2028 Season
Nine passages in 2028: six island-hopping legs through the Greek islands from June to August, followed by the classic ARC+ Atlantic crossing from Portugal via the Canaries and Cape Verde to the Caribbean in the autumn.
Every Passage
Full crew involvement in passage planning, weather routing, the watch system, helming, and cooking — this is a working passage, not a cruise.
All safety equipment is fully serviced and supplied. Crew take on all jobs required to ensure the safety of the crew and vessel.
Food and drinks, both ashore and onboard, are included — every passage features local Greek food and wine.
No sailing experience is required — training is provided.
A welcome handbook will be provided before your expedition, including what to bring with you.
A comprehensive travel guide explaining how to find us and what to expect will also be provided, in plenty of time before your expedition.
We treat every guest with kindness and respect, and we ask the same of you — toward the crew, your fellow guests, and the sea itself.
Every Passage
Travel to and from the embarkation and disembarkation airports or ferry ports is not included.
Personal travel and medical insurance is required and not included — proof may be requested before departure.
Personal sailing kit (foul weather gear, boots, etc.) is not supplied — see the Packing List for what to bring.
From Corfu, sail south past Paxi and the dramatic cliffs of Lefkada's west coast, anchoring in quiet Ionian coves along the way. Evenings ashore mean fresh-caught seafood, local olive oil, and glasses of Kefalonia's own Robola wine. Disembark at Kefalonia — served by Kefalonia International Airport (EFL).
Photo: Amethyst forest, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A short hop south to Zakynthos, taking in the turquoise waters off Navagio (Shipwreck Beach) and the Keri sea caves along the way. Ashore, sample the island's own Verdea wine over long, unhurried tavern dinners of classic Zakynthian dishes. Disembark at Zakynthos — served by Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH).
Photo: Matt Sims, licensed CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Cross south around the Peloponnese to Kalamata, home of the region's famous olives. Explore the Mani peninsula's rugged coastline and quiet fishing villages en route, with local olive oil, honey, and Peloponnesian wine along the way. Disembark at Kalamata — served by Kalamata International Airport (KLX), with regular ferry connections onward.
Photo: Badgernet, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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An open crossing east into the Cyclades, arriving beneath Santorini's dramatic volcanic caldera. Explore the whitewashed clifftop villages of Fira and Oia, and taste the island's distinctive Assyrtiko wine, grown low against the volcanic soil. Disembark at Santorini — served by Santorini International Airport (JTR).
Photo: Mstyslav Chernov, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Island-hop north through the Cyclades to Mykonos, calling at smaller islands along the way. Evenings bring classic Cycladic cooking, fresh grilled fish, and local wine in the whitewashed lanes of Mykonos Town. Disembark at Mykonos — served by Mykonos National Airport (JMK).
Photo: Dinkum, public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.
The final passage west to Athens, sailing past Kea and Kythnos before making landfall at Piraeus. Final nights bring classic Athenian tavernas, ouzo, and local wine to toast the end of the season. Disembark at Piraeus, Athens — served by Athens International Airport (ATH) and regular ferry connections throughout the Aegean.
Photo: Nikolaos Diakidis, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons.
Autumn 2028
After the Greek season, Gran Blau heads west to join the ARC+ — the World Cruising Club's Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Plus, one of the largest and longest-running organised ocean crossings in the world. Each November and December, a fleet of yachts sails together from Europe to the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, rather than crossing direct, trading a longer route for gentler trade winds, a shorter final ocean leg, and the safety and camaraderie of sailing alongside hundreds of other boats. Rally starts include organised send-offs, safety inspections, and social events at each stop, with an arrival party waiting in the Caribbean. Gran Blau's three legs follow the rally's own route: Portugal to the Canaries, on to Cape Verde, and the main Atlantic crossing to St Lucia.
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The classic ARC+ warm-up leg south from mainland Europe: out from Lagos on Portugal's Algarve coast into the Atlantic swell, bound for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria — the traditional gathering point for the rally fleet. Disembark at Las Palmas — served by Gran Canaria Airport (LPA).
Photo: Vitor Oliveira, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The second leg of the route south, out across open ocean from Gran Canaria to Mindelo on São Vicente, Cape Verde — the trade winds building underfoot as Gran Blau heads for the last landfall before the Atlantic crossing. Disembark at Mindelo — served by Cesária Évora Airport (VXE).
Photo: Pepelopex, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The main event: an 18-day trade-wind crossing of the Atlantic, following the same route long sailed by the ARC+ rally fleet from Cape Verde to the Caribbean. Long ocean days, star-filled night watches, and a proper landfall celebration on arrival. Disembark at Rodney Bay, St Lucia — served by Hewanorra International Airport (UVF). Final passage of the 2028 season.
Photo: XeresNelro, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Between Passages
At least seven days between each passage for crew changeover, provisioning, maintenance, and weather flexibility before the next group joins.
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