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

San Cristobal, Galapagos (EC) - Pitcairn (PN) - Tahiti (PF)

20 July - 26 October 2025

98 days, Picton Castle

From € 14790,-

Book this journey

Expedition Sail Training

Regular: € 14790,-

Book this journey

Picton Castle:
San Cristobal, Galapagos (EC) - Pitcairn (PN) - Tahiti (PF)

20 July - 26 October 2025

Join the Picton Castle in the stunning Galapagos Islands and embark on a month-long voyage to Pitcairn Island. After days at sea, prepare for an extended exploration of French Polynesia. Sail between idyllic islands, discovering breathtaking landscapes, lush tropical nature, and diverse Polynesian traditions. Conclude your journey in Papeete, the lively capital of French Polynesia on Tahiti. After experiencing the charm of smaller communities, this vibrant city offers a fitting contrast and an ideal spot to catch your flight home.
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 16,000 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

The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago off the coast of Ecuador whose wildlife is famous for inspiring Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. There you will see many species that don't exist anywhere else in the world, including giant tortoises, lizards and numerous birds. Take a boat tour through Black Turtle Cove, walk to the Tortuga Bay or, if you're feeling adventurous, take a trekk through massive underground lava tubes.

Tahiti is the biggest island as well as the cultural, and political centre of French Polynesia, and home to the state's capital in Papeete. Spend a lovely day on a beach (white- or black-sanded!) Admire pearls and learn about their cultural history in the Robert Wan Pearl Museum. Take a stroll through the Papeete Municipal Market for a taste of local life and have a picnic in Paofai Gardens waterfront park.

  • San Cristobal, Galapagos (EC)

Key points

  • Dates: 20 July 2025 - 26 October 2025
  • 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
  • "I learned a lot about both sailing and sustainability, and the social life was amazing."

    Thea (20), Denmark

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

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    Valborg, July 2022

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  • Plastic Research: 2024

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Photos

  • Dolphins
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This Journey is not covered by the STO Garant guarantee.