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| Our Expeditions |
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| Quick Facts | |
| Means of travel: | Sailing |
| Country: | South Pacific Ocean |
| Grade of expedition: | Easy |
| Group size: | 1-22 voyage crew |
| Next departure: | Thu 16 April to Thu 7 May |
| Days: | 11 - 21 |
| FAQ: | View |
| Terms & Conditions: | Download |
| Introduction | Are you up for the challenge? |
| The LEF Factor | Price & Departure dates |
| Itinerary | Photo gallery |
| Our crew |
Introduction
Sailing the coral route through the South Pacific Ocean is a once in a lifetime experience. Surrounded by sea for thousands of miles, sail into the hidden Pacific and feel the pure excitement of spotting land on the horizon. Travel through remote places in the vast ocean still untouched by modern tourism. Sail real ocean passages of days or sometimes even weeks, mixed in with tropical atolls, motus and coral reefs.
The trade winds push the sailing ship from East to West retracing paths of ancient navigators. Leaving land in New Zealand, we will sail to the Cook Islands, further to Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu, heading South-West to New Caledonia to cross the Ocean to Australia and return to New Zealand seven months later. You can choose which part(s) of the expedition you would like to join with us.
The islands of the South Pacific are enchanting with their white beaches, blue lagoons and colourful fish swimming through underwater gardens of coral reef. The local people are warm and hospitable, their histories colourful and their cultures rich with ancient customs. The sound of percussion in the distance stirs your senses, the Polynesian dancing entices you to join in, and the taste of coconut flavoured dishes convey paradise.
Sailing on board is to experience the freedom of the sea, the comradeship of people helping each other sail and the appreciation of being close to nature. Hearing the ship find its way through the waves whilst feeling warm and content as you bask in the setting sun brings an inner peace. Becoming one with the motion of the sea; experiencing the tranquillity of the calm and the excitement of more violent waves awakens your senses. Sailing the coral route is sailing into paradise.
All LEF expeditions consist of challenging journeys that take you from one place to another. Although you can sail many journeys in different places of the world, certain routes at specific times combine all elements to make it extraordinary. Sailing the South Pacific Ocean has this amazing blend to make it one of the best sailing locations in the world. Not many places are left where you can sail into remoteness, where Islands are pure and scarcely visited, where you can live close to nature seeing flying fish jumping out of the water or whales passing by. Sailing in these conditions is living a dream. Furthermore, blue water sailing always has an element of challenge in it. Weather may change during the journey and tranquil seas can become rough. Our experienced crew and our robust ship will guide you through this experience and will teach you true sailing life at sea.
The blue water sailing experience starts in New Zealand where we will cross to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. From there we sail north and west on a series of voyages across the best of Polynesia, the remote Northern Cook Islands, Robert Louis Stevenson's Samoa, Kingdom of Tonga and colourful Fiji. We explore the wild untouched beauty and undisturbed culture of the islands of Vanuatu, and the classical South Sea beauty of New Caledonia and sail further to Sydney, Australia to cross back to New Zealand via a great ocean passage.
You can book one or multiple parts of the sailing expedition through the South Pacific. An Ocean Passage means the main activity is blue water sailing covering large distances of sea. Island Cruising means you will sail mainly between the islands within one country or island group. Combination meaning you will sail significant stretches of sea between two Island groups as well as sailing between the islands. The day to day itinerary for each part of the expedition is weather dependent and will be determined during the expedition. The general itinerary is as follows:
| Start of Expedition | End of Expedition | Nights | Voyage Type | |
| New Zealand | Cook Islands | 21 | Ocean Passage | |
| Cook Islands | Samoa | 18 | Combination | |
| Samoa | Vava’u, Tonga | 17 | Island cruising | |
| Vava’u, Tonga | Samoa | 19 | Island cruising | |
| Samoa | Fiji, via Wallis & Futuna | 17 | Island cruising | |
| Fiji | Vanuatu | 18 | Island cruising | |
| Vanuatu Banks | Torres Islands | 18 | Island cruising | |
| Vanuatu Islands | Vanuatu Islands | 11 | Island cruising | |
| Vanuatu | New Caledonia | 11 | Island cruising | |
| New Caledonia | Sydney, Australia | 18 | Combination | |
| Sydney, Australia | Auckland, New Zealand | 14 | Ocean Sailing |
Meet our captain Keith, purser Amanda, cook Amy and deckhand Eric as a few key persons within our permanent crew. Keith comes from the UK and is specialised in sailing under square rig. He is a passionate sailor and has extensive experience in square rig sailing. Together with the voyage crew he will guide the Tallship through the South Pacific Ocean.
