Along Ilhas Selvagens – Canary Islands to Madeira

  • Along the Ilhas Selvagens – Canary Islands to Madeira by LLAS e.V. Brigg ROALD AMUNDSEN
  • Along the Ilhas Selvagens – Canary Islands to Madeira by
  • Along the Ilhas Selvagens – Canary Islands to Madeira by
  • Along the Ilhas Selvagens – Canary Islands to Madeira by
Cabin charter
Along Ilhas Selvagens – Canary Islands to Madeira
1,285 €
Description

This page was translated automatically from German. View the original

Along Ilhas Selvagens – From the Canary archipelago to the wild islands of the Atlantic
Thursday, 25 February – Friday, 5 March 2027

Reduced: €885 | Adults: €1,285

Nine days along one of the last truly unspoilt corners of the European Atlantic. From Las Palmas northward back into the Madeira archipelago, on a course past the mysterious Ilhas Selvagens – islands that hardly anyone knows and even fewer will ever see.

There are sailing areas you won't find on any travel itinerary and no guidebook describes. The Ilhas Selvagens – the wild islands – belong to this category. They lie in the middle of the Atlantic, roughly halfway between Madeira and the Canary Islands. Uninhabited, remote, strictly protected. For the vast majority of sailors they are nothing but a dot on the chart. For the few who get to see them, they are unforgettable.

Frauentörn 08/2021, Annika, Klara Marquardt
Departure from Las Palmas
We leave the bustling harbour of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and head north. It's the reverse direction to the classic trade wind route – we sail against the prevailing north-easterly and in doing so get to know a different face of the Atlantic: tacking, going about, reading the wind, finding the right angle. Not a comfortable downwind trade wind ride, but real, demanding seamanship in waters that reward attention.

With every mile we leave the busy Canary coastal routes behind. The sea becomes quieter, emptier, wider. Ahead of us lies a stretch of ocean where only a handful of ships pass each week.

Course for the Selvagens
After about two days at sea we reach the Ilhas Selvagens. They consist of two main islands – Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena – plus a few smaller rocks. Both are tiny: Selvagem Grande, the larger one, measures just three kilometres across. Both are uninhabited. Both form part of one of Portugal's oldest and strictest nature reserves – they were protected as early as 1971, long before nature conservation became commonplace in Europe.

Selvagem Grande is geologically old, a flat volcano with a crater rim and a surprisingly fertile surface compared with its surroundings. Selvagem Pequena is considerably lower, barer, rockier – and yet home to one of the most important seabird colonies in the Atlantic.

A bird paradise in the middle of the ocean
What makes the Selvagens so special are their inhabitants in the air. Hundreds of thousands of shearwaters, petrels, Canary wheatears and the extremely rare Madeiran storm petrel – one of the world's most endangered seabird species – breed here. The islands are the world's most important nesting site for Cory's shearwaters – nowhere else do so many of these elegant birds breed.

A sailing vessel passing the Selvagens within sight is often accompanied by huge flocks of birds. They circle the boat, dive elegantly between the waves, sweep close over the masts. A sight no zoo, no national park and no television programme can replace.

Anchoring and landing – permit only
The Selvagens may only be entered with express permission from the Portuguese conservation authority ICNF and in the presence of the stationed rangers. Even anchoring in certain areas is regulated. We plan the trip so that we sail past at a respectful distance – sailing within sight is possible without special permission and is already an extraordinary experience. Whether anchoring will be possible depends on weather, permits and arrangements. We will let you know in good time.

Further north
After passing the Selvagens we head on towards Porto Santo in the Madeira archipelago. Around 200 nautical miles still lie ahead. The wind remains challenging, the weather in late February often kind, with sunshine and deep blue water.

When the golden sandy beaches of Porto Santo appear on the horizon, you'll have a passage behind you that is hard to beat for tranquillity and vastness. A port of call from the dream book: quiet, honest, manageable – and with one of Europe's finest Atlantic beaches as your reward.

"Along Ilhas Selvagens" – why the title?
"Along" is the classic nautical expression for "alongside something" – the trip takes us along the Selvagens, that is past them, within sight, but without them being our final destination. A modest title for a passage whose real attraction is not the destination harbour, but what lies between departure and arrival: the journey itself. And in this case the journey is a piece of Atlantic that many seafarers never see in their lifetime.

Sail training against the wind
We sail this passage mainly close-hauled – unlike the southbound route between Portugal and the Canary Islands. That means: heeling, tacking, constantly fine-tuning the sail trim, good watch routine, concentrated helming. For those who already have miles under the keel, this is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your seamanship. And for those new to it, it's an honest introduction to what sailing under real conditions means. We sail on a three-watch system, with an experienced permanent crew on board who will teach you everything you need. Previous experience is welcome, but not essential.

What to expect
Nine days in waters hardly anyone knows. A genuine bluewater passage from south to north. The Selvagens on the horizon – perhaps even in closer view. Shearwaters and petrels as companions for days. Beating to windward, star-filled night watches and the special feeling of sailing a piece of Atlantic that for most remains a blank space on the chart.

Come aboard. Sail along the wild islands. Discover what most charts omit.

Pictures by Anton Blanke https://antonblanke.de/
Book via www.sailtraining.de
Prices are inclusive of accommodation, meals, harbour fees and everything the ship costs. We organise your sailing trip, you organise your travel between home and harbour.
All prices plus annual membership of LebenLernen auf Segelschiffen e.V.: €70 for adults, €40 for young people. The fee is only due once a year, regardless of how many sailing trips you do.

Offered by
Profile picture of LLAS e.V. Brigg ROALD AMUNDSEN
LLAS e.V. Brigg ROALD AMUNDSEN
Commercial provider

+49435172 60 74
Start of trip
25.02.2027
End of trip
05.03.2027
Departure
Gran Canaria (Harbour information)

Map from OpenStreetMap. When the map is displayed, data is transmitted to the provider.

More Information
Destination
Porto Santo / Madeira

Map from OpenStreetMap. When the map is displayed, data is transmitted to the provider.

More Information
Duration
9 days
Distance
approx. 350 nautical miles
Yacht
Traditional sailing vessel
Brig
163 feet
Language on board
German
Sailing area
AtlanticCanary Islands / MadeiraTransatlantic
Country
PortugalSpain
Interested in this trip? Message LLAS e.V. Brigg ROALD AMUNDSEN directly
"Along Ilhas Selvagens – Canary Islands to Madeira" from harbour "Gran Canaria" to harbour "Porto Santo / Madeira" from 25.02.2027 to 05.03.2027
You will receive a copy of the message. The following apply: our Privacy policy, the Terms of use and general terms and conditions.
SHARE TRIP
Custom charter Haven't found the right trip? Plan your custom trip – we'll find the right boat. Enquire now