Offshore navigation on the Arctic Circle, from Prince William Sound to the Inside Passage.
Strong points : • Discovery of wild Alaska off the beaten track • Night navigation on an offshore cruise • Maritime glaciers in the footsteps of explorer John Muir • Observation of mythical species: sea lions, killer whales, humpback whales... • Small group cruise: maximum 6 passengers and fishing on board
Offshore navigation from Valdez in Prince William Sound, to Juneau in the Inside Passage, offering the experience of night navigation with a few stops, for an extraordinary discovery of the Gulf of Alaska while watching for whales and killer whales in the sailboat's wake. Glaciers still resist in Glacier Bay National Park, pouring their seracs with a crash. Exploration of raw nature, in the footsteps of the naturalist John Muir, who during several canoe expeditions made an inventory of it from 1879 and became the founder of American national parks.
A little sailing experience would be desirable but not mandatory (however, do not confuse the adaptation of the first days with recurrent seasickness).
D1 Juneau Boarding in Juneau, capital of Alaska and living memory of the pioneers of the gold rush.
D2-4 Glacier Bay National Park. The thrust of the glaciers during the last "little ice age" of the 18th century forced the Tlingit nation around 1750 to flee their land which they had populated for centuries. Anchorage and walks at the foot of some of the 16 glaciers, in the din of impressive serac falls. The landscapes of this immense glacial valley are a delight for photographers.
D5 Elfin Cove Stopover at Elfin Cove "village at the end of the world", where a dozen fishermen live in this cove with flowered houses.
D6-9 Crossing the Gulf of Alaska Offshore navigation from Prince William Sound to Yacutat, with a night at sea and in the company of whales. The sumptuous mountains of Mount Saint Elias in the background give this decor a grandiose dimension.
D10 Valdez Landing at Valdez, approaching a rockery of a hundred sea lions. The exit from Prince William Bay is magical!
These prices do not include airfare and hotels, nor transport from the airport to the sailboat, nor alcohol (other than wine at dinners), nor restaurants (including the last meal of Day 10) nor bars. Participants arrive at the port of embarkation the day before Day 1 (D1) and spend one night in a hotel. Boarding takes place on the morning of D1 at 9 a.m. and we set sail shortly after. Disembarkation is around 6 p.m. on D10.
Goélette de 16 mètres en aluminum. Mise à l'eau en 1999 par l'architecte naval Michel Joubert, son concepteur et premier propriétaire, qui réalisa le passage du Nord-Ouest du Groenland à l'Alaska en 2012 en company de l'explorateur polaire Janusz Kurbiel.
Conçu comme a fifty d'expédition pour naviguer dans les conditions les plus extrêmes. Cette goélette est doté de 2 moteurs de 110 CV and de réservoirs d'une capacité de 4000 litres he assurant une autonomie très importante.
Caractéristiques
- Longueur 16m, large 4.10m, tirant d'eau 1,70m
- Matériau: aluminum renforcé
- Capacité de vie à bord pour 10 personnes, que nous limitons à 6 passagers et 2 marins
- A large cockpit ouvert pour manœuvrer, observer and pêcher
- A post de timonerie totalement à l'abri des éléments
- Grand carré surélevé pour une vision assise panoramique, recevant confortablement 8 personnes à table and a salon avec 2 larges banquettes
- Capacité de couchage: 8 couchettes individuelles sont disponibles + 2 en couchettes doubles, the ensemble en 3 cabines et une coursive
- Douche chaude, 2 cabinets de toilette, WC
- Réserve d'eau: 1500 liters
- Poêle-chaudière à gazole «Refleks» équipé d'un aérotherme central + air pulsé par le moteur
- Courant 220, 110 et 12 volts à bord
- Annexe pour 8 personnes avec moteur 15 CV
- Matériel de pêche utilisable en navigation ou au mouillage
- Bibliothèque variée à disposition
Our itinerary
Our trip starts here
Juneau, Alaska, Stati Uniti
Friday 9 June from 9:00
until Friday 9 June at 10:00
Our trip ends here
Valdez, Alaska, Stati Uniti
Sunday 18 June from 17:00
until Sunday 18 June at 18:00
Other important information
THE CREW Your skipper Didier F. , a geographer by training, is a Captain 200 of the Merchant Navy and has numerous certificates such as Mechanic 250 kW or Medical III. He also holds the Sailing Instructor State Certificate. Navigator since 1984, he sailed in all latitudes, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, including 2 trans-Pacific New Zealand - Cape Horn and several transatlantic. He is assisted by a general-purpose sailor, responsible for the galley for the entire duration of the trip. Your cook & sailor is Dorian , born in Valparaiso and son of your captain. Sailor and traveler, his experiences in the kitchen are multiple, they managed a fish and seafood restaurant as a family. Cooking and sailing are a great match. A good dose of creativity and good humor always enhances his dishes! Varied and fresh cuisine (provision of fruits and vegetables without difficulty). Please note, however, that we cannot provide the service of special menus! Everyone's participation will be appreciated for the dishes.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS Depending on the weather conditions, the program can be modified and arranged. The navigation times take place mainly during the day to take advantage of the observations and avoid the fatigue of night crossings. Sailing times vary greatly (from 4 to 8 hours).
