Routes & Schedule

Blue Planet Odyssey Route Map Click to enlarge and download high-res map

The following routes and schedules are provisional and only meant as general guidelines. The starting dates and individual ports (where not specified) will be announced as soon as they are confirmed. Places and dates in square brackets are either provisional, may not be visited or denote a suggested detour.

Because of safety concerns, logistical or political considerations, some countries or stopover ports on the proposed route may have to be avoided and the route and schedule amended accordingly. The decision has now been made not to sail through the North Indian Ocean in view of current political uncertainty and instability in that whole region. The route will be amended to reach the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Cape of Good Hope. The organisers will endeavour to keep such changes to the minimum and give reasonable amount of notice of any changes.

The Blue Planet Odyssey is sailing around the world along two main routes:

• Southern route
  This is the main route of the Blue Planet Odyssey, sailing through the Panama Canal and into the South Pacific and SE Asia before returning to the Caribbean.
• Northern route
  This is a more challenging route which includes the Northwest Passage (in both the 2014 and 2015 starts) and a winter crossing of the North Pacific.
  The Northern route is described here.

Alternative routes and detours

There will be several alternative routes or detours along this main route of the Blue Planet Odyssey. Some will call at endangered islands that are off the main route and because of their location can only accommodate a small number of boats and visitors, while other detours will give participants the option of visiting more remote destinations.

Amendments

In consultation with the Blue Planet Odyssey participants, the 2015-16 route has been amended in order to allow longer in Vanuatu, Australia and Indonesia. The schedule can be found below. 

Pursuit Legs

Some of the legs either starting from a port or anchorage with limited capacity, or finishing in such a location, will be run as a pursuit, with the boats starting on their own and not in a group.

Cruise

In all attractive cruising grounds along the route, participants will be able to explore the area on their own.

Rendez-vous ports

At the end of a cruising leg the fleet will meet at a designated port and will continue together to the next destination.

Southern Route

Atlantic Ocean (2014-15)

* Primary starting locations

Pacific Ocean (2015)

* Primary starting locations
[ ] optional alternative route

Indian Ocean (2015-16)

The safety issue in the North Indian Ocean continues to be a matter of concern and the organisers wish to ensure the safety of the Blue Planet Odyssey fleet. Therefore a decision has been made not to sail through the north Indian Ocean in view of current political uncertainty and instability in that whole region.

South Indian Ocean & South Atlantic Ocean (2016-17)

Northern Route

The Northern route is described here.