APR - SEP ‘24

Setting sail from Juneau in April 2024, we steered north along Alaska’s wild outer coast, weaving into Prince William Sound’s labyrinth of fjords and tidewater glaciers, and navigating the rugged shorelines of Kenai Fjords National Park. We circumnavigated Kodiak  (the second largest island in the U.S.)  then crossed the Gulf of Alaska back to Southeast, threading through the Inside Passage’s misty inlets and mountainous fjords before turning south through British Columbia in September.

OCT - NOV ‘24

In the fall, we battled stormy weather down the rugged coasts of Washington and Oregon, waiting out weather windows before finally sailing into the warmer embrace of Southern California (Lerina’s old stomping grounds), now rediscovered by boat. Highlights included anchoring in Tomales Bay, exploring the Channel Islands en route to San Diego, and completing our first two scuba dives off Arcturus: one at Santa Cruz Island, and the other at Catalina Island’s iconic Casino Point Dive Park.

DEC ‘24 - FEB ‘25

We arrived in Mexico in December 2024, spending the first two weeks traversing down Baja’s remote Pacific coast. Under the warmth of the winter sun, we slipped into the Sea of Cortez, where desert landscapes meet the sea and cactus-studded ridgelines glow gold beneath painted sunsets. Our timing aligned with the migration of giants: we witnessed both blue whales and whale sharks in the same season, a rare and humbling privilege.

MAR - JUN ‘25

In March 2025, we crossed the vast Pacific and made landfall in the Southern Hemisphere, greeted by the volcanic peaks of the Marquesas. Over the next three months, we journeyed westward through 25 islands and atolls — not counting the countless motus scattered like emerald fragments in their lagoons. French Polynesia was a rich classroom: we learned the language of coral passes and shifting winds, of reef anchoring and tidal intuition, lessons that will guide our sails into the unknown waters still ahead.

Jul - Aug ‘25

During our crossing from French Polynesia to Tonga, we were treated to the incredible sight of humpback whales on their annual migration to these special islands. Though still in the South Pacific, Tonga felt distinctly different… a tranquil archipelago of palm-fringed beaches, small villages, and sheltered coves. It marked our first stop where people drive on the left side of the road, a small but telling reminder that we had officially entered a new corner of the world.

SEP - OCT ‘25

S/V Arcturus went on the hard for a six week refit at Vuda Marina: a full exterior paint job, rigging checks, and general tender loving maintenance. Think of it as spring cleaning, South Pacific sailor style. What began as “a month of maintenance” became a true labor of love: long, grueling days spent grinding rust to bare metal, sanding until our arms ached, and priming every exposed curve and contour. The equatorial sun was merciless, and we learned firsthand that a hull forged for Alaskan ice bears little fondness for tropical humidity.

Nov-Dec ‘25

For a month and a half, we let the North Island lead us along its winding edges, a place we suspected would be beautiful yet had no idea would unravel itself with such quiet magic. This corner of the Pacific is lush and subtropical, wild in its biodiversity, and richer in culture than we ever imagined… a land shaped by forests and volcanoes, yes, but also by the steady, resonant presence of Māori heritage woven through the rhythm of daily life.

Dec ‘25 - Mar ‘26

Fiordland is a wilderness of glacially carved valleys, jagged peaks, and waterfalls tumbling from every mountain side. From the sheer cliffs of Milford Sound to the tranquil reflections of Breaksea Sound and the sandstone outcrops of Preservation Inlet, every fjord unveils a new world. Towering ferns stretch skyward, endemic birds flit across waterways, and the interplay of light on water and stone creates an ever-changing canvas. Even in paradise, the sandflies remind us that nature has its quirks. Fiordland’s waterways have the epitome of a remote beauty, being predominantly accessible only by boat and helicopter/float plane, a land where the further south you venture, the wilder the scenery becomes.

APR - NOV ‘26

Louie & Lerina are taking a 6 month pause from the sailing trip to spend the summer season working in Alaska. They will be returning to Arcturus in New Zealand in November 2026 to continue the voyage.