59º North Sailing
"Crisp stars overhead, the quiet rush of water below, all your troubles left ashore. Salt air, a hot meal on the stove, and the gentle motion of the boat rocking you to sleep in your cozy seaberth.
From the first time we sailed over the horizon and discovered the freedom and sense of purpose the sea can bring, we knew we wanted to share that experience. Out there, people come together in a way they rarely do on land. You’ll leave the dock as strangers and return as Shipmates - a bond shared only by those who have gone to sea together.
Come sail with us. Hold fast to your dreams."
sail offshore on bucket-list adventures
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2027-1 | FALKEN | San Diego-San Jose del Cabo
The first passage of 2027, and we can't wait to get back to sea! FALKEN starts her journey back to the home waters of the Atlantic as we head south from our off-season quarters in San Diego towards Mexico and the Baja Peninsula. Escape the northern winter with some warm Pacific breezes. This passage might have the highest chance of seeing wildlife as any of ours, so get your whalewatching binoculars out!
2027-5 | FALKEN | Cayman Islands-Key West
Join FALKEN in Grand Cayman for the run around the west end of Cuba and on up to Jimmy Buffett's spiritual home in Key West, Florida. It's been almost ten years since we last sailed into Key West and it's one of the more memorable landfalls as you sail past Mallory Square and into Key West's historic seaport.
2027-6 | FALKEN | Key West-Bermuda
It's 1,200 miles from Key West to Bermuda, with a little hitch in the route to get around the Bahamas. This is a longer, more challenging passage out into the Atlantic proper, where we'll have to plan the weather just right while we're in the Gulf Stream for the first portion of the voyage until we can turn east past the Abacos. You'll get all kinds of weather on this trip as we transition through the Horse Latitudes — cold fronts coming off the continent, easterly Tradewinds at the start, and deep ocean swells once clear of the Bahamian islands.
REAL SAILING & REAL PEOPLE
You know what's cool about 59º North? We sail actual offshore routes, that require real planning, real strategy, and our crew (that's you, we hope!) to truly hands-on sail the boat. But maybe more importantly, there is a real person writing this marketing text! That's right, everything on this site was brainstormed and designed by me, Andy Schell, co-founder & one of the Lead Skippers at 59º North Sailing. So keep that in mind as you peruse the site.
We're confident that we offer the very best offshore sailing adventures in the world, combined with the best & most unique experiential education through our limited annual workshops. Co-Founders Mia, August & I run all aspects of the business, from the intial customer signup process (shout-out to Mia), to boat maintenance and staff selection right on up through actually sailing with you at-sea. We've all got real skin in the game, and that matters to the quality of your experience out there. We flat-out care more.
Our small group of professional sailing staff are close friends, selected by us for their work-ethic, knowledge, experience & humanity. What we offer in terms of real-world sailing expeditions & educational workshops, events & online courses cannot be duplicated and you'll find it nowhere else. We hope you'll join us on the high seas for the adventure of a lifetime.
"Sailing on ISBJØRN with Captain Naxo during the Sail Training Camp was an incredible experience. His ability to adapt his teaching to each person's skill level built confidence throughout the crew and turned us into a cohesive team. I wholeheartedly recommend 59º North and Captain Naxo."
"Some of us seek out more meaning through travel rather than escaping from life. We want to be stronger tomorrow than we are today."
"Our voyage was interesting because both ISBJØRN (which I was on) and ICEBEAR traveled the same route at roughly the same time. We had Matt Rutherford as our captain and Ben Doerr as first mate, and they were both chill, fun, and always happy to answer questions and provide advice. I feel I got the experience I need with the ocean and Gulf Stream to pilot my own boat from Florida to Bermuda in the future, which was exactly my goal. If you are looking for blue water sailing experience and a fun adventure, I highly recommend that you sign up with 59º North."
