Leg 2: Bergen to Mallorca

The Voyages > Voyage of the Atlantic World May 2008-May 2009 > Leg 2: Bergen to Mallorca

August 10, 2008 - November 11, 2008
Joining port: Bergen, Norway
Departure port: Mallorca, Spain

Sail from North of 60 to the Med

Photo courtesy of Fomento del Tourismo de Mallorca

Apply now to join us for the fascinating second leg of our journey. We'll be exploring the West Coast of continental Europe, including the United Kingdom, and experiencing a diversity of climate, geography and culture as we sail from the Fjord Capital of Bergen, Norway—located North of 60 degrees latitude—down to balmy Mallorca in the Mediterranean at 39 degrees North.

That's over 1260 nautical miles of coastal and ocean voyaging to get from one extreme to the other, the same as the difference in latitude between Anchorage, Alaska and Sacramento, California.

Imagine all of the natural diversity that goes along with such a wide range of latitude—the aurora borealis in the fjords near Bergen, rolling green fields spotted with cows in the UK and the white sand beaches and rocky coastline of Mallorca rising out of the turquoise-blue Mediterranean.

Witness the changing character of the ocean

En route, we'll sail through the North Sea, Strait of Dover, Bristol Channel, English Channel, Celtic Sea, the Bay of Biscay, North Atlantic Ocean, Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea, each of which has its own unique character, obvious only to mariners.

To quote Captain Daniel Moreland, "it's amazing how still waters around the world look much the same, but tortured seas take on their own distinctive characteristics... all different when rough, similar when calm."

Sail with a fleet of tall ships

Some passages will see us sailing 'in company' with a fleet of the world's most beautiful tall ships as we all head between ports of the 2008 Tall Ships Challenge. At other times we'll be striking off on our own, like when we head off to explore the rugged coast of Wales on our way to homecomings at ports from our ship's earliest days.

Fascinated by sailing ships? You will see many of the world's most beautiful traditional vessels at gatherings of tall ships in Bergen, Den Helder and Bremerhaven. As a working crew member aboard Picton Castle, you will have a chance to meet the crews of other ships and join in the camaraderie of sailors ashore.

Celebrate a visit to our namesake castle

Photo courtesy of Picton Castle Trust.

Explore our ship's history as we return to ports from the Picton Castle's past, places such as Ipswich and Milford Haven. Meet old salts who can spin tales of minesweeping in World War II or carrying cargo in the years before and after. We're even going to visit our namesake castle where quite a celebration is planned.

Add to all this, the joys of late summer/early autumn sailing and you can see this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. Apply now to become a sail trainee.