2026-1 | FALKEN | San Diego-La Paz
Join FALKEN in San Diego to start the 2026 Pacific season! After a short off-season break over the holidays, FALKEN will be back in action for the reaching sail south to Mexico and into the Sea of Cortez, making landfall in La Paz on the Baja California Peninsula. This will be 59º North’s first foray into the famed Sea of Cortez, and everything we’ve heard about it makes us very excited! Here’s your chance to be the first crew to sail to the Sea of Cortez with us!


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 18, 2026
Crew arrive to FALKEN at 1300 in San Diego, United States. 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 20, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
January 25, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from La Paz, Mexico.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
San Diego
San Diego is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and year-round pleasant weather. Located just north of the Mexican border, it’s the second-largest city in California and has a rich history that dates back to its founding in 1769. Once a military stronghold, today, it’s a thriving metropolis with a laid-back vibe, ideal for both outdoor adventures and urban exploration.
The city’s coastline is dotted with popular beaches, like Coronado, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla, making it a favorite for surfers, sunbathers, and beachgoers alike. But there’s more to San Diego than sand and surf. The city is home to numerous parks, including the famous Balboa Park, as well as an active cultural scene with theaters, museums, and galleries. San Diego is also known for its strong craft beer culture and exceptional Mexican cuisine, reflecting its proximity to Tijuana. Whether you’re into hiking, biking, surfing, or simply relaxing in a scenic café, San Diego has something for everyone.
To learn more about San Diego, visit sandiego.org.
Airport Info
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is located just 10 minutes drive from downtown, with flights to major cities in the US and some international destinations.
La Paz
La Paz, located on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, is a vibrant coastal city known for its stunning beaches, rich marine life, and laid-back atmosphere. Set along the beautiful Sea of Cortez, La Paz is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering world-class snorkeling, diving, and kayaking, with the nearby Espíritu Santo Island being a popular spot for its crystal-clear waters and abundant wildlife.
The city itself boasts a charming malecon (seafront promenade), lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops, perfect for a leisurely stroll. With its mix of natural beauty, local culture, and access to incredible marine adventures, La Paz is an ideal destination for both relaxation and exploration.
For more information, visit lapaz.gob.mx.
Airport Info
Manuel Márquez de León International Airport (LAP) is located about 15 minutes drive from downtown La Paz. For more international flights, you can fly into Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), about 2.5 hours drive.
Weather conditions
Expect a brisk, lively passage down the Baja coast—cool and breezy with the prevailing northwesterlies often at your back, generally settled but with a few spirited days at sea before you slip into the warmer, calmer embrace of the Sea of Cortez.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
In January, interaction between a thermal trough (low pressure) across Northwestern Mainland Mexico to the Baja Peninsula, and high pressure ridging offshore from the Baja will yield NW-N winds, averaging 11-17kts across the region. Strong frontal passages will bring 24-48hr surges of NW-N’lys of 20-25kts, with periods of 25-35kts also likely near and north of Cedros Island. Swells along the western Baja Coast average W-NW from 6ft/2mtrs or less, and NW-N 5ft/1.5mtrs or less. However, in the aforementioned wind surges, W-NW swells can reach as high as 11-13ft/3.5-4mtrs north of Cedros Island, and W-NW 8-10ft/2.5-3mtrs farther south to Cabo Falso and offshore from the southern tip of the Baja. Along the east coast of the Baja, NW-N swells of 3-6ft/1-2mtrs are likely during wind surges, tending lowest along immediate coastal waters. DC

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.

