Exploring remote islands by sail combines wildlife, culture and history with the experience of travelling between them. From Cape Verde to Antarctica, these are some of the places and encounters that have stayed with me.
By Adam Purser
The Pull of Remote Islands
Debbie, Kirsty and I keep a sort of scorecard of the islands we have visited. By visited, we mean stepped ashore, not merely sailed past. As a Merchant Navy Master Mariner, Kirsty has undoubtedly seen the most. We are less certain who has landed on the most. The scorecard grew from our shared desire to explore islands.
Why are we drawn to them? Often, they are difficult to reach and interesting when you arrive.
Their appeal takes many forms. It may be a distinct culture, rare plants and animals, an albatross breeding site or a penguin colony. Some people seek industrial archaeology, Arctic ice or unusual geology. In many archipelagos, inhabited islands sit close to wild and uninhabited neighbours. Consequently, one voyage can satisfy several interests.
Difficulty and Transport
It sometimes feels as though the harder an island is to reach, the more we want to visit it. Easy access often brings heavy tourism, which can diminish the character that first attracted visitors.
Sailing changes the nature of the journey. You adapt to the weather, sea and climate as you travel. You are not insulated from them.
Flying is fast and efficient, while a cruise ship can make distant islands readily accessible. On a sailing vessel, the passage itself demands more attention. Wind, currents and sea state influence your progress. You feel the distance travelled and appreciate the effort that connected island communities before regular flights and ferries.
A voyage can also link places with limited ferry services or no airport. Instead of arranging separate transport and accommodation, you travel with your floating home.
Wildlife and Seasonal Ecosystems
Isolation can create unusual habitats. Some islands support species found nowhere else. Others provide vital breeding, feeding or resting grounds.
Timing matters. Migration, nesting and feeding seasons can be brief. At high latitudes, summer brings long daylight and intense activity. In warmer waters, sightings depend on the species, location and season. For example, whale watching in the Azores benefits from knowing when particular species pass through.
Seeing wildlife is a strong reason to travel. Yet an encounter should never come at the expense of the animals or their habitat. Keeping an appropriate distance and following local guidance are part of the experience.
Cape Verde in Winter
Cape Verde is best understood through its people, landscapes and nine inhabited islands. Whales, turtles and seabirds may be seen, but they are possible encounters rather than the main promise of the voyage.
The stronger attraction is the contrast between the islands. São Vicente has the port and musical life of Mindelo. Santo Antão rises steeply into green valleys and mountain settlements. Sal and Boa Vista are drier, flatter and more shaped by beach tourism. Elsewhere, agriculture, fishing, trade and migration have influenced daily life in different ways.
These are related communities, each with its own character. Their landscapes, economies and histories become clearer as you explore beyond the harbour.
What has struck us most is the dignity and welcome of Cape Verdean people. Communities often seem confident in their identity and active in shaping their future. To me, this feels different from parts of the Caribbean where tourism and outside ownership appear more influential. That is a personal impression from my visits, rather than a judgement on either region.
One Cape Verde high point was sitting beside an older woman on her doorstep, helping her shell her “stoned beans”. We had made a connection through an ordinary task. That brief encounter remains as memorable as any landscape.
Polar and Northern Waters
Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands hold extraordinary concentrations of wildlife during the southern summer. Penguins, seals and whales follow food, open water and breeding cycles. I shall not forget entering Deception Island’s narrow entrance past snow capped peaks. Nor shall I forget lying in the warm waters heated by the underlying volcanic activity. A suitable expedition vessel provides access, although conditions determine what is possible.
Greenland, Iceland, Shetland and Orkney also change markedly with the seasons. Summer brings long days, migratory birds and generally better access by sea. Beyond wildlife, their geology, settlements and working harbours provide plenty to explore.
I took this photo of a Wandering Albatross on an iPhone. How was that possible without disturbing the bird on its nest? Quietness and conforming to the guide lines of the South Georgia Government. See the explanation here
Culture at a Human Scale
Isolation has helped many island communities retain a strong identity. The Isles of Scilly, the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland each have their own history, dialect and relationship with the sea.
A small sailing crew can visit without overwhelming a harbour or village. Conversations develop naturally in cafés, shops, museums and on the quay. Residents are people getting on with their lives, and those everyday exchanges often teach us the most.
On Whalsay in Shetland, I visited an island museum. A young fisherman explained the photographs and exhibits, and I listened enthralled to his stories.
On Fair Isle, David told me about a fishing boat that ran aground in a storm and the rescue that followed. Only at the end did I persuade him to admit that he had been part of the rescue team.
Approaching from the sea also helps explain how island settlements developed. A sheltered harbour, narrow sound or difficult tidal passage becomes something you have navigated yourself. Geography gains a practical meaning.
What Separates Neighbouring Islands?
An archipelago can contain striking contrasts over short distances. Exposure, rainfall, soil and access to trade all influence how people live.
One island may depend on fishing, another on farming and another on tourism. Language, food, music and architecture can vary too. These differences invite questions about how communities adapted to their surroundings.
The water between islands deserves attention as well. A short crossing on a map may involve strong tides or an exposed stretch of sea. Conversely, a longer passage through sheltered waters may offer easier connections.
By sailing these routes, you begin to understand which islands are close neighbours in practice and which remain relatively isolated.
Wilderness and Responsibility
Some islands appeal because human infrastructure is scarce. Greenland’s fjords, Antarctic anchorages and uninhabited Atlantic islands offer space on a scale rarely found elsewhere.
Yet remote does not mean empty. Greenland has supported Indigenous communities for thousands of years. Other apparently wild places may be working land, protected habitat or culturally important ground. Exploration begins with learning where you are and what responsibilities come with visiting.
The vessel provides transport, accommodation and experienced crew without requiring extensive facilities on land. Nevertheless, access has limits. Weather may alter the route, and a landing may be unsafe or inappropriate. Accepting the skipper’s decision is part of travelling in these waters.
Life Between Islands
Island exploration includes the hours aboard. Depending on the vessel and voyage, guests may stand watches, help with sails and share daily routines.
There is time to watch a coastline emerge, follow the chart or talk through the next anchorage with the crew. Meanwhile, meals and watches give the passage its own rhythm.
These experiences bring a different understanding of an island voyage. You remember the approach, the weather and the people aboard alongside what you found on land.
The Explorer’s Choice
For us, the scorecard is only the starting point. A museum conversation, a swim by snowy peaks or half an hour shelling beans can stay with us forever.
The best reason to visit another island is curiosity about what we might learn there. Sailing gives that curiosity time and room to develop.
Find Your Island Voyage
To explore the options, browse our sailing voyages. If you would like help choosing an area or vessel, Ask a Skipper.
Adam Purser 4-10-26
