Experience a genuine Atlantic crossing from Gran Canaria to Martinique (Le Marin) – the great adventure of bluewater sailing! Aboard our large and fast Hanse 575 GALINI we sail across the Atlantic. We use the trade winds, plan the route according to weather and initially sail south towards the Cape Verdes, where a stopover is possible. From there we set course for the Caribbean and experience the fascination of the ocean: navigation, night passages, team spirit and the intense onboard life of an Atlantic crew. After 14–17 days we should reach Barbados – one of the easternmost Caribbean islands and the first land on the horizon after the long passage. Enjoy a few days in the Caribbean before we sail the short hop to Martinique.
We are currently in the planning phase and are putting together a crew that gels not just in sailing but also personally. It is important to us that the group on board really fits together – therefore we have a personal conversation with everyone interested.
Our GALINI has already successfully taken part in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and meets all safety requirements of this renowned rally. This means she is equipped and certified for the Atlantic crossing to the highest international standards.
She is a genuine bluewater vessel – created for life and travel at sea. We are travelling with warm-hearted people, discovering the world together and experiencing real boat life: sun, wind, salt water, small adventures and the feeling of truly discovering something together as a crew. Galini is at home at sea and far away from her home port of Poros most of the time. You will be part of life on board. Not everything will always go to plan – sometimes something breaks or the weather changes our course – but that's exactly what makes it real. We will also gladly show you the onboard systems, and you can be involved in all activities – navigating, steering, cooking, right through to technical work. No cruise liner experience, but lived community, genuine experiences and the magic of the sea.
In December the classic season for Atlantic crossings begins. The route takes us from Gran Canaria first southwards to the Cape Verdes – a possible stopover in Mindelo offers opportunity for rest, provisions and systems check. From there it's a direct course westwards into the Caribbean. The trade wind route is known for steady winds, moderate seas and the unique feeling of being in the middle of the ocean. Barbados, as the easternmost Caribbean island, lies directly on the trade wind route – from Mindelo it's about 2,100 nautical miles, and Barbados appears as the first land on the horizon. The detour to Barbados costs little extra mileage, because from Bridgetown it's only about 115 nautical miles northwest to Martinique. So we should have relaxed time to enjoy the Caribbean and sail via St. Lucia to Martinique as we please. In Martinique, Marina Le Marin awaits – one of the largest and most modern yacht harbours in the Caribbean, ideal for arrival, provisioning and onward travel.
Our adventure begins on Gran Canaria. After boarding, safety briefing and provisioning, we use the time for preparations and getting to know the crew. As soon as everything is ready, we set sail and head southwards towards the Cape Verdes. Depending on weather and crew, we make a stopover in Mindelo on São Vicente – a perfect opportunity for a shore leave, fresh provisions and a systems check. Afterwards we set course for the Caribbean. We spend the following two to three weeks at sea: keeping watches, trimming sails, navigating, weather observation, cooking together and deep conversations in the cockpit. At night the stars shine like nowhere else; during the day we are often accompanied by dolphins or flying fish. Life on board is characterised by team spirit, mutual support and the shared goal of arriving safely and happily in the Caribbean. Barbados is the easternmost island of the Caribbean and for many Atlantic sailors the magical moment when after weeks at sea land appears on the horizon for the first time. In Bridgetown we let the crossing gently come to an end, enjoy the first Caribbean days and treat ourselves to a few rum punches at Carlisle Bay, before we sail the short stretch (~115 nm) on to Martinique. Arriving in Le Marin, we are welcomed by Caribbean joie de vivre, French culture and the perfect infrastructure for sailors – after roughly 2,800 nautical miles an unforgettable moment.
For those who want to collect miles for their next sailing certificate: since we are crossing the open sea on this passage, plenty of nautical miles go into the logbook. Of course we will issue you an official mileage confirmation at the end of the voyage.
Our Galini travels the world – and you can be part of it! With us you are not an anonymous guest on a standard route, but part of a real crew discovering new horizons together. We are not a classic charter company that runs the same trip every week. Instead we sail together, experience the genuine boat life and embrace the adventure that the sea has in store for us.
