In November 2023, the two-masted sailing vessel Florette will set sail to sail from Europe to the Caribbean. This is a way of travelling with a small footprint. In the autumn the trade wind blows from east to west across the Atlantic Ocean. This is the time to make the crossing. She will sail back in 2024.
Join us for a trip! The best memories are made by stepping out of your comfort zone and sharing new experiences with great people. The Caribbean is one of the most beautiful sailing areas in the world with always wind, a tropical climate, blue water, white beaches, uninhabited islands interspersed with busier places where you will find bars and restaurants.
You do not need any sailing experience for these trips. You actively take part in sailing the wooden brigantine. On board, the experienced crew will give you a briefing about traveling by sailing ship and extensive safety instructions.
We divide the journey into 16 legs, along the way we make stops at the most beautiful places:
Leg 1: Malaga – Lanzarote, November 11 to 20, 2023
Leg 2: Lanzarote – Barbados, November 26 to December 22, 2023
Leg 3: Barbados – Martinique, December 22, 2023 to January 2, 2024
Leg 4: Martinique – Grenada, January 13 to 20, 2024
Leg 5: Grenada – Grenadines – Grenada, JanuarY 20 to 27, 2024
Leg 6: Antiqua – St Marten, February 24 to March 2, 2024
Leg 7: St Marten – Antiqua, March 2 to 9, 2024
Leg 8: Antiqua – St Marten, March 9 to 16, 2024
Leg 9: St Marten – Guadeloupe, March 30 to April 6, 2024
Leg 10: Guadeloupe – Martinique, April 6 to 13, 2024
Leg 11: Martinique – Azores, May 4 to June 1, 2024
Leg 12: Azores – Falmouth, June 8 to 22, 2024
This trip we follow the route that sailing ships have sailed for centuries, we first sail south where the trade winds blow. Via the Canary Islands, where we take plenty of time to go ashore, we sail to Barbados, the most eastern Caribbean island.
During a crossing by sailing ship you will experience the grandeur and beauty of the ocean at its best. Here the waves are very long and slowly slide under the ship. On the lazy swell of the Atlantic Ocean you will encounter all kinds of animals that you will not see anywhere else, such as schools of flying fish that shoot out of the water, large jellyfish and playing whales. Have you ever swam where it is 5 kilometers deep?
From Barbados we will sail at a "cruise" pace to visit most of the Caribbean islands. This means we sail fewer miles per day to leave time to see things, disembark for swimming and snorkeling. The nice thing about traveling by ship is that you get to places that are difficult to reach from land.
“During a crossing by sailing ship you experience the grandeur and beauty of the ocean at its best.”
The captain knows the area well and takes us to the most beautiful islands with idyllic bays are to anchor, from where we explore the islands and view coral reefs.
Most people associate the Caribbean islands, rightly so, with white sandy beaches, palm trees and blue seas. But did you know that many islands are volcanic? Beautiful tropical rainforests and mystical cloud forests grow on the steep slopes. The dormant active volcano warms up the mountain streams that wind through the forest and end in beautiful waterfalls.
We make this intercontinental journey with the ship “Florette”, a two-master of 40 meters long and a wooden brigantine of 100 years old and the last of its kind. This thoroughbred sailing ship has a rigging that makes her very suitable for crossing the ocean with the trade wind in your back.
A maximum of 27 “"Voyage Crew” can join these trips, who will be accomodated in comfortable two- and three berth cabins and in hammocks. Below deck is a spacious saloon where meals are served. Meals are provided by a professional chef who has a fully equipped kitchen at her disposal.
We are proud to be able to provide you with sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism. By organizing this trip we offer an alternative to flying and take a first step in sustainable intercontinental passenger transport.
“By organizing this trip we offer an alternative to flying and take a first step towards sustainable intercontinental passenger transport.”
This is a trip for active travelers, we all sail the ship together.
Sailing experience is not necessary, an active and open attitude is. Along the way the experienced crew teach you everything, from navigating to steering the ship, you will arrive as an experienced sailor. Of course there is also plenty of time to relax, read a book and have a good conversation. At night we will sailing as well, everyone on board is divided into watches so we can continue sailing while everyone has enough time to rest, eat and sleep besides performing their duties. The nights at sea are magical. Because there is no light polution on the ocean, you can see lots of stars and even the Milky Way.
Arriving in port after being at sea for a long time is an unforgettable experience, try walking straight with your newly acquired sea legs!
