Offshore sailing trip from Cornwall to Madeira

Departure
31 October 2026 16:00
Return
10 November 2026 09:00
Days
11
Sailing area
South Europe, Trans-Atlantic
Port of departure
Falmouth, Cornwall (UK)
Port of arrival
Madeira

An authentic tall ship experience

Aboard the two-masted schooner Noorderlicht, you’ll experience a sailing adventure you won’t soon forget. This unique offshore crossing from Cornwall to Madeira is not an ordinary trip—it’s a pure, authentic experience for lovers of the sea, adventure, and traditional sailing skills.

Departure from historic Falmouth

Your adventure begins in the charming town of Falmouth, a historic port city in Cornwall. As you wander through its cobblestone streets and soak in the lively atmosphere, the anticipation for what lies ahead builds. Falmouth, situated on one of the deepest natural harbors in the world, provides the perfect setting to start your journey. Here, you’ll meet the crew and your fellow travelers before boarding the Noorderlicht—a ship built for expeditions and long ocean crossings.

1,200 nautical miles of pure ocean experience

Once the lines are cast off, you leave the mainland behind and begin an impressive nonstop sailing journey of no less than 1,200 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean. This is not a cruise, but a true offshore sailing adventure where you become part of the crew. Hoist the sails, take the helm, and learn the fine art of traditional seamanship.

Sailing together, day and night

During the crossing, you’ll work together in a watch system of 4 hours on and 8 hours off. Even at night, you’ll be active on deck as the starry sky stretches out above you—a magical experience that can only be had at sea. This journey is ideal for adventurers with basic sailing knowledge and a healthy dose of perseverance.

Arrival on green Madeira

Na dagen op open zee doemt Madeira op aan de horizon—een groene, vulkanische parel in de Atlantische Oceaan. Je eindigt je reis in Machico, een van de oudste plaatsen van het eiland. Hier word je verwelkomd door een aangenaam klimaat, een unieke goudkleurige zandstrand en een authentieke, lokale sfeer!

A journey for true adventurers

This journey is the first leg of a larger adventure toward Cape Verde, but it stands on its own as an unforgettable experience. No stops, no distractions—just you, the sea, and the ship.


Book your place on board
Do you dare? Book now and experience the ultimate freedom of sailing on the open sea. 🌊⛵

Noorderlicht

Read more about this ship

Highlights

✔️ 1,200 nautical miles of nonstop ocean sailing
✔️ Hands-on sailing with an experienced crew
✔️ Arrival on the green and sunny Madeira

Frequently asked questions

We still handle bookings personally and therefore do not have an automated booking system. This allows us to offer you the option to reserve individual spots without obligation for a few days. This way, for example, you can arrange your vacation without anyone snatching your spot right under your nose. For this reason, we are unable to keep track of the exact number of available spots on a daily basis. However, we regularly check the availability of our sailing holidays. Therefore, you can generally assume that there are still enough available spots on all trips that are not marked as “fully booked” or “Last Minute.” Call us or use our booking form if you want to know the exact number of available spots.

If you are travelling alone and have not booked a private cabin, you will be accommodated in a shared cabin. The shared cabins are usually assigned based on gender.

Exceptions:

  • On the Belle Amie and the Seatrips yachts, there are sometimes mixed-gender cabins as well.
  • On the Sir Robert, there are no shared cabins. Are you traveling alone? Then you must book a single cabin..

Yes, vegetarians and allergies/intolerances can be catered for on most ships. On some ships, the menu can also be adapted for vegans. However, there is only one menu per day on the programme. Therefore, please let us know during your booking if you have any special dietary requirements.

In principle, all our trips are suitable for both experienced and novice sailors. The professional crew on board will teach you everything you need to know. In some cases (e.g. on Atlantic crossings) initial sailing experience may be an advantage/requirement. In this case, this will be clearly indicated in the cruise description.

Prices

DescriptionPrice
Double cabin
Adult€ 3.000 p.p.
Child
Single cabin
Adult€ 4.800 p.p.
Child

Included in price

Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and hot drinks)
Bedding (pillow, sheets, and duvet)
Towels
Nautical crew and professional chef
Port charges and fuel costs
All excursions with the tender boat
Guided hikes with 1–2 armed guides

Not included in price

Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Transfers to and from the ship on arrival and departure days (flights, etc.)
Travel insurances

Book this trip

Please use the following form if you have any questions about this trip or wish to book. You will receive a confirmation email that your booking request has been successfully received by us. We will then contact you as soon as possible with all the information. We usually respond within a few hours.

Group and trip details

Personal data