city's maritime history, or sampling local dishes like cod and moose, St. John’s offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere with a unique mix of old-world charm and modern energy.
For more information, visit newfoundlandlabrador.com.
Airport Info
St. John’s International Airport (YYT) is the primary airport, located about 10 minutes from the city center, with flights mainly connecting to other parts of Canada.
Prince Christian Sound
Prince Christian Sound—Prins Christian Sund in Danish, Ikerasassuaq in Greenlandic—is not a port in the conventional sense but a slender, fjord-like channel cutting through the southern tip of Greenland. It separates the mainland from a scattering of rugged islands and offers an inside passage for vessels that would otherwise round Cape Farewell, Greenland's stormy southernmost headland. For sailors, the Sound is less a destination than a threshold, a passage between the open North Atlantic and the calmer waters of Greenland's west coast.
The channel runs roughly 100 kilometers, walled by steep cliffs and crowned with glaciers that calve directly into the water. Floating ice is a constant companion here, and the Sound's quiet anchorages frequently host bergs that have drifted in from the surrounding icefields. The tiny weather and radio station at Ikerasassuaq, staffed by a small handful of people, is the only permanent settlement, marking the eastern entrance and serving passing ships. Its remoteness is part of the appeal: this is one of the more dramatic transits in the North Atlantic, where the scale of the landscape dwarfs any vessel passing through.
For crew with a day to linger, the rewards are scenic rather than social—watching glaciers calve, spotting seals among the brash ice, and absorbing the silence of a place where the sea meets the ice sheet almost directly. Keep a watch for shifting ice, which can quickly alter a seemingly clear channel.
Airport Info
Narsarsuaq Airport (UAK) is the nearest major airport, located about 4–5 hours by boat from Prince Christian Sound, as there are no direct roads. Charter boats or local ferries are typically used for this transfer.
Nanortalik Heliport (JNN) is a smaller regional option, reachable by helicopter from Narsarsuaq, and is closer to the western entrance of Prince Christian Sound.
For most international travelers, Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is the main hub for flights to Greenland, with onward connections to Narsarsuaq.
Weather conditions
Expect a cool, often damp passage with shifting conditions—settled stretches giving way to breezy, lively patches as you work north, so be ready for a bit of everything as the sea keeps you on your toes.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
The best boats
We take pride in the maintenance of all of our boats, and hold ourselves to extremely high standards. We buy sails that will last for tens of thousands of miles, while holding their shape (unlike standard dacron); we carry lithium battery banks with high-output alternators so there's less time running the engine to charge at sea and killing the vibe; we carry enough sails to sail the boat to the conditons, whether that's heavy weather or light weather, to give you the full experience.
Professional, well-paid staff
Adventure sailing is the highest calling for most aspiring skippers who truly want to sail. Unlike superyachts, who spend most of their time in port, we spend most of our time at sea, and the reasl sailors who want to work in that envrionment are attracted to it.
Sadly, the industry-standard pay is extremely low, and offers little in the way of a safety net, or provisions for having family back home. We want to change that.
All of our professional staff are paid well above industry rates, and we sail on rotations of usually 6-week stints, so those of us with families and small kids ashore can be present as parents and partners while still living our dreams.
The truth is, most of us would do this job for free, and that's part of the "supply & demand" that sets the salary rates in our industry.
But at 59º North we value people above all else, and that starts with our staff, many of whom have been with us for years and will be familiar faces to those who return to sail with us again and again.
knowledge & community
When you sign-on to sail with us, your journey to ocean sailing starts the minute you click "Submit" on your signup form when we start the preparation process with you to go to sea. That includes:
- Extended FREE trial in our Quarterdeck seam'nship community & knowledge-base.
- Series of 3 newsletters leading up to your passage, including specific packing lists, gear discounts with our partners (including 25% off everything at Helly Hansen).
- 1-1 comms with Andy, Mia & August and our skippers if you have any questions before your trip.
Once you join the boat, you'll see why people sail with us again and again. But your experience doesn't end when the passage is over. You'll get:
- Exclusive earned patches for different milestones you've earned with us at sea.
- Sea-service letter/signed logbook if you're looking to earn miles towards a license.
- A final newseletter with photos and other useful information, including a copy of the handwritten logbook you kept while on the boat.
Why it costs what it costs...
We know there are less expensive ways to cross an ocean.
We choose to invest in full-time, properly paid professional skippers, small crews, meticulous maintenance, and extensive preparation because we believe those things create a better offshore experience.
If you’re looking for the cheapest miles, we’re probably not the right fit.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, we're confident you’ll notice the difference.
THE BOAT


Farr 65
'
FALKEN
'
🇬🇧
FALKEN is ideally set up for long-distance offshore sailing. We fully rebuilt the boat in 2022 to our exacting specifications and with the help of legendary yacht designer Bob Perry. She's comfortable belowdecks and each crew has their own dedicated sea berth & gear locker. On deck she has a huge cockpit which easily seats 10 people for our daily meals offshore, and allows for plenty of room to move about when handling lines and trimming sails. She's also easy to maintain, fast and fun to sail! FALKEN sails with 8 crew plus a Skipper & Mate and the occasional apprentice.











