sailing event highlights, previews and business updates
2025 Survey results
A huge thank you to the 523 people that completed our recent Ocean Sailing Expeditions survey. The feedback was both fascinating and encouraging. With lots of new plans in progress and lots more ideas to work on, this survey feedback is the most in depth we've ever had.
Previous cruise highlights
Join us aboard on a 72 foot sailing yacht, or 105-foot small ship, for a stunning cruise, to an adventure packed destination and experience the best of New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific Islands. Explore the remote islands, snorkel the reefs, immerse yourself in local culture, swim with the sea life or just relax on golden beaches. See some unique sights, few ever get to experience.
Previous Expedition highlights
Join the crew of our 72 foot yachts for an expedition to explore and experience the best of New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific Islands. Explore the remote islands, reefs, fiords, rivers and harbours. Hike, swim, fish, snorkel and kayak. See some unique sights, few ever get to experience. We love to get off the beaten track, whether its 50nm or 500nm off the coast, its all about the journey and the destination.
Fiji event Highlights
Embark on a 7 to 12-night cruise through Fiji’s stunning Yasawa Islands. Discover secluded island anchorages, immerse yourself in authentic Fijian culture, and swim with manta rays. Explore underwater caves, kayak, paddle-board, and snorkel among vibrant marine life—or simply unwind on pristine beaches. Singles, couples, and groups are all welcome, with private cabin options available. Full training is provided on the sailing yachts, and sailors of all ages and experience levels are welcome to join us.
Australian event Highlights
Set sail on one of three exceptional yachts and explore Australia’s stunning coastline. Whether it’s an expedition to Tasmania or the far north, the legendary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, a passage to Middleton Reef and Lord Howe Island, or thrilling regattas in the Whitsundays, there’s an adventure to suit every passion. Full training is provided, and sailors of all ages and experience levels are welcome to join the crew.
NZ event Highlights
Set sail on a 3 to 12-night cruise through New Zealand’s breathtaking Bay of Islands to the Hauraki Gulf, Marlborough Sounds, and Abel Tasman National Park.
Singles, couples, and groups are all welcome, with private cabin options available. Full training is provided on the sailing yachts, and sailors of all ages and experience levels are welcome to join us.
Join the Awen IMOCA Open 60 Race Crew
A 40 minute webinar focused on the steps and training required to join our IMOCA Open 60 crew, for a passage, regatta or race event.
View Awen sailing calendar to join an event
Destination Yasawa Islands Webinar
A 40-minute webinar covering the highlights of the Yasawa Islands in Fiji. Our expedition yachts and life onboard, the 8-day and 12-day itinerary, what’s included, what to expect on a Yasawa Islands Expedition, with Ocean Sailing Expeditions.
View Fiji sailing calendar to join an upcoming cruise
exploring the Yasawa Islands in Fiji
The majestic Yasawa Islands group lies northwest of the main island of Viti Levu in Fiji and stretches 62nm into the South Pacific Ocean. Their remoteness, white sand beaches, clear blue lagoons and unique terrain, makes this remote, rugged and authentic group of 20 ancient islands, one of the most stunning regions of Fiji.
View Fiji sailing calendar to join an upcoming cruise
Our 2024 year in pictures
A pictorial summary of the challenges, new adventures, new vessels, new crew and weather we had to contend with in 2024. David Hows shares the year through his eyes and talks about the behind the scenes challenges of leading an adventure sailing company.
exploring the Yasawa Islands in Fiji
This is a selection of highlights from our 2 week sailing expedition to the Yasawa Islands in Fiji. We are planning to explore again this winter.
View Fiji sailing calendar to join an upcoming cruise
Sailing to Sydney Bay, Norfolk Island
Drone footage of our 24 hour stopover at Norfolk Island on our sailing passage from Southport, Queensland to Elizabeth Reef, Middleton Reef, Norfolk Island Opua and Auckland, New Zealand in 2022. With a population of 2,500nm and situated 800nm east of Brisbane, Australia, it’s a great stopover when the weather permits on a Tasman crossing between New Zealand and Australia.
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Sailing to Elizabeth Reef in the Tasman Sea
Drone footage of the Cay where we anchored inside Elizabeth Reef on our Tasman Sea passage from Southport to Norfolk Island to Auckland in 2022. With more than 100 ship wrecks on Middleton and Elizabeth Reef’s over the past 150 years, this pair of platform reef, 30nm apart are magnificent to visit. They are both more than 6nm long and 4nm wide and form an impressive site at low tide.