"I have so many great memories from this sailing experience, and so much of that was because of our skipper, Mary, and first mate, Delaney. Mary was incredible: approachable, present, knowledgeable, and always calm, with a quiet confidence that made everyone feel safe and comfortable. She frequently studied the GRIB files and always considered the best course of action to keep her crew happy and safe. She kept us informed each day with clear explanations of passage changes and weather. She never wavered in providing gentle reminders about safety on board. It never once crossed my mind that we were not in good hands. Delaney was equally wonderful. She and Mary were perfectly in sync as leaders, communicating calmly, respectfully, and often with great humor. Delaney was always smiling, quick to laugh, and showed clear respect for Mary’s decision-making while bringing her own steady presence to the crew. Virginia, our intern, and I spent less time together due to our shifts. However, in the few interactions we had, we shared some amazing life perspectives that I will always remember. Together, they created the full offshore sailing experience I hoped for: a combination of education, safety, leadership, and kindness. The only problem is that they have now set a very high bar for future sailing experiences. When I reflect back on the passage, I have no ‘glums’ at all."
"When I think back to my trip across the North Sea on ICEBEAR, the memories uplift me and fill me with warmth and gratitude. Unplugging from the corporate world and embracing the beauty the ocean has to offer with 59º North molded me into a slightly different version of myself, in the most magical ways. I went home after 11 days with a more courageous yet humbled energy, realizing how capable and excited I am to take on new challenges."
"I'm still processing everything I saw, felt, learned, and experienced over those 17 days, but there are a few things I wanted to express before the land sickness wears off and I return to my landlubber life. Your Skippers and Mates created an environment of calm, comfort, and confidence that washed away any apprehension I had about joining seven strangers on a 1600-mile round trip. I am blown away by their depth of knowledge, not only of sailing but also in teaching a crew of widely different experience levels without a hint of condescension. I would not hesitate to sail with them again, and we're already scoping out future dates on the cal."
"What an incredible experience! I am so grateful to have been on the leg from Reykjavik to Stornoway over the solar eclipse. ISBJØRN is an incredible ship—sturdy, safe, comfortable (not to mention her amazing and somewhat scandalous history!). Feeling ever grateful to 59º North for this journey."
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
WOMEN BUNKS GUARANTEED
Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
NEWEST BLOGS
Navigating with the stars
Once the bimini was folded up the view across the starlit dome above our heads had us in awe and got our full attention. I am writing this during the same watch as I aim to share the beauty of the ocean and special moments we are witnessing during our voyage. Tonight, that light (coming from within and outside our galaxy) is guiding us across this vast open space towards our destination. Witnessing and sharing constellations builds a link to ancient cultures and seafarers, and this view into a world of lightyears and galaxies challenges the day to day notions of space and time you so recently left behind. Thank you for joining us as we sail under the stars.
Equator Day!
Excitement was in the air as the day dawned, the Equator grew ever closer. Those who go to sea often hear of King Neptune arriving at such a time in order to promote those worthy souls from Pollywog to Shellback, in the watery realm. We were still surprised when he arrived and called upon us to honour tradition and answer for crossing the equator without permission. For me this was one of the features of the trip and it did not disappoint. This is definitely a passage to remember.
Manot noon sight
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You are the crew
You don’t need to be a seasoned sailor to join us; you do need to be curious, engaged, and willing to be part of the team. As a paying crew member, you’ll take part in every aspect of running the boat: helming, sail handling, navigation, weather routing, etc, all the small decisions that add up to a safe and successful ocean passage.
We’re not a formal sailing school. We teach seam'nship the way it’s been taught for centuries—by doing it, for real, in real conditions, with experienced staff who care deeply about safety, quality, and the people on board.
Inclusivity matters to us. We reserve at least two bunks on every passage for women sailors and we work hard to create an environment built on respect, trust, and genuine care for each other.
If you’re looking for a polished vacation, this may not be it. If you’re looking for meaningful challenge, real responsibility, and an unforgettable experience at sea—you’re in the right place.
IRL Events
Annapolis Boat Show | Annapolis
Every October Andy, Mia & friends and family of the 59º North team come to our spiritual home port for the annual Boat Show festivities, and we’ll be back in 2026! The Annapolis Sailboat Show dates in 2026 is October 15 - 18, 2026 (Thursday - Sunday, 4 days).
Sailor's Social Party | Annapolis
Women's Happy Hour | Annapolis
The Quarterdeck
SEA·M’N·SHIP /ˈsēmənˌSHip/: “The skill in, and knowledge of the work of navigating, maintaining, and operating a vessel.”
