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Join a sailing adventure on a Tall Ship and set course for new horizons!

Lunenburg (CA) - Tahiti (PF) - New Orleans (US)

22 April 2025 - 28 May 2026

401 days, Picton Castle

From € 44370,-

Book this journey

Expedition Sail Training

Regular: € 44370,-

Book this journey

Picton Castle:
Lunenburg (CA) - Tahiti (PF) - New Orleans (US)

22 April 2025 - 28 May 2026

Embark on a 400-day journey of a lifetime aboard the Picton Castle, sailing from Canada down the North American coast, through the Panama Canal, and onward to the numerous enchanting islands of the Pacific, all the way to Tahiti. From there, navigate back through the challenging waters of Cape Horn before making your way to the Falklands, the remote St. Helena, and finally the Caribbean, finishing in New Orleans. This epic expedition spans vast oceans and remote destinations, offering both beauty and adventure. With over 8 world circumnavigations under its belt, Picton Castle is ready to take you on an unforgettable journey. Step aboard and set sail toward new horizons!
Open for all Windseekers, minimum age 18 years.
The journey price has been converted to EUR to provide an approximate total. The final price is 48,000 USD.

About this Voyage

This expedition will be made in true Picton Castle style. Adventures at sea and on land, amazing, storied ports to visit, a variety of sailing conditions, and incredible hands-on learning opportunities will be the hallmarks of this voyage. You will learn seamanship, steering a tall ship at sea, small boat handling, sailmaking, rigging, celestial navigation, carpentry, ropework... The ports, your shipmates, and yourself.

You can now apply to be part of this epic voyage! Picton Castle sails with a combination of professional and trainee crew. The crew are qualified mariners with significant experience at sea, ready to teach you the ropes. Trainees are folks like you – curious, adventurous, inspired by a challenge, fit, from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds, wanting to go to sea and see the world from the unique perspective that only being crew on a voyage can offer – and ready for a challenge!

This is a voyage for adventurous souls. People ages 18 and up of all genders and all nationalities are welcome to apply. As a trainee you will participate in all aspects of sailing the ship: you’ll stand watches, take your turn at the wheel and as lookout, you’ll handle lines and sails, scrub decks, help the cook in the galley, assist with ship’s maintenance, and learn authentic seamanship skills as was the time-honoured way of the wind ships in the Age of Sail, and still is in Picton Castle.

Whether you’re looking for adventure, to travel the world, to travel sustainably by wind power, learn new skills, to challenge yourself personally, to gain teamwork skills, to be part of a close-knit community aboard, to do something amazing with your gap year or big overseas adventure, to check an item off your bucket list, to lay a foundation for a career at sea, to accomplish the dream of a lifetime, or simply to experience the portion of our planet covered by water, you’re welcome to apply.

Ports

Lunenburg is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Historically the town was involved in several wars, including the American Revolution. Today the town is a fishery port and has several small shipyards that have managed to preserve the skills of the sailing era. Did you know that the replica of the ‘Bounty’ was built here? Visit the historic city centre on foot or by horse and carriage, and enjoy a leisurely hike in the grassy hills of the surrounding countryside.

New Orleans is in one of the two USA's regions located below the sea level. The city is birthplace of jazz and is well-known for its rich multicultural scene. Take a look at the European architecture in The French Quarter. Go to the Uptown, the city's most historic district. Check out the beautiful sculptures and tombs in one of 42 famous cemeteries. Take part in festivals, visit the museums and music events full of historic heritage.

  • New Orleans (US)

Key points

  • Dates: 22 April 2025 - 28 May 2026
  • For Windseekers of all ages, minimum age 18 years
  • Windseekers joining: maximum 40
  • No sailing experience required!
  • Official language on board: English
  • Price includes: accommodation and meals, excludes drinks at the bar
  • Price excludes transportation costs to-and from the ports. Our travel counsellor can advise you and book your transfers
  • Windseekers need to have a health insurance and a travel insurance
  • Need to take with you on board: sleeping bags and towels

  • "If you believe and push yourself there is nothing you can't do."

    Tan (17), Turkey

You sail on the Picton Castle

Picton Castle sailing all sails
Shipping type: Barque
Homeport: Avatiu, Cook Islands
Date built: 1928
Trainees: 40
Length: 45m
Height of mast: 29,57m
Sail: 1157m2

Deep water, square rigger, ocean voyaging at its best. The barque Picton Castle is known for her international voyages, crossing oceans and a high standard of seamanship training. This 179-foot sailing ship accommodates 52 people, including 12 professional crew members …

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Windseeker logs

  • Mentoring on The Maybe

    Maybe, July 2017

    – by Killian Borland (17)

    I was a youth volunteer on The Maybe for the month of June 2017. It was an experience that I will never forget. I loved every minute of it. One of the best things about sailing on The Maybe is that …

    Read log

  • Baltic Research: Ingo

    Ingo, July 2022

    Sweden

    – by Exchange@sea Trainees

    Today we all arrived in Gothenburg together. We got to meet all the participants from different countries. Ingo hadn’t arrived yet so we all went to a scouting club to spend the night. We did a lot of activities to …

    Read log

Photos

  • Trainee
  • Sørlandet
  • Sørlandet

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This Journey is not covered by the STO Garant guarantee.