Sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Martinique

Itinerary of your cruise

There are several choices for your transatlantic crossing:
- The outward leg in 2 stages: from La Rochelle or Bormes Les Mimosas to the Canaries (approximately 2 weeks), then from the Canaries to Martinique (approximately 3 weeks) .
- The return transatlantic crossing, via the Azores or Madeira: from Martinique to La Rochelle or La-Trinité-Sur-Mer (approximately 5 weeks) or Port Saint-Louis du Rhône or Dahouët (approximately 6 weeks).

The itinerary may be changed without prior notice due to technical or weather conditions.
The photographs and visual products presented have no contractual value.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the FFV "Sailing Passport"?

  The Sailing Passport is a licence for all persons participating in courses in sailing schools/clubs of the French Sailing Federation network.
  It also includes insurance for your courses.
  
  If you already hold a FFV licence, you will not need to subscribe to the Sailing Passport. However, we will ask you to give us your licence number.

• What equipment/clothing should I bring for my transatlantic crossing?

  ♦ The basics for sailing:
  

  • Complete outfit: boots (breathable), watch jacket, watch overalls
  • Boat gloves
  • Headlamp with spare batteries, with a red light function for the night
  • Shopping bag to have your foulies available at all times

  
  ♦ For sleeping:
  

  • Sleeping mask
  • Ear plugs
  • Sleeping bag
  • Hygiene (taking into account the need to save water and energy)
  • Sea water soap (you can find it in shipchandlers, at the Vieux Campeur or at Nature et Découverte ; it also serves as shampoo and shaving foam)
  • Micellar water (handy to use with a spray, especially for the face)
  • Wash mitt
  • Detergent for washing clothes by hand (with seawater)

  
  ♦ Health:
  

  • Hat or cap
  • Sun cream in sufficient quantity. The only effective protection is an index 50 sunscreen applied every three hours.
  • 1 or even 2 pairs of sufficiently protective sunglasses (with a cord so as not to lose them)
  • Gourd (or rigid water bottle to keep)
  • Personal pharmacy for minor ailments (plasters, disinfectants, saline, cream for burns, medication for pain or seasickness, etc.) and for personal specificities. The on-board pharmacy is only supposed to be open if we are missing equipment
  • Personal and differentiated bottle of hydro-alcoholic gel (with first name for example)
  • Surgical masks for trips ashore

  
  ♦ Optional but practical:
  

  • Pocket knife (ideally multifunctional Leatherman type)
  • Standard flashlight: this fits in the brace and lights up on contact with water. You can find them in hardware shops, between 15 and 20 euros
  • Portable battery (ideally with solar panel): to charge tablets/readers and other personal electrical devices
  • Something to keep you busy: music, a few books, games, etc.
  • Pen and notebook to possibly take notes

  
  ♦ Notes:
  

  • For anything liquid, prefer screw-top containers
  • For clothing, manage to minimise the number and weight of clothes while having clothes that can live with all types of weather
  • You don't want to risk getting cold. It is better to have three good layers of clothing, rather than piling them on. Here's the principle:
  • Layer 1: an undergarment that sticks to the body, which allows perspiration to escape (underpants, tights, socks). It's best to avoid cotton, which retains moisture and will make you cold. Uniqlo fabric is a good compromise.
  • Layer 2: a jumper to keep warm. Avoid wool, which does not dry well. A good fleece is fine
  • Layer 3: a shift jacket to cut out wind and water
  • Cotton washed in sea water will be particularly stiff and scratchy. Technical t-shirts are more suitable

  .

• Some tips for your transatlantic journey:

  Below you will find some advice to ensure that your transatlantic crossing goes smoothly:.
  We advise you to see your GP and a dentist just before leaving: dental problems are particularly annoying.
  
  Take some medication with you and adjust your medicine cabinet to your own health:
  

  • Seasickness. No one is immune to seasickness. Stugeron has fewer side effects, Primalan works well.
  • Broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin)
  • For pain: it's better to take paracetamol or aspirin rather than anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, Ibuprofen, etc.).
  • Adrenaline styli injector (Anapen): in case of allergy. Anyone can have an unexpected allergic reaction with serious consequences. If you are at risk of allergy, warn the skipper and it is better to have such a medicine available
  • It is useful to take the prescriptions with you, as there are medicines authorised in France and forbidden in certain countries (ask your doctor about this)

• Who is your skipper?

  All our skippers and sailing instructors are state-qualified, pedagogical and experienced. They are used to sailing on recent and high performance RM, POGO and TS type yachts.

• What do I need to do to confirm my booking?

  To confirm your booking, you need to inform your GlobeSailor advisor who will hold an option for you until the deposit is received. The booking will only be considered definite once your deposit has been received (by bank transfer, Paypal or credit card), of between 30% and 50% of the booking amount. A deposit of 80% will be required for all reservations made within 60 days of departure. The balance must be paid at the latest 45 days before the date of embarkation.

• What happens in case of cancellation?

  In the event of cancellation, you must notify your GlobeSailor consultant as soon as possible. Regardless of the cause, the following cancellation fees will be charged: up to 90 days prior to departure: 30% /// from 89 to 60 days: 50% /// from 59 to 30 days: 75% /// from 29 days to departure: 100% of your booking.
  We advise our clients to subscribe to a cancellation insurance with Ouest Assurance.