EXPEDITION CHARTERS

So you’re looking for adventure. Not of the bareboat party barge variety, but the kind where the weather is sketchy, the wildlife plentiful, the sailing serious and the boats rugged with serious looking reels of anchor rode and line on deck. Whether you’re seeking to cross oceans, sail high latitudes or learn the ropes from experts in anticipation of commanding your own ship someday, there are lots of opportunities to see a bolder side of life on the water via expedition chartering.

Some expedition operators combine sailing with skiing, mountaineering and diving in their passagemaking itineraries, so your wilder side can be appeased and your muscles stretched in new ways. Other opportunities are run on a shared-expenses basis while still others may set you back a fair bit. However, all of them will create memories and allow you to hone skills that will never leave you. Let’s take a look at six options for how to sail off the grid.

Seal lies at anchor in the glorious solitude of wilderness Alaska

EXPEDITION SAIL

Kate and Hamish Laird once worked with Skip Novak, and now offer expedition sails with some of the same flavor. After spending 17 years in Antarctica, the Lairds decided that the area was too crowded, and in 2004 they sought out new pristine cruising grounds