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  Navigating out of a pass in the reef we sail across open water to Bora Bora, the most famous of the Leeward islands. The spectacular pass at Vaitape is the only entrance through the barrier reef surrounding the island's lagoon. We will certainly spend a couple of nights here, enjoying the hospitality of Bora Bora Yacht Club, hiring bicycles to explore the island or snorkeling in the lagoon.
Leaving French Polynesia here we set out on our 550 mile ocean crossing towards the Cook Islands. The prevailing south-east trade winds should give us great sailing and after 4 or 5 days we should arrive at the low lying atolls of Aitutaki.
 Here is Cook Island life at its most relaxed. The palm fringed white beaches may even be, as some have claimed, the best in the Pacific, and the impossibly vivid blues of the lagoon that stretches away to the horizon are stunning. There are some shops and a few tourist resorts here but development is unobtrusive and has not detracted from the overwhelming beauty of the place. It may be very difficult to haul up our anchor and actually leave such a perfect spot. However we have a further 160 miles to sail due south to our final destination of Rarotonga.
Rarotonga is the capital of the 15 island group and the small harbour at Avarua is our destination. Seafood is a staple of Polynesian cuisine and Rarotonga's restaurants offer traditional as well as island-style dishes. A delicacy is grilled 'mahi-mahi', the dolphin-fish, a specialty at Trader Jack's. The island is dominated by the central volcanic peak and a day's trek through the rainforest jungle is a great expedition after our few days at sea.
 On arriving onboard you will be shown your berths, introduced to the crew, and signed on Ship's Articles as Voyage Crew members. Much of the morning will be spent introducing you to the ship and explaining the various routines, safety procedures and equipment and how the watch system works.
  Our sailing between anchorages in the island groups may involve some motoring but also some quite intense sail handling. However this allows those who would rather relish the amazing scenery to stand back and let the keener sailors get involved in handling the ship under sail. Everyone is involved in the duty watch system as Voyage Crew which will operate while we are under way and you may have your turn at the helm, on bow lookout or helping trim sail or help tack ship. Going aloft is a unique experience but is not compulsory and everyone can decide when or if they’d like to. People of all ages join us and many have never sailed before - previous experience is certainly not necessary.
During the sea passage from Bora Bora to Rarotonga the ship is sailing 24 hours a day and as voyage crew you will stand deck watches and work within a normal 4 hours on / 8 hours off watch system. This rotates during the course of the voyage to allow everyone to be on deck during different parts of the day.
 There are 13 permanent crew who maintain and sail the ship who are there to assist and help you enjoy your time aboard. Once we drop anchor the deck watch is undertaken by the permanent crew and you the Voyage Crew are free to explore ashore.
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From Papeete we will sail the short 10 mile passage across the Sea of the Moon to the outlying island of Moorea. Staying overnight in beautiful Cooks' Bay beneath the volcanic peak of Mt Rotui this will be our first taste of the stunning lagoons and anchorages of the Society Islands. 
PRACTICAL INFORMATION 
Now famous for providing sail training adventure voyages and as the star of the BBC’s classic series "The Onedin Line", the Soren Larsen was originally one of the last cargo carrying sailing ships trading throughout Scandinavia, northern Europe and Britain. Built of oak by the Danish ship building company of 'Soren Larsen & Sons' in Nykobing Mors in northern Denmark, she carried timber, grain and general cargo from 1949 to 1972. Purchased in 1978 by Tony Davies and his family, she was taken to Colchester on the east coast of England and lovingly restored and rerigged as the graceful 19th century brigantine she is today. Captain Davies specialised in period film work and so the Soren Larsen began her working life again in early 1979 starring in "The Onedin Line". Other projects followed including "The French Lieutenant’s Woman" and "Shackleton". In 1982 she was invited to pioneer sailing for the disabled for the Jubilee Sailing Trust in Southampton before being chosen, in 1987, to be Flagship of the First Fleet Re-enactment Voyage to celebrate Australia’s Bicentennial. She led a fleet of squareriggers on an ambitious 22,000 mile voyage from Portsmouth via Rio de Janeiro and Cape Town, arriving to a tumultuous welcome in Sydney in 1988.
After a major refit in the UK at Gloucester, Soren Larsen returned home to Auckland. She established herself as 'Flagship of the City of Sails' and has won Tourism Awards for Adventure and Experience categories. This illustrious ship celebrated the Millennium with a spectacular round the world voyage, the 2000-2001 Global Odyssey, visiting 25 countries and sailing 30,000 nautical miles. This 2008 project sets out to visit the further corners of the Polynesian Triangle and visit the very best of the untouched tropical South Pacific. 