Are you up for the Challenge?
You are ready to join the Coral Route Sailing expedition if you have the right mind set and are in general good health. The right mind set means that you are interested in learning to sail a Tall ship (145 ft square rigger) and are enthusiastic to try and participate with all activities on board. Especially with blue water sailing you may be expected to stand watches during both day and night. The objective is to undertake an authentic blue water passage under a square rig.
The actual work is not physically demanding and you will not need sailing experience in advance. Some of our guests may have their own yachts while others may never have stepped foot on a sailing ship before. The ship's professional crew are there to guide you and assist you at all times. This expedition is a unique opportunity to participate, and the more you participate the more it will enhance your enjoyment of the journey. It is a fantastic experience working together and sailing this ship to the next destination. It is not, however, compulsory to climb rigging etc and the professional crew will adjust the participation level to each person's capability, comfort and wishes.
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Price and departure dates
The price for joining the South Pacific Sailing expedition depends on which part(s) you would like to join. The price is listed in British Pounds based on NZ dollar base rate, please request price in your currency with us.
Included
The expedition provides you with cabin accommodation on a surveyed square rigged sailing vessel, professionally crewed in accordance with survey requirements for the duration of your expedition. We will also provide you with all meals, including three hearty meals a day, morning and afternoon tea and coffee whilst on board. All boats and safety equipment are included such as Musto wet weather gear, inflatable boats, snorkel gear and a windsurfer.
Excluded
Your flight tickets to the start and at the end of expedition, passports or visas, vaccinations and insurances and local taxes including departure and landing taxes are not included. Alcoholic and soft drinks at the bar and souvenirs from the ship's shops are excluded and have to be paid on board. The costs of cultural excursions such as a volcano trek or culture dance event are paid in the villages on the spot but these costs are nominal.
| Voyage | Destinations | Nights | Dates 2009 | Price |
| V284 | New Zealand to Cook Islands | 21 | Thu 16 April to Thu 7 May | 1395£ |
| V285 | Cook Islands to Samoa | 18 | Mon 11 May to Fri 29 May | 2050£ |
| V286 | Samoa to Vava’u, Tonga | 17 | Sun 31 May to Thu 18 June | 1950£ |
| V287 | Tonga, Vava’u to Samoa | 19 | Sun 21 Jun to Thu 9 July | 2150£ |
| V288 | Samoa to Fiji, via Wallis & Futuna | 17 | Sun 12 July to Thu 30 July | 1950£ |
| V289 | Fiji to Vanuatu | 18 | Sun 2 Aug to Thu 20 Aug | 2050£ |
| V290 | Vanuatu Banks & Torres Islands | 18 | Sun 23 Aug to Thu 10 Sept | 2050£ |
| V291 | Vanuatu Discovery | 11 | Sun 13 Sept to Sat 24 Sept | 1250£ |
| V292 | Vanuatu to New Caledonia | 11 | Sun 27 Sept to Thu 8 Oct | 1250£ |
| V293 | New Caledonia to Sydney, Australia | 18 | Sun 11 Oct to Thu 29 Oct | 2050£ |
| V294 | Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand | 14 | Mon 9 Nov to Mon 23 Nov | 1450£ |
