Programme

Blue Water and Coastal Sailing Adventures with Association Karukinka

Association Karukinka invites sailors, adventurers, and ocean lovers to join a unique programme of blue water and coastal sailing expeditions running from 2026 through 2034. Aboard the expedition sailing yacht Milagro, each voyage combines offshore training, remote wilderness exploration, and direct support for Association Karukinka’s non-profit mission in favour of the indigenous peoples of southern Patagonia. Whether the goal is a first taste of offshore sailing in European waters, a demanding Arctic crossing to Svalbard, or an eighteen-day scientific expedition through the Patagonian channels to Cape Horn, every itinerary is designed to deliver both a genuine sailing adventure and a positive social impact.

A Sailing Programme Spanning Four Ocean Regions

Association Karukinka’s expedition calendar is structured around four major sailing regions, each offering a distinct type of blue water or coastal sailing experience:

• Offshore sailing and Round Ireland training voyages across the Azores, southern Brittany, the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay, and the Basque Country (summer–autumn 2026)

• Coastal cruising along the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland (spring 2027)

• Arctic exploration from Tromsø to Longyearbyen, including a full circumnavigation of Svalbard (summer 2027)

• A long-term scientific sailing programme through the Patagonian channels, from the Beagle Channel to Cape Horn (2027–2034)

This progressive structure allows sailors of any experience level to build offshore skills step by step, from their first blue water miles in the Atlantic to demanding subpolar and high-latitude navigation in Norway, Svalbard, and Tierra del Fuego.

Offshore Sailing and Round Ireland Training, Summer–Autumn 2026

Between August and November 2026, Association Karukinka organises a series of six offshore training voyages aboard Milagro, linking the Azores, southern Brittany, the English Channel, a full Round Ireland circumnavigation, the Bay of Biscay, and the Basque Country. These blue water sailing legs are designed as a gradual introduction to offshore passage-making, suited both to complete beginners taking their first steps at sea and to more experienced sailors seeking to consolidate open-ocean skills such as night watches, weather routing, and heavy-weather sail handling. Small-group berths ensure a high level of hands-on involvement in every aspect of running the yacht, from navigation and sail trim to boat maintenance and watch-keeping routines.

Sailing Round Ireland as part of this programme exposes crew members to a demanding mix of Atlantic swell, tidal currents, and rapidly changing weather systems typical of Irish coastal waters, making it a valuable stepping stone toward the more remote expeditions later in the programme. The Bay of Biscay and Basque Country legs add exposure to the Northeast Atlantic’s notoriously changeable sea states, while the Azores and southern Brittany sections offer a gentler introduction to multi-day offshore passages.

Ireland and Scotland West Coast, Spring 2027

In May 2027, Association Karukinka turns to coastal and semi-sheltered sailing along the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, two of Europe’s most scenic and historically rich cruising grounds. This leg is designed for sailors who want to combine blue water sailing technique with slower-paced exploration of remote anchorages, island communities, and dramatic Atlantic coastal scenery, all while continuing to support Association Karukinka’s fieldwork and archival projects for the Yagan, Selk’nam, and Haush indigenous heritage.

Northern Norway and Svalbard, Summer 2027

June and July 2027 are dedicated to one of the most ambitious segments of the programme: sailing from Tromsø toward the North Cape and Nordkynn fjords, before crossing the Barents Sea for a fifteen-day exploration of the high Arctic and a full circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago. This Arctic sailing expedition takes crew members through a landscape of glaciers, fjords, and polar wildlife rarely accessible outside dedicated expedition sailing programmes, and requires solid offshore experience given the remoteness and the sub-Arctic conditions encountered en route from mainland Norway to Longyearbyen.

Patagonian Channels Scientific Programme, 2027–2034

From December 2027, Association Karukinka launches a long-term scientific sailing programme in the Patagonian channels, departing from Puerto Williams or Ushuaia for eighteen-day voyages through the South Magellan Strait and around Cape Horn. Leaving the Atlantic side of the Beagle Channel — known to the Yagan people as Onashaga — expeditions enter the western channels of Tierra del Fuego, sailing past glaciers, fjords, and mountain landscapes before rounding the legendary Cape Horn. Running annually through 2034, this multi-year programme reflects Association Karukinka’s long-standing commitment to combining maritime exploration with scientific research and indigenous heritage documentation in one of the most remote sailing regions on Earth.

Sailing with a Positive Impact

Every voyage organised by Association Karukinka is designed as “sailing with a positive impact.” Funds raised through private offshore and coastal sailing expeditions directly support the association’s non-profit projects for the indigenous peoples of southern Patagonia, including the Yagan, Selk’nam, and Haush communities. Founded ten years ago, Association Karukinka has carried out numerous field activities, including organising, in 2019, the first visit to France of members of indigenous populations from southern Patagonia. Building on those initial encounters, the “Voces de las abuelas” project now works to give these communities direct access to historical archives held in France that document Yagan, Haush, and Selk’nam history and language.

Association Karukinka is also committed to supporting the broader research and exploration community. Aware of the practical and financial obstacles faced by laboratories, researchers, and creators working in polar and subpolar environments, the association devotes part of the proceeds from its private sailing voyages to helping fund research in these demanding regions, and welcomes requests for administrative and logistical support for scientific, artistic, sporting, and humanistic expeditions.

Why Sail with Association Karukinka

Choosing a blue water or coastal sailing expedition with Association Karukinka means combining a genuine offshore sailing adventure — from Round Ireland training legs to Arctic Svalbard crossings and multi-year Patagonian channel expeditions — with a direct contribution to indigenous heritage preservation and polar research support. Each voyage aboard Milagro is structured for small groups, ensuring an immersive, hands-on sailing experience regardless of prior offshore experience, while every berth booked helps sustain a non-profit mission that has been active for a decade across some of the world’s most remote coastlines.