2027-19 | FALKEN | Trans-At: Las Palmas-St. Lucia
FALKEN is headed back across the Pond for a second time in 2027! 59º North will return a bit to our "roots" with this trip, where we'll be joining the iconic 'Atlantic Rally for Cruisers', aka ARC rally. Andy & Mia worked for the ARC going back to 2008 and have long been involved in running the shoreside operations on rallies including the Caribbean 1500, ARC Europe and ARC itself. It's definitely with a bit of nostalgia that we're joining the rally fleet! The sail itself will be a classic east-to-west Tradewind trans-Atlantic, 3,000 miles from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia, an island we haven't visited since 2013 when Andy's dad's boat SOJOURNER was stationed on the finish line in Rodney Bay. Being part of the ARC rally means we'll be sailing in company with over 250 boats, from 30-footers up to boats much bigger than FALKEN. Crew will be welcome to be part of all rally events in Las Palmas and St. Lucia - they've got seminars, parties, island tours and a lot more going on which you can be a part of. Andy will be involved in delivering some of the pre-departure seminars. Weather-wise, expect it to be chillier than you think on leaving Las Palmas, but quickly warm up as we 'sail south 'til the butter melts, then turn right!' FALKEN should complete the crossing in 16-20 days, depending on how well-established the Trades are at the time.
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:
November 17, 2027
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.
November 21, 2027
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
December 12, 2027
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia.
PASSAGE DETAILS
ARC Events & Dates:
The ARC Rally has many events both in Las Palmas prior to the rally start, and in St. Lucia after the rally concludes. The dates published on our site, here, represent the days you may stay aboard FALKEN in port both before and after the passage. But you're welcome to join the ARC events before this join date, but you'll need to book shoreside accommodation.
Likewise, after we arrive in St. Lucia, you're welcome to stay for all the ARC festivities, but you must depart the boat at the end date here on the website. FALKEN will be one of the faster boats in the fleet and therefore will get to St. Lucia pretty early in the festivities. We would expect to arrive into St. Lucia around Dec. 10-ish +/- 1-2 days.
Tuesday 9 November: ARC offices opens in Las Palmas and shoreside activities begin
Sunday 14 November: Latest boat arrival date for Las Palmas
Saturday 20 November: Skippers' briefing
Sunday 21 November: Start day. Las Palmas to Saint Lucia
Friday 17 December: ARC finish line closes in Saint Lucia
Saturday 18 December: Prizegiving in Saint Lucia
More info on ARC activities and dates can be found here or at https://worldcruising.com/events/arc/arc-2027.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Las Palmas
Rodney Bay
Weather conditions
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...
"I sailed on ISBJØRN in March 2024 from Bergen to Tromsø and it was fantastic. 59º North truly lived up to expectations—Mia and August were always helpful, and our skipper Jon Amtrup did a fantastic job, balancing safety with giving everyone the right tasks and space. We had incredible anchorages, great sailing, fun dinners, and unforgettable experiences under the stars on the North Sea. ISBJØRN is a wonderful boat with character, and I highly recommend the trip."
"I’ve sailed with 59º North four times—each has been a unique and gratifying experience. Sailing with like-minded folks, captained by the best in the biz, in well-maintained vessels has been the highlight of my 40-year sailing career. I’ve learned so much about sailing and myself on my 59º North adventures."
"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."
"When I think back to my trip across the North Sea on ICEBEAR, the memories uplift me and fill me with warmth and gratitude. Unplugging from the corporate world and embracing the beauty the ocean has to offer with 59º North molded me into a slightly different version of myself, in the most magical ways. I went home after 11 days with a more courageous yet humbled energy, realizing how capable and excited I am to take on new challenges."
"I have so many great memories from this sailing experience, and so much of that was because of our skipper, Mary, and first mate, Delaney. Mary was incredible: approachable, present, knowledgeable, and always calm, with a quiet confidence that made everyone feel safe and comfortable. She frequently studied the GRIB files and always considered the best course of action to keep her crew happy and safe. She kept us informed each day with clear explanations of passage changes and weather. She never wavered in providing gentle reminders about safety on board. It never once crossed my mind that we were not in good hands. Delaney was equally wonderful. She and Mary were perfectly in sync as leaders, communicating calmly, respectfully, and often with great humor. Delaney was always smiling, quick to laugh, and showed clear respect for Mary’s decision-making while bringing her own steady presence to the crew. Virginia, our intern, and I spent less time together due to our shifts. However, in the few interactions we had, we shared some amazing life perspectives that I will always remember. Together, they created the full offshore sailing experience I hoped for: a combination of education, safety, leadership, and kindness. The only problem is that they have now set a very high bar for future sailing experiences. When I reflect back on the passage, I have no ‘glums’ at all."
"This was my second trip with 59º North, and once again it was absolutely fantastic. The crew quickly became a friendly, supportive team, and living in close quarters felt natural and easy. Jon set the perfect tone as skipper, sharing his knowledge with clarity and patience, and Mia’s behind-the-scenes planning made everything seamless. Sailing with 59º North is about growing as a sailor, sharing adventure, and making lasting memories."
"Having sailed on ISBJØRN in 2019, I was excited to join another 59º North passage and finally sailed on FALKEN for the trans-Atlantic in January 2025. The 17-day passage was an incredible experience, sharing sailing knowledge and cultural perspectives with a diverse crew. FALKEN felt extremely safe and comfortable, and the care 59º North puts into both the voyage and post-trip details is outstanding. I came away with new friends, unforgettable memories, and a whole new level of sailing experience."
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
Packing Notes
Start here when planning your packing for sailing with 59º North. This list includes the general basics for all of our passages. The passage-specific packing lists offer more details.
Cold | Warm Packing List
This will be a "transitional" passage, either starting in warmer climes and increasing in latitude until it's significantly cooler, or vice versa. Another one of those trips where you'll need to pack one of everything for changing conditions. See the packing list for specifics.