Sail with the OOSTERSCHELDE to the Kingdom of Tonga, home to the authentic, age-old culture and traditions. For more than a thousand years, Tonga monarchs have ruled the archipelago, which is characterized by beautiful beaches, coral reefs, and azure sea. Along the way we may encounter migrating humpback whales.

The Pacific Ocean is dotted with islands and islets. But it is also an immense pool of water and on this voyage, we must bridge a considerable distance. So, the focus is on the crossing, which is about 900 nautical miles long. Before departure we take the time to say goodbye to Rarotonga. The southeast trade winds are strong at this time of year, and it promises to be a beautiful sailing voyage. As soon as we are ready for departure, everyone is placed on watch, because the sailor’s life goes on day and night. In this climate it is certainly no punishment to be a night watchman and steer the ship towards one of the thousands of stars. During the day we work in the rig. One of the ship’s biggest enemies is chafing the rigging. Lines that rub against each other or against a sail, or a steel cable that saws gently into a spar. We are therefore all the time busy drawing one line, letting the other celebrate. A little more here, a little less there. When the wind increases, one sail off, then another one. All for the sake of a little extra speed, but mainly to ensure that the rig stays intact. We are now 18000 kilometers from the Netherlands, so it’s a long way back… With the strong trade wind coming in diagonally from behind, the OOSTERSCHELDE sails at its best. Speeds of 9 or 10 knots are no exception and after a week at sea we are close to our destination.

The Kingdom of Tonga consists of 177 islands, 36 of which are inhabited. The Dutch Schouten and Lemaire were the first Westerners to ‘discover’ this archipelago. We sail to the main island and after the formalities we can go ashore to discover a special destination again.

Before and after your voyage leg
We strongly recommend you book a few days accommodation in the port of your embarkation (prior to your joining Oosterschelde), and a few days in the port you disembark (after your place on the voyage ends). This will allow you to recover before and after your adventure and will give you the opportunity to explore locations at your start and end points.

More than an Adventure!
By taking part in the Global Voyage, you support the DARWIN200 project. As part of your adventure, you will receive the following exclusive benefits:

1. A full color, 300-page, hardback book as a momento of your adventure on board.
2. A short video which will be filmed during each voyage leg.
3. An invitation to the Start of Voyage Party in Plymouth on 13/08/2023.
4. An invitation to the End of Voyage Party in Falmouth on 20/07/2025.
5. An invitation to the DARWIN200 Concluding Award Ceremony in London in summer, 2025. Meet environmental celebrities, the young conservationists (‘DARWIN LEADERS’) and take part in a prize-giving ceremony.
6. Acknowledgement and thanks by name on all DARWIN200 output films throughout the global voyage (although anonymity will be respected, if requested).
7. Free DARWIN200 Global Voyage branded T-shirt!

DARWIN200
Become part of DARWIN200, a planetary conservation initiative that will empower the next generation’s elite environmental leaders and engage millions of students worldwide in conservation projects. By taking part in the Global Voyage, you will be helping to make the DARWIN200 project a reality. For more information visit: www.darwin200.com.

Q & A sessions
Interested in joining? Join our live information session about the 2023-25 Global Voyage. Each Information Session is beamed via Zoom and includes an overview of the global voyage, information about each of the 32 voyage legs, a live walk around Oosterschelde (when her schedule allows) and a Questions and Answers exchange.

Join the next info session via www.darwin200.com/info.

Level 2

Level 2-voyages are suitable for anyone in good health and a reasonable level of fitness, without mobility issues. On these voyages, you can expect days with strong winds or high waves, but most of the time the conditions will be good. A harbor is not always nearby and (medical) help from shore is therefore not always available.

The shipping company would like the OOSTERSCHELDE to be accessible to the widest possible audience, but you must realize that you are making a voyage aboard a seagoing tall ship. This requires more of your physical ability than a daily walk. Some voyages are more challenging than others. With the different levels, we give an indication of how heavy the voyage can be. If you are unsure whether a voyage is suitable for you, it is important to contact shipping company OOSTERSCHELDE for advice.