After days of careful weather monitoring and patient preparation in Mindelo, the Viking Explorers fleet officially departed Cape Verde on January 23rd, beginning the most iconic leg of their transatlantic adventure — the crossing to Port Louis Marina in Grenada.
The departure followed a prudent delay caused by persistent, strong trade winds and challenging marina conditions in São Vicente. Gusts exceeding 30 knots kept the fleet safely in port while crews completed maintenance, refined passage plans, and waited for a favorable weather window. That patience paid off, as conditions aligned to provide an excellent departure window with steady, manageable winds and comfortable seas.
Early reports from the fleet confirm truly enjoyable sailing conditions, with consistent trade winds already delivering classic downwind passagemaking. Several skippers described the opening miles as “textbook trade wind sailing,” allowing crews to settle into offshore routines and establish safe watch systems. One vessel has estimated a crossing time of approximately 14 days.
“The atmosphere at departure was fantastic,” said a member of the Viking Explorers team. “After waiting and preparing so carefully in Mindelo, seeing the fleet finally sail was incredibly rewarding. Conditions were exactly what we had hoped for — safe, steady, and confidence-building for a long ocean passage.”
Boats cleared Mindelo harbor in staggered departures, exchanging farewells with marina staff and local supporters who had warmly welcomed the fleet during their stay. Marina Mindelo once again proved to be a vital and trusted staging point for Atlantic crossings, providing excellent support, facilities, and hospitality throughout the stopover.
With the African continent now astern, the fleet is fully focused on the ocean crossing ahead. Crews are settling into offshore life — managing sail plans, monitoring weather systems, and sending regular position updates as they progress west across the Atlantic trade wind belt. The route promises classic downwind sailing, with winds in the 20-knot range.
Morale across the fleet remains high. Months of preparation, training, and offshore miles have led to this moment — the true heart of the rally. For many participants, this crossing represents a lifelong dream: sailing across an ocean under their own command, supported by an experienced international network of fellow sailors and organizers.
“Crossing the Atlantic is always a powerful experience,” noted one skipper shortly after departure. “You feel the scale of the ocean, the rhythm of the wind and waves, and the teamwork onboard. That’s why we sail.”
The Viking Explorers team continues to track the fleet closely, providing weather routing support and maintaining regular communication as the boats make their way toward the Caribbean. Arrival windows in Grenada will vary depending on vessel speed and evolving weather patterns, with the first arrivals expected in about two weeks.
Further updates will follow as the fleet advances across the Atlantic and approaches the final miles toward Grenada — the Spice Island of the Caribbean.
Follow the fleet:
https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/rally/vikingexplorersrally2026/
Learn more about the rally:
https://www.vikingexplorersrally.com/
