North Pacific Gyre | Honolulu – Victoria
July 29 – August 19 | $5900
Join us as we cross the North Pacific and sail through the heart of what everyone has been talking about, the North Pacific Gyre!
If you’re looking to test your mettle on an ocean crossing that’s a bit more rugged than the milk run out to Hawaii, this is the voyage for you. We’ll encounter a little bit of everything – warm, fast, close reaching in the tradewinds out of Hawaii and the chance for some spectacular mid-ocean swimming under the Pacific High mid-trip. The first few days of the trip are often the roughest, sailing upwind in the tradewinds, with seas that can be up to 10-15′ and winds up to 30 knots. After this blast north, we’ll turn east through the heart of the gyre, before emerging on the backside into northern hemisphere frontal weather for the final push into Victoria. In the gyre conditions are generally calm – motoring, motor sailing, or if we’re lucky some gorgeous spinnaker work. The final part of the trip could be anything, as we’ll be encountering North Pacific low pressure systems – upwind, downwind, calms, or gales.
If you’re more interested in seeing the problem of plastic pollution for yourself, we’ll be go right through the heart of the garbage patch. We’ll conduct educational manta trawls for micro-plastic pollution, as well as document and observe larger debris. If the weather permits, you’ll be able to take home your own sample of mid-ocean plastics from our trawl efforts.
All meals on board Sea Dragon are delicious and vegetarian, with the addition of fish if we catch any along the way.
This is not a trip for the infirm or physically unfit – you MUST be able to go up and down the companionway and move safely about the boat while in rough conditions, have good balance, and be in reasonably good health. Please contact us with any health questions or if you answer “YES” to any of the questions on our health questionnaire prior to signing up for the trip!
This trip is an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and IYT MOY Unlimited qualifying voyage – contact us to discuss!
Ardent Training is offering a significant discount on the RYA Day Skipper Theory online course to anyone signed up for this trip. If you’re interested in taking the course, let us know when you sign up and we can give you the discount code!
Cost: $5900
- Date: July 29 – August 19, 2023
- Start: Ko Olina Marina, Oahu, Hawaii
- End: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Length: 21 days, 20 nights
- Focus: Offshore Passagemaking | Ocean Crossing | Plastic Pollution
Due to the remote nature of this trip, we are aiming for a higher standard of risk reduction than what airlines and others are requiring. While we can’t guarantee that our protocol will 100% prevent a COVID infection onboard, we are hopeful that this protocol will reduce the chances of a serious COVID-19 infection aboard while far from advanced medical care.
Everyone on board the vessel must be vaccinated against COVID-19, with their final vaccine dose received no less than 15 days prior to boarding.
14 Days Before Trip: I agree to take maximum precautions to minimize my risk of infection with COVID-19 by following CDC guidelines.
72 Hours Before Boarding: I agree to take a PCR covid test at my own expense. If a testing site is available that can provide results in less than 72 hours, I agree to get tested as close to the date and time of boarding as is consistent with receiving results before boarding.
Day of Boarding: Arrive at vessel. I agree that an agent of Pangaea Exploration will take my temperature, and administer a rapid COVID test to me prior to boarding. I acknowledge that I will not be allowed to board the vessel if I do not provide proof of vaccination, if I test positive on either COVID test, or have a temperature of over 100.4 Fahrenheit. In the event that I am not allowed to board the vessel, I understand that Pangaea will not refund me any money, but will at Pangaea Exploration’s discretion offer to transfer that money to another voyage.
Sign up Now with only a $500 deposit! It’s non refundable if you back out, but if we cancel or modify the trip we are happy to return your money or apply it to a different voyage. Please review the Crew Contract for full details. The remaining balance will be due May 30.
Contact UsCall Us: +1 (305) 330-4212 (Pacific Time) – If we don’t pick up, please leave a message and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
My trip from O’ahu to Victoria aboard Sea Dragon was an incredible experience. I was continually amazed by Eric, Shanley and Meret, and the level of professionalism, knowledge, and courtesy displayed by each throughout the entire journey. I cannot think of a single moment where we were not fully confident in their experience and expertise. They taught us a great deal about sailing and navigation throughout the trip in a manner that was very engaging and a lot of serious fun! Hats off to Pangaea Exploration and the crew of Sea Dragon for being able to provide such an amazing life experience! It was truly the trip of a lifetime!!