packing lists & notes
FAQS
What can I expect to learn on a 59º North trip? Do I get a certificate?
59º North is not a sailing school, and we don’t issue any official certificates (but will gladly sign your logbook), but crew often say they have learned more in one day with us than a full week of formal class. That’s because we teach the real thing, with real stakes, having to get the boat from one port to another in varied weather and on a timeline.
Focusing on fundamental seamanship, we’ll teach you how to anticipate the weather & make routing decisions, how to optimize the sail plan for different points of sail in different conditions, how to helm, how to use the radar and on and on. You will become a better sailor — and a better thinker — sailing with 59º North.
We’ve created an environment onboard that fosters hands-on learning and teamwork. Our skippers and mates are almost always co-ed, and we sail with a diverse crew of mixed genders, nationalities, ages, sailing & life experiences. Everyone gets an equal opportunity to participate in running all aspects of the boat, from navigation, helming, sail trim etc., and yet nothing onboard happens by accident. Skippers & mates manage the crew’s varied fitness and skill levels to make sure everyone stays safe while being able to fully participate.
Will I be able to communicate with friends or family during the passage?
Not by default. We have emergency comms onboard and the ability for your family to contact the boat via Mission Control, but if you'd like to be able to connect directly to send/receive text messages, you'd need to bring along your own Garmin InReach or similar device. If you would need to make an emergency call home, we can arrange use of the ship's satellite phone.
Note that we do not, and will not, provide Starlink access to crew for broadband Internet offshore. While FALKEN now has Starlink installed, it's for weather, emails and emergency comms only and not for crew or staff use otherwise. We believe that the limited connectivity during an ocean passage is a feature not a bug. This allows us and the crew to stay in the moment in a way that is impossible ashore, and the experience is that much richer for it.
What’s included in the crew fee?
The crew fee for the passage includes everything you need on the boat, plus use of the following:
- Helly Hansen 'Inflatable' PFD with integrated harness to use while aboard.
- Spinlock Double-tether for moving around on deck to use while aboard.
- All meals, snacks and drinks while on the boat.
- Sheets, quick-dry towel & a pillow.
- Large collection of books onboard, including novels, sailing classics and sailing reference books, in hard copy.
What the price DOESN'T include:
- Transportation to and from the boat.
- Meals and drinks ashore.
- Personal toiletries & clothing.
- Foul-weather gear (see packing list for details).
How much experience is required to sign on for a passage?
The short answer? NONE! We have had several crew who have never even set foot on a sailboat before, but they have the dream, and that’s what’s important. Our crew, John M., always dreamed of seeing the ‘stars down to the horizon,’ yet he’d never been sailing. He changed that with us, and has since been as far as South Africa to complete a coastal nav. course and sails regularly on Lake Ontario in his free time. You’ll of course understand more of what’s going on the more experience you have, but it’s not in fact required.
That said, we DO require a certain level of physical fitness to join us offshore. Regardless of how much we emphasize it, most people still underestimate how difficult it is simply to LIVE on the boat offshore, even on a nice day.
What amenities are there aboard the boat?
Not too many! Our boats offer a very simple but cozy & comfortable offshore sailing platform. All the boats have hot water, but the only showers are in the cockpit, so it's bikini and board shorts for showering time. Beds are proper sea bunks, everyone gets their own dedicated bunk and storage locker (no hot-bunking on our trips!) and we provide sheets, 'Turkish cotton towels' and pillows. You'll need a sleeping bag on colder trips. ISBJØRN and FALKEN have heat, making colder passages a lot more enjoyable (but no A/C and little shade in the cockpits, so when it's hot, it's HOT). Read more about each boats specific layout, bunk arrangement and amenities on the specific boat pages by clicking on the 'About the Boat' button above.
How do couples fit in with the crew?
We often have couples join us, who might have plans of their own to sail over the horizon together. Onboard, we usually give couples the choice of whether they want to stand watch together or separately. Some people like to be split up in the watch schedule, to get independent experience sailing the boat. If you will sail double-handed in the future, you won’t be on watch together then either, so might as well get used to it! Other times, couples want to stand watch together, depending on their goals.
How do we make travel plans given the uncertain nature of ocean sailing?
Our passages are scheduled based on the average speed of each boat. For example, we use 5.5 kts VMG (that’s ‘velocity made good.’) when planning ISBJØRN’s trips. This is a very conservative estimate for ISBJØRN, as we are usually averaging over 6.5 knots VMG (it's faster for FALKEN, as she's much bigger. In fact, on the About pages for each boat, you can see the historic passage states, including Miles per Day and VMG!) The conservative estimate ensures that we’ll get to our destination with time to spare before the last day of the trip. We still encourage crew not to book return air travel until we know for sure when we’re departing (some passages are easier to predict weather-wise than others, in the Trades in the Caribbean for example). Normally, if you book ahead, booking a ticket out on the final scheduled day of the passage will ensure you make your flight. Crew normally book a few days later and spend some time ashore before they depart.
Will I be the only woman on the boat?
59º North Reserves TWO BUNKS FOR WOMEN ON ALL OF OUR OFFSHORE PASSAGES!
59° North passages are simply more fun and more inspiring the more diverse the crew - we’ve had men and women of all ages and lots of nationalities sail with us, and inevitably the diverse trips are the most memorable. By taking this small step we believe that while it’ll definitely attract more women to our sport, more importantly, it’ll attract more people, of all backgrounds, who share our values and want to sail with us.
We're proud that our core team of professional skippers and mates is comprised of a mix of men & women. We hope that this action will trend our paying crew’s gender ratio closer to our 50/50 ideal.
We have learned that the risk of there being no women, or just one woman, on the crew can be a barrier for some when considering whether to sail with us. Past crew Laura Ladenheim said, “I was the only woman on my trip with you all, and it was still wonderful, but I do think it would have been great to have another female present.”
We strive to create opportunities to include more people in offshore sailing, and are confident that this change will break down that barrier.
It is not possible for us to guarantee there will be two women on every trip. There is always a risk of a last minute cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances. However, we guarantee the following:
- We will continue to actively encourage and empower women into offshore sailing.
- We will actively seek out women to fill these spaces, and encourage our crew to do so.
- We will aim to fill at least one of the skipper/mate roles with a professional sailor who is a woman.
When do I find out who the rest of the crew will be?
Once you signup to sail with us, you'll receive a series of 4 newsletters - in the second newsletter, which you'll receive about 4-5 months before the passage start date, we'll introduce you to the rest of your shipmates and the sailing staff for your passage.
Information & bios about all of our sailing staff can be found on 59-north.com/team, and to get a sense of who has sailed with us in the past, you can browse the testimonials on 59-north.com/testimonials.
What happens after I signup to sail with 59º North?
After you submit your initial signup form, we'll send you a link to a longer application that will ask all sorts of questions about your history and why you want to go ocean sailing. The more detail you can provide, the better.
Once your application is approved, and provided we have space available on your chosen passage, you'll receive an invoice for 50% of the total crew fee. Once this invoice is paid, your crew space will be fully confirmed. We'll hold the space in the interim between application approval and invoice payment.
Next, you'll get a series of newsletters from us with increasingly specific details about your chosen passage as we lead up to departure date. Three newsletters in total will be sent prior to you joining the boat, and will include things like packing list advice, travel insurance recommendations, introductions to your shipmates and sailing staff and more. You'll also receive another link to fill-out even more information we need from you like medical forms, food preferences and visa information.
Once you've completed the passage, we'll send a 4th and final newsletter wrapping up your trip, which will include links to submit photos to share with the crew, a PDF scan of the handwritten logbook we kept during the trip and a request for a testimonial from the crew!










