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 On the longer sea passage there's time for talks about basic  navigation, seamanship theory, rope work, history and development of square rigged ships. The timeless routines of the sea and unique beauty and grandeur of the ocean can only really be appreciated by those who have undertaken a blue water passage several days out from land.
Our route should coincide with the annual migration of the humpback whale and being the end of their breeding season we hope to see the whales at the start of their migration to the Antarctic. In the southern latitudes we should also expect to see an abundance of sea birds, including Mollymauks, Cape Pigeons and the magnificent Wandering Albatross.
 Ahead of us is an ocean passage of 1400 miles, broken by a visit to Norfolk island some 400 miles south of Noumea. Our call to Norfolk Island will depend on weather conditions as it has a fairly exposed anchorage but it is a rare chance to visit this beautiful and spectacular subtropical island. Norfolk is still home to descendants of the Bounty mutineers, whose forebears were taken off Pitcairn Island in the 19th century. There may be a landing fee that is paid individually.
 Sighting Cape Reinga at the northern tip of North Island will be our first glimpse of New Zealand and soon we shall enter the beautiful Bay of Islands to clear NZ Customs at the tiny fishing village of Opua. A good ocean passage will allow us time to enjoy ‘the Bay' including the historic town of Russell and the picturesque Roberton Island. Dolphins usually delight in escorting us to Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock archway.
 With 2 or 3 nights in hand we make our way south through the Hauraki Gulf, visiting the marine reserve and the Poor Knights islands and perhaps Kawau or Tiri Tiri island before we arrive at our final destination, Auckland.
 During the sea passage 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. While on watch the voyage crew are under the care and instruction of the watch officer and two other permanent crew; everyone stands a trick (a turn) on the helm, takes lookout on bow watch, helps fill in the ship's deck log and help handle sail as required. Once we drop anchor at Norfolk island or the Bay of Islands the deck watch is taken by the permanent crew and the Voyage Crew are free to explore ashore.
 The City of Sails is Soren Larsen’s home port and our arrival will mark the end of the ship's South Pacific voyage. It will also mark the completion of the 12 months the crew have spent with the ship and a great farewell party is to be expected.
 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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Around Noumea, lie reef fringed atolls with white beaches, palm lined shores and local sailing canoes which make an idyllic spot to spend a night before setting out on our ocean voyage. Once we clear Customs at Noumea we set sail south. 
On arriving onboard you will be shown your berths, introduced to the crew, and signed on Ship's Articles as Voyage Crew. 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. For those who wish we try to give you a chance to be shown aloft in the rigging before we get underway.
The first 4 to 5 days from New Caledonia should be in favourable conditions with light breezes but as we reach southwards to we will expect more varied conditions. The watches on deck will have work the brigantine rig to best advantage to make the most of the changeable weather. This blue water passage is an exciting and challenging voyage for the novice and committed sailor alike. 
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. 
