| Embark | Disembark | Vessel | Duration | Voyage No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 09-02-2024, 18:00Puerto Williams, Chile | Mon 01-04-2024, 10:00Cape Town, South Africa | Tecla | 52 Nights | TC090224 |
This ultimate Antarctic adventure stretching from Cape Horn to Cape Town visits some of the most pristine and prolific wildlife havens on the planet. You will be an active crew member on tall ship Tecla for 5000 miles so this is an experience for keen sailors, modern day explorers and hardcore wildlife enthusiasts. There are some big ocean passages of continuous day and night sailing, as well as exploration ashore and anchoring overnight in more sheltered waters on Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland and South Georgia.
You’ll form part of a navigational watch for this epic adventure, falling into the rhythm of life on board and savouring every moment. The simple pleasures of sleep, food and good company become paramount in your mind, and you form bonds with your fellow sailors that would take years to forge on land.
Starting from Puerto Williams there may be a chance to land on Cape Horn, before setting of across the Drake Passage. This trip we will not only visit the Antarctic peninsula but also South Georgia. South Georgia used to be home to many whaling factories not so long ago. Today South Georgia, like Antarctica is highly protected! This enabled the flora and fauna to start to recover. The only human inhabitants are scientists. The Elephant and fur seals are again king on the beach! From South Georgia we will start our crossing of the South Atlantic ocean with one more possible stop before Cape Town SA, the Island of Tristan da Cuhna, a tiny dot in the middle of the ocean!
| Vessel type / Rig | Gaff Ketch |
| Guest Berths | 12 |
| Beam | 22ft |
| Draft | 8.9ft |
| Deck Length | 90ft |
| Overall Length | 124ft |
| Tonnage | 92 tons |
| Year Built | 1915 |
Located on an island in the Beagle Channel, Puerto Williams is the world’s most Southerly town, and is known as the staging post for Cape Horn. The town is a busy hub for explorers, fishermen, meteorologists and the Chilean Navy alike, and has a real feel of ‘frontier’ about it.
Stepping aboard Tecla you’ll be given a familiarisation tour by the crew and a briefing from the Captain. This beautiful ship will be your home for the next 7 weeks, and while it might seem daunting learning where everything is and what everything does, you’ll soon get the hang of it!
This is true expedition sailing: there are lots of miles to make, but plenty of time to make them in, and so opportunities to explore South Georgia and Antarctica abound. The Captain will plan the exact itinerary according to prevailing conditions at the time, and will keep you informed with regular briefings and updates. You are part of the crew for this adventure, with night watches under incredible starry skies, Antarctic sunsets, phenomenal wildlife spotting opportunities and absolute remoteness.
Cape Town is known for many things, amongst them the Table Mountain. In 2013 the Tecla crew made the journey up on the mountain and reckoned it was certainly worth it! From the harbor waterfront, you can see Table mountain as a back drop of the Tecla while she is moored there. The Waterfront is a beautiful place to be. With many opportunities for shopping, having a drink on a nice terrace and getting into some markets with the finest foods, it’s worth allowing yourself some time after your voyage to give yourself chance to explore.
With so many miles under your keel there will also be a chance to celebrate with the crew, and toast a job well don you!
This is a big ocean voyage, and you should be prepared for some swell. Within a few days of being on board you will have become used to the movement of the ship, and how to get around her safely. The crew will be using forecasting and weather routing to avoid the worst of the weather, but sometimes things can be unpredictable, so be prepared for all eventualities.
Whether you are an experienced sailor or a complete beginner, the professional crew will train you to be guest crew from the moment you arrive, with the intention that everybody works together to sail the ship. The common thread to all Classic Sailing holidays is ‘Hands on’ participation on ships that use ropes, blocks and tackles and ‘people power’ to set sail.
We cater for a wide range of ages and physical abilities and how much you are expected to do varies a bit between vessels. See the vessel tab above which explains all about the ‘sailing style’ and what to expect in terms of hands on participation. There is a lot of information about day to day life, the ships facilities and accommodation on the vessel pages.
Every customer sailing with us will need to fill in basic medical questions on their booking application. If you are not sure if your current level of fitness and agility are up to a voyage, then please ring the Classic Sailing Office on 01326 53 1234 and we can chat through your concerns and possibly find options that might suit you better.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
For vessels using Cape Town, it is likely you will be joining your ship in the Victoria and Albert docks area.
Any changes will be communicated to you before your voyage start date. Make sure you make a note of the ship’s number found in your confirmation email in case of any problems on the day.
Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town was originally developed by the Dutch East India Company as a victualling station for Dutch ships sailing to Eastern Africa, as such Cape Town is a very historic port of call for a ship such as Europa. Cape Town has continued to be a classic stopping point for many ocean wanderers, from tall ships to modern race boats and commercial shipping. It is now the Provincial Capital of the Western Cape and the second most populous city in South Africa. Legal tender is the Rand and most major credit cards are accepted throughout.
Not all sailing areas require the same gear, the same foul weather equipment or even the same shorts. But some items you must always bring. In this kit list we hope to give you a small insight in what to bring, but of course, please consider this list might not encumber all that you would wish to take!
Very important is that your bag or small suitcase needs to be stored in the room, under your bed, there is limited space – so bring a foldable bag! the following is Tecla's standard included/excluded and kit list. Below this you can find more specific info and kit lists dependant on sailing area.
When the ocean crossing is not part of the Southern Ocean sailing (so no South Georgia or Antarctica included) the crossings are usually in warm weather. Going from North to South, please be advised that the weather in the Falkland Islands is cool and wet! So also bring at
least one set of warm clothing.
If there are any items you usually take on your hikes, and they are easy to take in your luggage, don’t forget to bring them!
On the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica there are different levels of Bio-Security we will have to comply with. To make it easy on yourself we recommend you bring one set of hiking gear that you would like to use on shore, that is completely cleaned at home. This means Velcro is cleaned and does not contain any seeds or pollen. Your pockets are empty of any seeds, pollen, sand etc. Your boots are cleaned, no sand or mud on them.
This way, getting ready for the first landing becomes a walk in the park. For more information on Bio Security, please contact us.
These surroundings can be very cold, especially on longer watches. And also because these areas are protected, we ask you to take at least two sets of wet weather gear, with one of them at least completely clean. If you have sailing gear, perfect, but also bring some light weight, waterproof hiking gear. We recommend goretex pro of any brand. This is tough and durable. Often easy to clean and light weight.
In the cold, making layers is important. If there is no rain, most 800gr down jackets with a merino wool layer underneath are warm enough. If it rains, most jackets do not fit over the down jacket. Therefore we recommend layer one merino wool, layer two a woollen sweater, layer three a thinner down jacket or wind stopper and layer four your water proof jacket.
Of course we understand that not everybody has these items in their closet. Please contact us if you are unsure what to pack.
Summer in the Northern Territories of Canada can be cold, but they can be beautiful and warm as well. During the 2019 voyage we have had days of 2 degrees and days of 19 degrees. We had nights of 0 degrees, but also nights with a warm land breeze, where a woollen sweater and merino under layer were enough.
This trip fulfilled my desire for adventure sailing as we transited the north coast of Iceland, along the Arctic Circle. Even though it was rough, the boat and crew performed admirably.
Bruce
An enjoyable week in less than ideal weather conditions. The crew were competent and friendly, the catering excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a voyage on Tecla.
Jonathan
A great mix of sailing in Scottish waters, some super hikes and an opportunity to see some of the immensely important historical sites in the Orkneys and Sheltands.
Mooring alongside in the Fair Isles was a great privilege.
The ocean passage to the Faroes was quiet but as a result we were blessed with clear skies whilst slinking in and out of the islands and some of the best coastal views one could hope to see anywhere.
The ocean passage to Iceland was a bit of a bimble until we were 60 miles off and then it got exciting. Thanks to a great skipper and permanent crew we snuggled into a fjord whilst the cruise ship ran aground in Reykjavik harbour. A good holiday, an adventure and fun.
K
Any initial doubts as to the number and experience of the crew were very quickly dispelled and we were impressed with the knowledge and the handling skills of the skipper and the 2 mates. Every opportunity was taken to enhance our enjoyment on both voyages and at every stage we were made to feel relaxed and under no obligation to crew the ship under sometimes testing (but enjoyable) conditions. As an observation, we must congratulate the skipper for her culinary skills under difficult conditions..........the food was perfect for the voyage.
Geoff
A delight. A competent and engaging professional crew, an interesting voyage with some challenges and some great rewards. Good companions to make the log spin around.
Mike
Brilliant. I would do it again tomorrow. And good value too. The food was excellent. I loved the spicy meatballs and my wife loved the fresh langoustines.
Steve
Most enjoyable classic sailing with great food, a true sense of teamwork, great guidance and a good sense of humour. Can't get any better.
Thomas
Globe trotting Tall Ship Tecla in action and images. This historic gaff ketch is our Iceland Specialist and also has Greenland Sailing Expeditions. Photos from Classic Sailing customers, ships crew and professional photographers. We hope it gives a flavour of her sailing, life on board, the people that come, her beautiful sailing grounds and what it is like to live below decks.
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