Step aboard a beautifully equipped, lovingly maintained boat and enjoy the special something: With us nothing is off‑the‑shelf. Every passage is unique – sometimes spontaneous, sometimes planned, always full of surprises. Unplanned experiences are as much a part of it as relaxed days on deck.
You want more than just sailing along? We take care of the onboard systems together and you can lend a hand yourself if you like. You can turn a holiday passage into a real experience on a long‑distance cruising yacht and become part of life at sea.
Our passages combine holiday, experience, mindfulness and genuine boat life. Become part of our crew and enjoy a special time on Galini – authentic, community‑oriented and full of wanderlust.
Our beautiful GALINI is a very fast, large and comfortable yacht.
She is a modern Hanse 575 with 4 double cabins and a skipper's cabin. Each cabin has its own heads with electric toilet. Wi‑Fi via Starlink (optional), multi‑media, generator 220V/7kW (230V in all cabins), washing machine, air fryer and coffee machine. She has large solar panels, radar, AIS, a watermaker, hydraulic bathing platform and a tender with outboard motor. An abundance of safety and navigation equipment and much more – everything needed to be self‑sufficient without having to call at a supply port. A yacht that meets the highest demands for safety, design and comfort.
The sailing performance is also outstanding! The Hanse was designed by Vovo Ocean Racers and is the fastest yacht in its class. Sailing pleasure is guaranteed!
GALINI has already successfully taken part in the ARC and meets all safety requirements of this international Atlantic regatta.
In December ideal conditions prevail on the classic trade wind route: The trade winds blow mostly steady from the northeast at 4–6 Bft (15–25 knots). Daytime temperatures are 24–30°C, nights remain pleasantly warm. The water at 25–27°C is perfect for swimming, and the air is mostly dry and clear. The Atlantic presents a long, gentle swell (1–3m). Rain is rare and usually short‑lived. The nights are clear and offer excellent conditions for celestial navigation and stargazing.
Everyone can, if they wish, help with sailing, take the helm from time to time, or simply enjoy the beautiful nature and the day. In addition, everyone is jointly responsible for the crew's culinary well‑being. That means everyone takes turns preparing breakfast or looking after dinner. Usually the hobby chefs on board soon emerge, and those not so keen on the culinary arts simply step back and do the washing up. When mooring and casting off, everyone generally lends a hand according to their abilities and after instruction by the skipper. The boat is to be kept clean by the crew members during the passage. However, the final cleaning is done by the marina staff.
All crew members (except the skipper) pay an agreed amount into the crew fund. From this fund all shared costs incurred during the passage (e.g. diesel, harbour fees, damage waiver insurance, transit log, tourist tax, national and nature park fees, service pack for the provided bed linen, final cleaning, gas, marina charge for the first and last night in harbour, etc.) are covered. According to old seafaring tradition, the skipper is supplied by the crew during the passage.
Berth charter is the best opportunity for anyone who wants to get to know the sailing life. No prior knowledge or own sailing experience is required. Perhaps you already have some sailing experience, have completed a sailing course and want to deepen it? – Then the skipper will give you the opportunity to try things out and help you gain future confidence. The crew can help shape the course of the passage and your wishes will be taken into account, subject to safety and weather. On such a passage you meet like‑minded people, can make new pleasant acquaintances and have an experienced skipper at your side who takes care of all nautical matters. The cabins on the yacht are mostly equipped with different yet very similar cabins. Berths are allocated by the skipper taking crew wishes into account. Entire cabins can be chartered by individuals, couples or families. Payment is per person and you don't need to worry about anything else.
We want to make sailing more sustainable and environmentally friendly. On our GALINI we test innovative products to combine a great sailing experience with the smallest possible ecological footprint. Our small team of experienced skippers looks forward to sharing genuine sailing adventure with you. Our base is in Poros, Greece – from there we explore the most beautiful cruising grounds in the world.
