2024-2 | FALKEN | Las Palmas-Cape Verde
(Note that we offer a % discount if you pay by cash/bank transfer.)
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:
January 19, 2024
Crew arrive to FALKEN at 1300 in Las Palmas, Canary Islands. 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.
January 21, 2024
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
January 28, 2024
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from Mindelo, Cabo Verde.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Las Palmas
Mindelo
Weather conditions
Expect a classic downwind tradewind romp—warm and tropical, steady breeze pushing you along from astern, lively but settled seas building over your shoulder, with that easy, rolling, sun-soaked feel that makes this passage such a joy.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
WOMEN BUNKS GUARANTEED
Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
"Our voyage was interesting because both ISBJØRN (which I was on) and ICEBEAR traveled the same route at roughly the same time. We had Matt Rutherford as our captain and Ben Doerr as first mate, and they were both chill, fun, and always happy to answer questions and provide advice. I feel I got the experience I need with the ocean and Gulf Stream to pilot my own boat from Florida to Bermuda in the future, which was exactly my goal. If you are looking for blue water sailing experience and a fun adventure, I highly recommend that you sign up with 59º North."
"Great time sailing on FALKEN with Alex, Adam, and Zoe from Hawaii to B.C.! The passage took about 2 weeks, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets, dolphins, whales, fast speeds, and big waves. FALKEN handles rough weather with ease, and the experienced staff made this passage a piece of cake. By the end of the trip, I was already looking at next year’s openings to sign up for!"
"In 11 days on the North Sea with a crew of 9 women, 59 feet of boat, 1350nm, and two episodes of heaving-to, we gained experience that would take years to acquire alone. The mentorship, leadership, training, and kindness from the crew at 59º North helped us become better sailors by leaps and bounds. Sharing this journey with sailors from around the world was pure joy, and every passage with 59º North is a legacy of knowledge we benefit from."
"It was an honor to be onboard FALKEN for her crewed maiden voyage. We sailed in challenging conditions on our 5-day romp in the English Channel, with the crew rising to the occasion inspired by our skipper, Nikki, and first mate, Alex. If you want to experience real-world offshore life under expert supervision with like-minded folks, look no further than 59º North."
"I had always wanted to do an ocean crossing but never felt comfortable doing it myself. Experiencing a bucket list item with 59º North was deeply special and has me considering how I can design my life for more adventures like this. Thank you for creating 59º North and allowing others to experience the magic of the seven seas!"
"What an incredible experience! I am so grateful to have been on the leg from Reykjavik to Stornoway over the solar eclipse. ISBJØRN is an incredible ship—sturdy, safe, comfortable (not to mention her amazing and somewhat scandalous history!). Feeling ever grateful to 59º North for this journey."
"I signed up for this passage hoping to spend an extended period offshore, learn new skills, increase my competencies and confidence, and sail with amazing crew mates—and this passage completely exceeded my expectations. The 59º North team brings impressive skill, experience, wisdom, and fun to each passage and crew, which is a huge part of why I returned for this second passage in twelve months. I recommend 59º North to all of my sailing friends who want to learn about offshore passage-making in a thorough and hands-on way from true professionals."
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.
packing lists & notes
Day 5 At-sea
Just as we thought we had run out of luck the breeze has shifted and lifted and Falken is making her way by wind power once again.This really has been a multi-faceted passage which the crew have responded to with constant energy and enthusiasm. Each and every one of them can now confidently helm downwind without coaching and a less vigorous sea state has certainly helped development.
Day 4 At-sea
Another day is coming to an end as we watch the glare of the sun disappear through the sandy haze in the air.The highlight of today has to be the stuff happening on deck, we all had a good clean and showered with the deck shower and immediately after we witnessed a couple of whales coming to say hi. After that we had different lessons on trimming followed by a delicious dinner.
Day 3 At-sea
Well what a difference a day makes! From 3 reefs and a partial jib to full sail and eventually reverting to the trusty iron sail as the wind finally disappeared this evening.The crew have been having a ball and feeling jubilant to have conquered some rather large seas and fairly fruity gusts over the last 24 hours. Any sickness has abated and the laughter continues to emanate from across the hull. Even the dolphins showed up to wish the crew congratulations for having taken on the might of mother nature at her finest.
Day 2 At-sea
Last night was some of the most epic sailing I’ve had in the last year, with one gust at 40 knots of True Wind Speed and FALKEN surfing down some pretty impressive waves with 3 reefs and doing impressive speeds! We have covered over 270nm in the last 28 hours! The crew have all been superstars and have handled the helm like pros, even if it is the first time offshore for a few of them.
PRE-DEPARTURE, DAY 2
The feeling of excitement has been growing amongst the crew as we finish preparing for our voyage to Mindelo. Today was all about weather briefings, routing, and pilotage and looking at some of the other safety equipment that Falken has to offer. The crew took some last minute down time to pick up any luxury items, and local shopkeepers commented on how many boats were waiting out the weather for a more favourable window.
Pre-Departure
There can be no better feeling than that of watching a new team come together, except perhaps when the team in question are about to embark on one of life’s last true adventures. For many sailors, the opportunity to push the boundaries from coastal sailing to embarking upon an ocean passage is beyond comprehension. So when the chance arises, it isn’t a surprise to find a group of like minded individuals that bond very quickly to form a very natural nautical family.