Overview
Turn the bow north and let the Indian Ocean do the work. Departing Nosy Be on Madagascar's wild northern coast, this is a 1,000-nautical-mile passage to Zanzibar on favourable downwind conditions, with the south-east trades on the quarter and an east-going equatorial current adding pace. The offshore stretch alone, 600 nautical miles of broad-reach sailing, is one of the finest passages in the Indian Ocean sailing calendar. Billfish and dorado hunt the current lines; flying fish scatter at the bow; nights are warm, clear, and brilliant with stars. From the Tanzanian coast, we shift into a completely different mode: sheltered coastal cruising through some of East Africa's most biodiverse and least-visited waters, threading north towards Zanzibar through islands, mangroves, and ancient Swahili fishing settlements. Stops along the way may include: Russian Bay, Madagascar — a calm, mangrove-lined anchorage where local fishermen paddle out with fresh lobster; the Comoro Islands, a rarely visited volcanic archipelago rich in Swahili history and fragrant with ylang-ylang and cloves; Mikindani Bay near Mtwara, Tanzania — a sheltered anchorage steeped in East African coastal history, including Livingstone's House; Mafia Island Marine Park, renowned for snorkelling with whale sharks (April–June peak season), dramatic underwater walls dropping from 10 to 600 metres, and exceptional biodiversity; the remote Songo Songo Archipelago, home to traditional dhow-building villages and near-zero tourist footfall; and finally Stone Town, Zanzibar — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a deeply satisfying landfall after an ocean passage well sailed. No prior offshore experience required. Excellent for offshore mile-building, or for anyone who craves a real off-shore passage.
Highlights
Coastal Traditions
Russian Bay is a secluded haven, tranquil, lush, and rich with life. Anchored in its calm waters, you’ll explore this protected inlet, lined with mangroves and untouched by time. If fortune smiles, friendly locals may invite you along to catch lobsters, a staple of the Malagasy culture and a vital source of livelihood.
Anchored in History
Sailing north of Mayotte and the Comoros, we make landfall on the Tanzanian coastal district of Mtwara. Sheltered in the peaceful Mikindani Bay, history lingers in the salt air. A visit to Livingstone’s House offers a glimpse into a bygone era, perhaps best reflected over a hearty, unexpected full English breakfast.
Return to Zanzibar
After tracing Tanzania’s coastline past hidden coves and powdery beaches, we sail into the vibrant port of Dar es Salaam. Landfall here blends coastal charm with the hum of East Africa’s heartbeat, an unforgettable close to a voyage shaped by wind, water, and wonder.
Skippers
Emily Caruso
Emily grew up in Somerset, England and has spent the last 18 years sailing professionally, leading crews on unforgettable ocean adventures. From skippering Gipsy Moth IV—Sir Francis Chichester’s legendary round-the-world yacht—to training Clipper Round The World crews, Emily has a wealth of experience navigating the world’s most incredible and remote destinations.
With an MCA Master 200 unlimited ticket and an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor qualification, Emily has shared her expertise with thousands of sailors, from novices to seasoned adventurers. Her fervent belief in making sailing accessible, enjoyable, and truly transformative is at the core of her work.
What's Included
What's Included
All food and drink (non-alcoholic) on board
Safety equipment including life-jackets.
All mooring and port entry fees for the boat.
Overnight accommodation onboard, your own bunk and bedding
What's Not Included
• Meals Ashore
• Entrance fees to visitor centres or distilleries
• Sailing & Travel Insurance
Gallery
You'll Be Staying Here
Synergy
Synergy is a Fontaine Pajot Lavessi 40 Catamaran. Spacious, comfortable and well equipped for fishing, snorkelling and relaxed socialising with a large cockpit and an extended platform off the stern. She is a very easy handled yacht and copes well sailing offshore.
In Synergy we cover ground comfortably at a good average speed of around 6knts which leaves plenty of time for exploring ashore or enjoying remote anchorages. Synergy is very well equipped for offshore sailing and carries a selection of offshore fishing equipment. Bring your own light tackle equipment if you dare to take on the variety of pelagic's that tease you off the wide stable foredeck. Her sturdy tender provides easy comfortable means to exploring the anchorages you will visit.
We have 4 sleeping cabins, two in each hull with a shared shower/heads per hull. One cabin is for the Skipper and first mate. The three guest cabins are large doubles but can be converted into twin cabins by dividing the bunks by lee cloths if preferred. Bedding is provided. On board comfort is a priority and the layout offers privacy.
FAQs
Do I need to be experienced in sailing?
We design the trips for a wide range of experience which means that even if you’ve not sailed, our experienced Skippers will ensure you have a fantastic time.
The longer legs will suit “mile builders” who already have some sailing qualifications, and we can spend time supporting you with everything from helming to sail trimming or passage planning as you wish!
Before you join, we’ll ask about your previous sailing experience and what you want to get out of the trip. That way, we’ll tailor the tour to your specific needs.
What's the cancellation policy?
The group size is kept very small on our trips which gives you a real ‘masterclass’ with our highly experienced Skippers. However, that means each place is valuable and we need full groups.
We ask for a 10% deposit to secure your berth, with the balance being due 6 weeks before departure.
If you cancel your place over 8 weeks out, the deposit is fully refundable. Between 6-8 weeks, we will retain the deposit.
If you cancel 6 weeks or less, the full price will be payable.
What should I bring?
We’ll share a kit-list which will be adapted to the trip you’re taking.
All bed linen is provided as well as safety equipment. You will need some decent deck shoes (or sailing boots), otherwise it’s layers of clothing adapted to the conditions you’re likely to encounter.
Bring a camera. If you want to bring a drone, let us know beforehand and bear in mind drones tend not to be waterproof and are carried / used at your own risk!
How adventurous is it?
We want everyone to get the most out of their time on board – so we’ll work around your wants.
However, our trips are designed for you to take an active role – that means, for example, we’ll take turns in cooking (all the menus are planned already and step by step instructions given, so you don’t need to be a masterchef!)
You can get tips and instruction on all aspects of sailing from our Skippers and get as involved as you want, grinding, trimming, helming and learning. On the other hand, there’s also plenty of time to relax and just take in the beautiful ocean scenery. It’s your trip!