About this leg:
March 30 to May 6, 2025
-38 days
-On the ship Twister
-Over the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean from Saint Martin to Rotterdam
-Stops on Bermuda, the Azores and a Channel Island
-Night sailing during the crossing
-Price: from € 6.100,-
-All meals on board, port dues, etc. included
The time has come for the monumental crossing to Europe! The passengers board the ship on Saint Martin and we say our farewells to the Caribbean; sailor’s life is the life for us. Time to roll up our sleeves and raise the sails. The trade winds take us to Bermuda in about six days.
This lonely, tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean lies 1000 kilometres away from the mainland. The street scene is made up of pastel houses, businessmen in ties and colourful shorts and British influences such as cricket and afternoon tea.
Bermuda is surrounded by the pink beaches it is famous for, as well as by coral reefs underwater. There are also many caves, such as the five hundred meter deep Crystal Cave.
After a few days of exploring it’s time to head off and set course for the Azores. Sailing the ocean is wonderful. The weather systems alternate, which means there is a lot of active sailing. Along the way you have to navigate and steer. Because the wind does not always blow from the same direction, the sails must be adjusted regularly. Temperatures are pleasant and there is time for lively conversations, reading, or simply enjoying and relaxing. Watchkeeping structures our days.
When the wind dies down, it’s time for a swim. Swimming in the deep ocean, with 5 kilometres of water below you and no land in sight is an unforgettable experience. Once in a while, a tuna will chase a flying fish up from the sea. Sometimes, one actually soars on board, an easy catch of the day.
And then, land ho! After a long sea journey that’s quite a sight. In that moment, it’s easy to imagine how special the experience must have been for the sailors that crossed the ocean without modern maps and navigational equipment.
We have reached the Azores. This archipelo is known for its dramatic landscapes and for whale watching. Tradition has it that we head down to Café Peter Sport for a gin tonic and paint one of the harbour wall’s stones to commemorate our arrival on the Twister.
Let’s head off to Europe, there’s still plenty of good sailing ahead of us. Morgenster has picked up the scent of her home port and barrels towards the Channel. Once we reach the continental shelf, the surge changes. The change in temperature is another telltale sign that we are getting closer to home. Right now, it is easy to imagine how the sailors of old must have felt when they got close to home after a journey of sometimes over a year. We are not there yet, though. Once we have land in sight, we touch ground on one of the Channel Islands. We make a short stop to celebrate our successful crossing of the ocean, a feat to be proud of! We have only a few more days of sailing ahead of us before we can embrace our families and friends in Rotterdam and entertain them with our sailor’s tales.
