This is a thrilling offshore sailing adventure from Iceland to the Faroe Islands, combining raw volcanic landscapes, a proper offshore passage in the North Atlantic and some of the most spectacular coastal sailing in Europe. From the moment we leave Reykjavík, you are part of the crew, helping plan the route, standing watch, helming, navigating and managing the yacht as we head south. Our first stop is the Westman Islands, a spectacular volcanic archipelago of towering cliffs, puffin colonies and stark black lava, with the chance to climb Eldfell and sail past Surtsey, one of the youngest islands on Earth. From there we head out into the open Atlantic for a 2–3 day offshore passage to the Faroes, settling into life at sea before the islands rise dramatically from the ocean ahead. We then spend the final part of the voyage sailing beneath immense cliffs, past jagged sea stacks and into narrow sounds between steep green mountains, exploring remote Faroese harbours before finishing in Tórshavn
Who this trip suits
You do not need previous experience in high latitude or offshore sailing, and this route is, in fact, ideal for those wanting to try either for the first time. The prevailing weather should mean great sailing, very manageable conditions and pleasant temperatures. You will receive expert training and be encouraged to be fully involved and try your hand at everything. All we ask is a great, can-do attitude and that you are prepared to be fully involved in the crew.
What to do next
Check the Dates and Prices section for availability and joining information. You can reserve your place there or schedule a call to talk through the route and what to expect.
Get Ready For…
Westman Islands Landfall
Volcanic cliffs, vast puffin colonies and rich whale waters just off Iceland’s dramatic south coast.
North Atlantic Offshore Sailing
Navigate, stand watch and helm on offshore legs between Iceland and the Faroes, managing weather, tides and changing sea states.
The Faroe Islands
Navigate and explore one of the most beautiful, unique and mysterious archipelagoes in the world.
Sailing Area
The Yachts
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Key Information
What’s included
All food and accommodation on board
All fuel & berthing fees
Your own bunk and storage area
Use of oilskins
Use of lifejacket with PLB
All sailing tuition
RYA Competent Crew (supplementary fee)
What’s Not included
Your connecting travel to & from boat
Sailing & travel insurance
Meals you choose to eat ashore
Alcohol
Visas (where required)
Discretionary crew tip
Interested in dates & availability?
To see when this trip runs, its start and end locations, price to join the crew and availability, click on the ‘Dates, Prices & Travel’ button up top.
Discretionary tipping of the Rubicon 3 crew
We’ve priced this trip 5-10% lower than we otherwise would to allow you the option, at the end of your adventure, to offer a discretionary tip to the Rubicon 3 skipper and mate if you feel they’ve provided exceptional service. A combined tip of 5-10% is suggested but is entirely at your discretion and based on your satisfaction with their performance. See our FAQs here.
Got Questions? We’re Here to Help!
We get it – joining a major sailing adventure is a big decision, and it’s natural to have lots of questions before you book. Wondering who else will be onboard? What the experience will be like? These and many more questions are completely normal. While our homepage and FAQs provide loads of info, we know sometimes it’s best to talk it through. Don’t hesitate to contact us by phone, email, or live chat (at the bottom of the screen). Better yet, we’d suggest you schedule a call. Most crew who join do and find it really useful. We can discuss your options, answer every question, and make sure you’re booking on the perfect trip for you.
There is no fixed itinerary on this sailing adventure, and that is very much part of the appeal.
The exact route, where we stop and how much time we spend in each place will depend on the weather, sea conditions and what the crew wants to experience. Each day, we will look at the forecast, consider our options and decide together where to sail next. You will be fully involved in shaping the adventure.
The broad plan is to sail from Reykjavík around Iceland’s dramatic south-west coast to the Westman Islands, before heading out into the open North Atlantic for the passage to the Faroe Islands. Once there, we will explore some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the North Atlantic before finishing in Tórshavn.
This is an exposed offshore route and the weather will have a major say in how the trip unfolds. We cannot guarantee any individual anchorage, harbour or island, but that uncertainty is part of what makes the voyage so special.
Reykjavík & the Reykjanes Coast
We begin in Reykjavík, with Iceland’s mountains rising across Faxaflói and the open Atlantic just beyond.
Once underway, we head south-west around the Reykjanes Peninsula, a stark volcanic landscape of black lava, low mountains and an exposed coastline shaped by wind and sea. It is a dramatic introduction to the voyage and gives us our first proper taste of the North Atlantic.
Depending on conditions, we may sail on through the night or break the passage before continuing east towards the Westman Islands.
The Westman Islands
The Westman Islands are one of the great highlights of Iceland.
Rising abruptly from the sea off the south coast, this small volcanic archipelago is dominated by steep green cliffs, black lava and extraordinary rock formations. Our main destination is likely to be Heimaey, the only permanently inhabited island in the group.
