2023-4 | FALKEN | Lagos-Las Palmas

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:
March 28, 2023
Crew arrive to FALKEN at in Lagos, Portugal. 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.
March 30, 2023
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
April 4, 2023
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Lagos
Lagos has been a frequent stop for us, and a place we really enjoy coming back to! Lagos is located on the southern coast of Portugal, the Algarve Coast. It’s a historic town with lots of great cafés and restaurants, and beaches within walking distance from the marina. And don’t miss the great Farmers Market on Saturdays! Read more about Lagos on lagosportugalguide.com
Airport Info
Faro Airport (FAO) is the closest airport, about an hour drive to Marina Lagos. You can also fly to Lisbon (LIS), with more international connections (most crew fly in to Lisbon). There are train & bus connections between Lagos & Lisbon, and between Faro & Lagos. (the bus and train stations in Lagos are only a few minutes walk from the marina).
Las Palmas
Las Palmas is the capital of the Gran Canary Island and located on the Northeast corner of the island. Gran Canaria is the third-largest island in the Canaries’ archipelago, but accounts for almost half the population. The city has an interesting seafarer history and its a great island to spend a few extra days here after the passage.
The south coast of the island is lined with busy hotels and long sandy beaches and is a popular destination for Europeans. The island has much more than the white beaches and sunshine, the interior of the island is mountains with a network of hiking trails. The Canaries are also a popular surf destination. To read more on Las Palmas, visit grancanaria.com.
Airport Info
The airport, ‘Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Airport’ (LPA), is 25 min south of the city of Las Palmas and from the marina you can simply arrange a taxi (or a local bus). From here you can find good connections back to Europe.
Weather conditions
Expect a brisk, lively passage with the prevailing northerlies mostly behind you for a fast downwind ride, though it'll feel cool and a bit unsettled offshore, so bundle up and be ready for some sporty sailing.
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.











