2027-11 | FALKEN | ARC Europe: Sao Miguel-Oban
We’ve split from the main ARC Europe fleet at São Miguel, heading north on an 1,800-mile offshore sailing passage toward Oban, Scotland, while most sail east to Portugal. Skirting the Azores high should give us favorable winds, but we’ll face North Atlantic depressions as we approach the west coast of Ireland and single-malt heaven in Oban.
The Passage
Synopsis
Our last leg with ARC Europe, as we split with the main fleet and head north, while the majority sail east for Portugal. With a rhumb-line distance of 1,800 miles, nearly as long as the Trans-At itself, this is an awesome and challenging passage towards Northern Europe and the British Isles. We'll stay west to skirt the Azores high, and should have favorable winds for the majority of the sail north, but will have to contend with passing depressions as we sail up the west coast of Ireland, aiming for landfall in Oban, Scotland, single-malt heaven for you Scotch lovers!
Details & logistics
typical Weather Pattern
The tropics will be a non-concern for the voyage from the Azores to Oban in June, with tropical development remaining farther west in the Atlantic during the early portion of the North Atlantic Hurricane Season. By June, the North Atlantic gale track is also about as far north as it gets during the year. Gales will usually originate between the Gulf of Maine and Newfoundland/Labrador, before tracking ENE’ward to 40N. From there, gales either steer NNE’ward to W’rn Iceland or continue ENE’ward towards the Faroe Islands. Cold fronts associated with these gales weaken in waters east of 50W, though can reach as far east as the Azores and E’rn Europe before dissipating. Thermal troughs of low pressure can develop along the W’rn coast of Iberia after the passage of these fronts, producing funneling N’ly breezes. Semi-permanent high pressure ridging will be the other feature to note for this passage. The associated ridge axis typically lies between 33N and 36N, with ridging positioned between 10W and the US East Coast between 47N and 12N. Typically, vessels transiting from the Azores to N’rn United Kingdom this time of year will want to take a route north of Ireland to take advantage of the W-SW’ly flow associated with the high pressure ridge, remaining west of possible N-NE’ly flow between high pressure and the aforementioned thermal troughs which develop over W’rn Iberia at times. Routing through the Irish Sea can be considered in instances where gales and cold fronts take more ENE’ward tracks towards the N’rn British Isles, with the lee of Ireland likely offering better protection from these features. Normally, expect W-SW’ly breezes associated with high pressure to tend between 17-22 kts to Oban while W-NW’ly swells tend near 2-3 meters. The exception to this is when cold fronts shift across the region, as larger, long period NW’ly swells can reach in excess of 3 meters (10ft) while breezes veer more W-NW’ly and increase. E’ward tracking high pressure systems in the wake of frontal passages can also result in breezes continuing to veer N-NE’ly. JY
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Weather synopses are intended to be a big-picture overview of expected conditions to help you plan for your passage. They are provided by our good friends at Weather Routing Inc. and initialed by the forecaster who created them! WRI provide all of our forecasting and routing for all trips and have done so since we started 2015. Check them out on wriwx.com.
packing lists & notes
Packing Notes
FAQS
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THE BOAT
Farr 65
'
FALKEN
'
🇬🇧
FALKEN is a 65-foot Bruce Farr-designed racing yacht, built in 1999 for a round-the-world amateur race. After the race, she was used for sail training before being purchased and refitted in 2022 for offshore sailing and crew comfort. The refit included a new Lithionics battery system and redesigned interior for a 10-person crew. More details and media at 59-north.com/falken.
CREW TESTIMONIALS
There is a phrase you will hear aboard sail boats - it goes like this: "If you are thinking about reefing - reef!!" The same logic applies to sailing with Andy and Mia: If you are thinking about sailing with Andy and Mia - stop thinking and Go!!!! Andy and Mia are great sailors, leaders, teachers, cooks, as well as warm, intelligent, and accepting people. No matter how many blue water miles you have under your keel, you will be a better sailor after your trip on ISBJØRN. Ft. Lauderdale to Annapolis 2016.
Adventure, education, majesty... I can't imagine a better pair of people to introduce people to the sublime enterprise of offshore sailing. This trip will always live amongst my cherished memories. Thank you!
The experience was more than I hoped for in every way. I felt completely at home on the open water in our mighty vessel and with a wonderful crew that quickly became family. Hiking in Bergen and the Shetland Islands was amazing. Hiking in the Faroe Islands was indescribable. I felt so close to nature the entire time. All of the staff at 59º North were kind, professional, fun, knowledgeable, and friendly. I will be back!
My time on FALKEN crossing the Atlantic was highly rewarding and incredibly enjoyable. A unique adventure for sure, it was made that much more gratifying given the wonderful crew with whom I shared the experience. The trip was routinely challenging and always a lot of fun, allowing me to stretch myself and enjoy being absent from the rest of the world for a time. Unforgettable.
Huge thank you to the 59º North team, especially Captain Emily and First Mate Mia, for taking me and our crew safely across the Atlantic Ocean. A daunting dream to have turned into an amazing reality under the expert supervision of a skilled and experienced team, on the beautiful, fast, and well-equipped boat, FALKEN. I feel very grateful to have met and worked with the wonderful, international crew aboard. I will cherish the starry nights chatting (or enjoying in silence), the 360° horizon, and the beautiful sunsets and sunrises. No matter how feisty the wind and sea state, all crew members took the helm, sometimes with the support of the captain or first mate by your side, coaching you. Amazing! I learned so much, and I'll be back for more!
Our voyage was interesting because both ISBJØRN (which I was on) and ICEBEAR traveled the same route at roughly the same time. I knew when I signed up that I would not be on a boat with Andy and Mia, but I wanted to experience the smaller boat, so I was fine with that. We had Matt Rutherford as our captain and Ben Doerr as first mate. The bonus was how chill and fun they both were throughout the trip. There were lots of fascinating stories, and they were both cheerful about answering questions and providing advice. The other three crew on my trip (Ted, Laz, and Chris) were great company too, so I feel pretty lucky about that. But regarding Matt and Ben, it says a lot about Andy and Mia that they attract people of that quality to their business. For me, it was mission accomplished. 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. I wouldn't tackle Bermuda on my own yet, though. It's far! But one step at a time. For now, thanks to 59º North and all of their good people for a safe but true ocean adventure. If you are looking for blue water sailing experience and a fun adventure, I highly recommend that you sign up.
Sailing from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas with 59º North Sailing was an outstanding experience and one I would recommend to anyone looking for an offshore sailing adventure combined with exceptional instruction and seamanship. The lead crew, Andy, Mary, and Ryan, created an environment that was both professional and welcoming. Safety, preparation, and teamwork were clear priorities, and every decision reflected extensive offshore experience. The passage itself offered everything I was looking for—extended offshore sailing, variable weather and wind conditions, sail changes, watch rotations, night sailing, and experience with weather routing—all while feeling supported and included as an active crew member. The watch system was well organized, allowing everyone to gain meaningful hands-on experience without feeling overwhelmed. There was a good balance between teaching and empowering us to take responsibility, and I came away with much more confidence in offshore sailing and a deeper understanding of ocean passagemaking. Beyond the sailing, the culture onboard made the trip really special. Good humor, amazing dinners, and strong camaraderie quickly turned a group of strangers into a cohesive crew. Arriving in Cabo after several days at sea was incredibly rewarding—made even more meaningful because we had truly earned the landfall together after an intense evening of squalls. 59º North delivers an authentic offshore experience, expert leadership, and an adventure that builds both skills and confidence. I would sail with them again without question!