Viking Explorers 2022 confirms an international fleet of 22 yachts crossing the Atlantic

The annual highly anticipated family friendly and fun Viking Explorers 2022 edition is ready to set sail with 22 participating yachts. Sign up for the 2023 edition is now open.

For the organizers and participants each edition is based on years of preparation and dreams coming true for crossing the Atlantic. The Viking Explorers fleet is getting ready to meet in Gran Canaria on 12th December, weather permitting they will set off in the New Year.

With a truly international crew from New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, UK, Italy, Sweden and France among others, the fleet has been communicating via online Zoom get togethers and an active WhatsApp group. Sharing ideas and experiences alongside showing support and getting a friendly rapport amongst the participants the rally is most known for.

This 2022 edition of Viking Explorers sees a fleet size of yachts from 9.15m SY Havanna, an Albin Ballad from Sweden to SY Eleuthera, a 18.5m Fountain Payot from New Zealand.

Other participants include Jack a Taigan dog, and Aphrodite a sailor cat, that are also part of this year’s international fleet, something not unusual at our Viking Explorers family.

Oliver Solanas Heinrichs at Viking Explorers comments, “It is a great pleasure to have continued with the Viking Explorers rally through the pandemic. We continue to operate and organise the fleet of participating yachts in the safest possible way working with many government officials to ensure protocols are adhered to. Each year the success with the rally is down to the participating crew onboard the yachts, and keeping the numbers controlled we can develop a great friendship and a happy group together!”

Crews will enjoy a week of seminars, lectures, and fun evenings in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, before the Christmas transatlantic crossing, with an anticipated arrival at the outstanding Port Louis Marina in Grenada. Grenada is the southern Caribbeans most authentic island known for its being ‘the island of Spice!’. Port Louis Marina is in the blue lagoon located close to the capital St. Georges and is a small tender ride away from the famous Grand Anse Beach. Berth holders at the marina can enjoy fantastic facilities on-site including wide berthing, swimming pool available for berth holders and food and beverage options on-site. There will also be a celebratory prize-giving evening for the participants of the rally in Grenada on the 9th of February.

Zara Tremlett, Marina Manager at Port Louis Marina comments: “We are really excited to welcome back the Viking Explorers in the New Year. The events hosted at Port Louis Marina create a fantastic atmosphere for everybody to enjoy. It is a great achievement sailing across the Atlantic and the Viking Explorers rally provides wonderful camaraderie for the crossing to take place with a like-minded fun group of people! It is brilliant that Grenada is being recognised as a destination for many transatlantic crossings taking place, as it really does provide a charming welcome to those making the journey!”

The Viking Explorers will be ready to depart in the New Year after a Skippers Briefing at the Royal Yacht Club of Gran Canaria. The fleet will leave for the Atlantic journey with some on a direct route to Grenada, others with a stop at Mindelo Cape Verde.

To take part in the 2023 Viking Explorers rally, entries are now open. 18 yachts have signed up to take part. Maximum number of yachts is 25. Click here.