How do we move on land? On the occasion of shore excursions, safety rules must of course be observed, such as going out only in groups, because it is possible that we will come across bears on your way. We bring a rocket stylus and bear repellent on each shore trip. Walks on land are mainly on the shore and along the rivers because the interior of the forests is sometimes impassable.
Physical level and preparation Although no special physical condition is required, we simply ask that you be fit enough to get on and off the boat easily and to walk on sometimes slippery ground such as the rocks on the edge of the sea. It is not necessary to have prior knowledge of sailing, beginners are welcome to maneuver.
EQUIPMENT We often imagine that a sailing trip in the Far North resembles a dive in the intense cold. An idea that turns out to be wrong when you go along the Pacific coast, thanks to the Kuro-Shivo, a warm sea current. Although the weather is changeable throughout the year, the rains are mostly winter. Before July, the temperature can vary from 17°C during the day to 4°C at night, take your equipment into account if you are sailing at this time. From July, navigation is generally very pleasant, with a temperature of 15 to 25°C in Alaska and British Columbia, except in the immediate vicinity of the glaciers, with alternating long sunny periods and overcast weather with sometimes cloudiness. fog in some areas and some rain. It is therefore necessary to provide equipment of the type that one takes for a hike in the mountains. Note also that it will not be possible to wash your clothes on the way. We therefore advise you to provide enough change, while remembering that you are on board a boat which has non-extendable storage!
Basic equipment: • 1 large capacity flexible travel bag (90 liters or more), suitcases are prohibited on board + 1 small empty travel bag (placed in the largest during the transatlantic flight), in order to better store your belongings in the cabin • 1 medium-sized backpack (approximately 30 litres) for your walks on land + on a waterproof bag during transfers in the dinghy • 1 pair of fairly high boots: no mini-boots (boots that you will find at 10€ in the fishing section of Decathlon stores) • 1 pair of light hiking shoes • 1 pair of soft shoes for the deck (without black soles so as not to mark the floor of the sailboat) • 1 pair of slippers for inside the sailboat • 1 warm fleece jacket • 1 windproof and waterproof jacket, with hood (no need to bring a heavy watch jacket except for the Aleutians and Kodiak) • 1 pair of tights or 1 long underwear, in fleece or technical fabric • 1 trousers + 1 over-trousers • 1 warm hat + cap • 1 pair of fleece gloves • 1 shorts • 1 swimsuit • quick-drying bath and hand towels
Sleeping : • sleeping bag (comfort temperature 10-15° C) • sleeping bag sheet
Various • mini-toilet bag (avoid scented products) • headlamp • sunglasses • pair of binoculars for wildlife observation • camera • gourd • a few plastic bags to protect your belongings
Your individual pharmacy • analgesic • anti-inflammatory (tablets and gel) • if you are prone to seasickness, remember to bring appropriate treatment • disinfectant, dressings (various sizes) • sunscreen • mosquito repellent • in addition: earplugs, your personal medication.
As long as the Experience is Not Confirmed, you can cancel your reservation at any time and receive a refund of the amount paid.
If the Experience is Confirmed, you can cancel your reservation up to 30 days before departure and receive a full refund.
If available for the selected Experience, you can choose our Extended Refund Terms and cancel your booking at any time up to the departure, and receive a refund of the paid amount, upon the occurrence of certain conditions (illness, including Covid-19, work-related reason, domestic emergency, previous medical conditions and many more).
What's included
Knowing what expenses are included and excluded from your booking fee will enable you to have a good idea of the total cost of your chosen experience.
Included in the price.
Final cleaning
Boat
Skipper
Not included in the price.
Meals/drinks consumed ashore
Trip from and to embarkment/disembarkment port
To be paid onboard.
In addition to the price, there will be some additional expenses that you will incur during your trip. Expenses have been listed below.
Meals onboard
Fuel
Mooring fees
Drinks onboard
The estimated expenses for the rest of the holiday are approximately > 300€ per person.