The approach is spectacular, with towering cliffs and sea stacks surrounding a harbour whose very existence was threatened by the eruption of Eldfell in 1973.
Ashore, we may climb Eldfell itself, walking across the young volcanic landscape and looking down over the town and harbour. The eruption buried part of Heimaey beneath lava and ash, and the scars of it are still clearly visible today.
The surrounding cliffs are also home to huge colonies of seabirds, and in summer the islands are one of Iceland’s great places for puffins.
Surtsey
If conditions allow, we may sail past Surtsey, one of the youngest islands on Earth.
The island first appeared above the sea in 1963 during a volcanic eruption that continued for several years. It has since been protected as an important scientific site, allowing researchers to study how life colonises completely new land.
Landing is strictly restricted, but seeing this raw volcanic island from the yacht is remarkable in itself. Few places make the geological forces shaping Iceland feel quite so immediate
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North Atlantic Offshore Passage
Leaving the Westman Islands behind, we turn south-east and head out into the open North Atlantic. This is where the voyage becomes a true offshore sailing expedition. For around two to three days, there will be no land in sight. We will settle into a watch system as we head off across the horizon. The crew will be fully involved in helming, navigation, sail changes, weather interpretation and running the yacht day and night. There is something very different about sailing offshore like this. Life is very simple and the focus becomes just the wind, the sea, the boat and the people around you. It is challenging, immensely rewarding and one of the defining parts of the trip.
Landfall in the Faroe Islands
After days at sea, seeing the Faroes rise out of the Atlantic is a genuinely memorable moment. The islands appear almost impossibly steep, with huge green mountains, dark basalt cliffs and waterfalls dropping directly into the sea. After the openness of the ocean passage, suddenly finding yourself sailing between these enormous walls of rock is extraordinary. Rather than heading directly for Tórshavn, we will aim to spend time exploring the islands from the sea.
Vágar, Mykines & Tindhólmur
The western Faroes contain some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the whole archipelago. Mykines lies right on the edge of the Atlantic and is famous for its cliffs and seabird colonies. Nearby, the jagged outline of Tindhólmur rises sharply from the sea, one of the most distinctive sights in the Faroes. Around Vágar, the coastline is deeply indented by sounds and fjords, with tiny settlements tucked beneath huge mountains. If conditions allow, this is exactly the sort of place where the advantage of travelling by yacht becomes obvious. We can approach from the sea, explore hidden stretches of coastline and anchor or berth in places far removed from the usual tourist routes.
The Vestmanna Cliffs
The cliffs around Vestmanna are among the great natural sights of the Faroes. Massive walls of basalt rise hundreds of metres from the sea, broken by caves, arches, narrow channels and towering rock stacks. Sailing beneath them gives a completely different perspective from seeing them from land. Depending on sea conditions, we may head ashore here into one of the nearby harbours and take a local boat tour right into the caves. This is world famous seabird country, with fulmars, guillemots and other North Atlantic species nesting along the cliffs.
Exploring Ashore
One of the advantages of allowing time in the Faroes is that we can also head inland when the opportunity is too good to miss. Places such as Saksun and Tjørnuvík offer some of the most spectacular landscapes in the islands: tiny settlements surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and steep-sided valleys. Saksun sits beside a remarkable tidal lagoon, while Tjørnuvík is tucked beneath towering mountains at the end of a dramatic black-sand bay. If the sailing programme and weather allow, we may leave the yacht for part of a day and explore some of these places properly.
Tórshavn
Our voyage finishes in Tórshavn, one of the smallest and most atmospheric capital cities in Europe. The old quarter of Tinganes sits right beside the harbour, with narrow lanes, black-tarred wooden buildings and traditional turf roofs. After the open ocean, volcanic islands and wild Faroese coastline, arriving here under sail is a fitting end to the journey.
In Summary
This is a genuine North Atlantic sailing adventure. We will cross open ocean, sail beneath some of the most dramatic cliffs anywhere in Europe, explore volcanic islands and remote coastal communities, and adapt the route as the weather dictates. It is exhilarating, challenging, superb fun and you will be fully involved throughout
Sail to the Faroe Islands, a remote wilderness of towering cliffs, deep fjords, and wild, unspoiled beauty. Explore hidden anchorages, hike breathtaking routes, and sail beneath dramatic rock formations. Puffins, seals, dolphins, and whales thrive in these waters, making every day an adventure. Leaving Scotland, you’ll cross 200 miles of open ocean, a taste of true offshore sailing, before reaching and exploring the untamed Faroes. Raw, rugged, and unforgettable. This is one of the great sailing adventures
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