-Chip T.
Click on a heading below to learn more!
Tentative ItineraryDay 1: Arrival on Sea Dragon
You’ll join us at Ko Olina Marina in Oahu between 1500 and 1700 to move on board. You’ll have the opportunity to find your bunk and begin to get settled in before we all gather together for our first dinner on board. After dinner, your professional crew will take you through general life on board and safety procedures. You’ll be fitted with your own lifejacket and if you didn’t bring any with you, assigned foul weather gear. You’ll have the rest of the evening free to just relax or explore around the resort and marina.
Day 2: Hawaiian Island Day Sail
Today you’ll get to know your home for the next few weeks. After breakfast, we’ll head out for a day sail where we’ll practice safety procedures, get familiar with the deck layout and sail Sea Dragon for the first time against The backdrop of the lush volcanic islands of Hawaii. We’ll be back on the dock in the afternoon and have some free time to go for a swim or just enjoy the area.
Day 3: Departure for Big Blue
After breakfast, we’ll clear out of US customs and immigration, cast off the lines and head out to sea. We’ll set the sails just as we did the day before, only this time we’ll be on our way to Mexico. We’ll fall into our watch schedule and have our first night under the stars at sea.
Day 4 – 18: Offshore Sailing
We will all find our rhythm to life at sea and the days will fade in and out upon big blue. No two days, sunrises, sunsets or watches will be the same. Hopefully we’ll spot some good sea life, including dolphins, whales, albatross and boobies. As we adjust our sails along the way, things that seemed so foreign in the beginning will quickly become second nature, and the miles will fall behind as we continue north.
Day 19-20: Estimated Arrival in Victoria
After more than two weeks at sea, we’ll pass through the straights of Juan de Fuca. After entering historic Victoria harbor, we’ll dock at the customs dock, and while we wait to get cleared through customs and immigration, we’ll tidy Sea Dragon. After we’re cleared we’ll move to our marina and it will be time for a cold beverage, a walk on terra firma and a group dinner on shore to celebrate our arrival.
Day 21: Departure Day
After a fun night out, it will be time to disembark Sea Dragon at 0900. We’ll all say so long, but not goodbye and you’ll find yourself free to explore beautiful Ensenada.
What's Included
Contribution Includes:
– 20 nights accommodation on Sea Dragon
– All meals (vegetarian), snacks, and drinks on board
– Sailing instruction
– Safety equipment and foul weather gear
– Mask, snorkel, fins
Contribution does not include:
– Transportation to and from Hawaii and Victoria
– Transportation to and from the boat
– Additional nights spent ashore
– Personal expenses while in port
Packing List
The trip starts in Hawaii, so you’ll want to bring some clothes for hot weather – take a look at our Tropical packing list. Things will cool down quickly, and by the time you’re approaching Victoria it will can be downright chilly on the water, with air temperatures into the 40s if a front passes over. Bring warm clothes as well from our Temperate packing list.
Travel Details
You will join the boat in in Ko Olina between 1500-1700 on the first day. You will depart the boat in Victoria at 0900 on the last day. Our actual passage time on this ocean voyage is dependent on the weather. If we have a fast passage, we could arrive as early as July 5, Our slowest voyage time would be arriving the 8th, with guests departing the boat on the 9th as per the itinerary. If we arrive early, you are welcome to stay aboard until the 9th to explore Victoria.
Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is about a 30 minute drive from Ko Olina. Victoria International Airport is about a 30 minute drive from the harbor. Transportation options direct from the harbor include the Coho Ferry to Port Angeles, WA, the Victoria Clipper Ferry to Seattle, WA, or a seaplane with Harbour Air. You can also head to Sydney, BC, about 30 minutes away, and take the BC Ferries to Tsawassen BC or (fingers crossed) the Washington State Ferry to Anacortes or Friday Harbor WA.
All crew members will require a passport and visas from their home country that will allow them to travel to/ from the USA and Canada. Please ensure you have the appropriate paperwork completed before joining the vessel, or you will not be allowed to board. If you are not a US or Canadian Citizen, you will likely need to file an ETA with Canada Border Services before leaving Hawaii. Please look into the specific type of visa you need for arriving at these destinations by sea, or contact us directly to discuss.
Boat Tour
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