Sail Away Weeks

2020 Voyages - UPDATES Covid-19


We are currently trying to work out how to deal with the Coronavirus and this year's cruising plans. We are currently back in the studio in Canada editing videos and planning the upcoming sailing season. Obviously things are all up in the air right now. Sheryl and I are just a few days in to our 14-day isolation for Canadians who have been abroad. We will update this page as soon as we have more information. For now Distant Shores III is lying in Panama and we will update as soon as possible.

If you are interested in cruising with us this season in the South Pacific please email us and we can put you on an email list list for regular updates as we can.

This will be the SECOND year cruising with our new Southerly 480 Distant Shores III. In our first season we sailed her down to the Balearic Islands and Morocco en route to the Canary Islands. Then we made our 9th Atlantic Crossing to the Caribbean in time for Christmas. Season 2 will revisit our favourite cruising destinations of the Bahamas before we head for the Panama Canal and the South Pacific.

Each Sail Away Week (most are more than 7 days) is listed below. Click on the interactive maps for more details and photographs on the ports and passages.

Note: Prices are in US dollars and are priced two ways: For 2020 legs in French Polynesia legs of the voyage the price is per berth maximum 4 berths. Couples will share the aft cabin with its own private heads and shower, or the forward double cabin. Longer Offshore Passage-making legs are priced per berth max 4 berths available.

Questions? Want to Talk to Us? +1-705-484-0061 (9-5 Eastern Time weekdays)
Passage to Panama - George Town Bahamas to Panama
Wednesday February 5 to Wednesday February 19, 2020 (14 nights) - 950 miles
Completed
This will be an exciting passage with guaranteed winds most of the way. Starting from George Town Exuma we will have a few days to explore the remote out Islands as we head South East in the Bahamas. Then it's the big jump 700 miles across the windy Southern Caribbean to Panama. This is likely to be 6 days offshore with variable conditions to get us into the windward passage between Cuba and Haiti then breezy winds aft of the beam (often at 25 or 30 knots) to blow us on to Panama. Hopefully we have a couple of days to explore the San Blas Island depending on the procedures as we get ready to transit the Panama Canal.

Completed
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Panama Canal Transit
Saturday February 22 to Monday March 2, 2020 (7 nights) - 80 miles
Completed

The Panama Canal is an 82 km (51 mile) historic canal that cuts across the Isthmus of Panama providing a short cut for vessels of all sizes to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is a voyage that many sailors have on their “bucket list” and we invite you to join in the experience with us. There will be opportunities for local cruising and site-seeing in this fascinating place where oceans and continents converge.

Completed
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French Polynesia *NEW* - ON HOLD
Marquesas (Nuku Hiva) to Tuamotus (Fakarava)

May 13 2020 to May 25 (12 nights) - 700 miles
$6,500 Single 4 of 4 Available

Two of the most amazing south Pacific destinations in one cruise! We'll sail to a couple of the Marquesas - how about Tahuata and famous Fatu Hiva (Thor Heyerdahl). From here we set sail on a 3-4 day passage to the Tuamotus. These remote island atolls are one of the highlights we've always wanted to see in the Pacific. We'll drop anchor in a couple of these amazing atolls before making our way to the Tuamotu island of Fakarava. Air connections in French Polynesia all go through Papeete on Tahiti (PPT) so it would be easy to add a few days either end of your trip to explore Tahiti as well.
$6,500 Single
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French Polynesia *NEW* - ON HOLD
Tuamotus (Fakarava) to Tahiti (Papeete)

June 1 2020 to June 11 (10 nights) - 400 miles
$5,500K Single 4 of 4 Available

This is the heart of French Polynesia. The remote Tuamotu island atolls are one of the highlights we've always wanted to see in the Pacific. See the pix below!!!
We'll drop anchor in a couple of these amazing atolls before sailing on to the Society Islands at Moorea. The Society islands are a contrast to the low-lying Tuamotus with tall volcanic peaks surrounded by the iconic atoll lagoon (see the 3 lower pix)
This trip is a great opportunity to see two amazing and different groups of islands.
$5,500 Single
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ON HOLD - *NEW* Society Islands - Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Tahaa, Huahine, & Raiatea,
June 15 2020 to June 22 (7 nights) - 200 miles
$4500 Single 2 of 4 Available

The Society Islands of French Polynesia have some of the best sailing in the Pacific. From the magical beauty of the surreal blue-green lagoons (see below pix) to the dramatic volcanic islands in the centre this is a photographers (and videographers dream destination). We meet up in dynamic Papeete on Tahiti (where the main French Polynesia airport is) then sail on to Moorea. From there its 90 miles to Tahaa or 75 to Huahine in the Leeward Society Islands. For this cruise no overnight passages are needed - only daysails :-)

$4500 Single 2 of 4 Available
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ON HOLD Papeete French Polynesia to Rarotonga Cook Islands
Tuesday July 28 2020 to Monday August 17 (20 nights) - 800 miles
$8900/Per Person 4 of 4 available

We plan to explore Bora Bora, Moorea and Huahine, Tahaa, Maupiti and doubtless others in the Society Islands before leaving FP. These are the highlights of the Society Islands and the stuff dreams are made of. From seldom visited Maupiti we'll be leaving French Polynesia and heading to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. This is a mix of shorter island hops plus a longer leg across to the Cook Islands where we will opportunities to practice celestial navigation. Ask about couples discount.

$8900/Per Person
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If you have any questions please contact us - Or call our office in Toronto, Canada, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time and we can describe the passages further. We look forward to welcoming you aboard!

Telephone: (705) 484-0061