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A sailing expedition to Chesterfield Reef
The unscheduled overnight stop at Chesterfield Reef on the passage from Fiji to Mackay, Queensland in 2022 on Silver Fern was a real treat. This stunning island on the edge of a 30nm long reef is just 2km long and 200m wide and is rich in bird life. It was a battle to get ashore in the RIB and trek the 2km across the lagoon in 15-20 knots and through the coral reef to the beach.
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Sailing to Minerva Reef en-route to Fiji
We sailed Silver Fern from Opua, New Zealand to the Kermadec Islands and then to Minerva Reef in June 2022. We arrived at Minerva Reef late in the day and despite the overcast conditions, the colours of the reef still looked fantastic. The lagoon entrance is at least 120m wide and well charted, so its a great overnight stop on the passage north or south between New Zealand and Fiji.
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Sailing to Raoul Island and Meyer Islands in the Kermadec's
We sailed Silver Fern from Opua, New Zealand to the Kermadec Islands in June 2022. The 4 day, upwind passage was hard work, but the stunning scenery was worth it. We arrived after dark and anchored 250m from the 5m contour at Meyer Island and woke up to a magical backdrop.
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THE OCEAN SAILING EXPEDITIONS STORY
The story of how Ocean Sailing Expeditions got started, where the idea came from, the 72-foot Silver Fern project, why people come sailing offshore with us and what's next with our upcoming expeditions and adventures and more about the criteria for joining the crew for a race, passage, expedition or regatta.
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CAPTAIN COOKS NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND CIRCUMNAVIGATION 2021 passage preview
This new expedition circumnavigate’s New Zealand’s North Island and the west coast passage through the Tasman Sea will add extra adventure
CAPTAIN COOKS SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND CIRCUMNAVIGATION 2021 passage preview
This new expedition circumnavigate’s New Zealand’s stunning South Island and is filled with rare and remote stopovers.
HAMILTON ISLAND, AUSTRALIA TO PICTON, NEW ZEALAND 2021 passage preview
One of our longest crossings to date, this 1,820nm passage takes us from deep inside the Whitsundays across the Tasman-Sea to New Zealand’s Marlborough Sounds.
AUCKLAND TO NORFOLK ISLAND, BALL’S PYRAMID, LORD HOWE ISLAND, ELIZABETH & MIDDLETON REEF’S & SOUTHPORT 2021 passage preview
A preview of this exciting and unique Trans-Tasman passage that combines blue water sailing with a stopovers at 2 island and 2 reefs hundreds of miles from anywhere.
SOUTHPORT, AUSTRALIA TO OPUA & AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND 2021 passage preview
A preview of the Trans-Tasman crossing in Jan/Feb 2021 from Southport to Auckland with a stopover at Opua on arrival into New Zealand.
SOUTHPORT TO MIDDLETON REEF, ELIZABETH REEF, LORD HOWE ISLAND, BALL'S PYRAMID AND SYDNEY - 2 part passage preview 2019
The offshore 2-part passage is from Southport to Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef, with a 2 day stopover at Lord Howe Island then on to Ball's Pyramid and Sydney. This 870nm passage that takes us 310nm off Australia’s east coast.
hobart to picton Passage preview 2020
The offshore passage from Hobart, Australia to Picton, New Zealand is a 1,270nm crossing of the Tasman Sea.
picton to southport Passage preview 2020
The offshore passage from Picton, New Zealand to Hobart, Australia is a 1,270nm crossing of the Tasman Sea.
Previous sailing events
Southport to Auckland Passage preview 2019
The offshore passage from Southport, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand is a 1,400nm crossing of the Tasman Sea.
Next passage: March 2019
Auckland to southport Passage preview 2019
The offshore passage from Auckland, New Zealand to Southport, Australia to is a 1,400nm crossing of the Tasman Sea.
Next passage: April 2019
Pittwater to southport race Start 2019
Highlights of the Club Marine Pittwater to Paradise start.
Race date: January 2019
Hamilton Island Race Week 2018
Hamilton Island is a spectacular regatta set in the Whitsunday Islands in Queensland.
Next regatta: August 2019
Solo Tasman Race highlights 2018
Highlights of my 1,500nm Solo Tasman Yacht Challenge from New Plymouth, New Zealand to Mooloolaba, Australia
Race date: April 2018
Hobart to New plymouth Passage highlights 2018
Highlights of my 1,400nm solo crossing from Hobart, Australia to New Plymouth, New Zealand
Passage date: March 2018
Sydney Gold Coast Race Start 2016
Highlights of the Land Rover Sydney Gold Coast Race start.
Race date: July 2016