Sail With Us
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Join the Crew!
Each leg has four available berths, priced at $5,000 with a 50% non-refundable deposit, per berth. Please note that the schedule below is subject to change.
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What to Expect
This is experiential education—you can't learn seamanship from a book. To truly understand it, you have to go to sea; it’s the only way.
During the voyage, you will stand watches, assist with reefing the sails, dodge freighters, and take on general crew responsibilities. We'll discuss weather conditions and develop routing strategies to navigate them. These strategies may change daily as weather models evolve. On passages of this length, the initial forecast will often differ significantly by the time we return to land, so adaptability and quick thinking are essential.
My goal is for this passage to help you build the confidence and skills needed to sail offshore on your own boat in the future.
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Join the Ocean Research Project’s Crew for an Epic Expedition to Greenland!
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Embark on an incredible adventure with the Ocean Research Project as we journey north to Greenland for another season of mapping the ocean floor and studying the impacts of climate change on glaciers. Each leg of this expedition is approximately 1,500 nautical miles and offers a unique opportunity to gain blue-water sailing experience alongside Matt Rutherford.
What if I Don’t Have Any Experience?
Well, you’re about to get some. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been sailing for years or this is your first time at sea. I’ll have other experienced crew members on board to assist with watchkeeping, and you’ll be on watch with me. I’m always happy to answer your questions.
We all have to start somewhere. Who knows? You might fall in love with ocean sailing—or you might decide it’s not for you. There’s only one way to find out.
Leg 1: Annapolis, MD, to St. John’s, Newfoundland
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Departure: May 15
Arrival: May 30
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We’ll set sail from Annapolis, navigating through the C&D Canal and down Delaware Bay into the Atlantic Ocean. Once offshore, our course will take us toward south-central Nova Scotia, maintaining a distance of 30–50 miles from the coastline. This allows flexibility to seek safe harbor in case of storms. Our route continues south of Newfoundland, where we’ll turn north toward St. John’s. This passage offers a balanced mix of challenge and reward, making it an excellent introduction to offshore sailing.
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Leg 2: St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Nuuk, Greenland
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Departure: June 3
Arrival: June 16
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This leg is more demanding but equally rewarding. Departing from St. John’s, we’ll head north, crossing the notorious Labrador Sea—known for its gale-force winds, dense fog, and icebergs. It’s not uncommon to encounter both wind and fog simultaneously. Our way point off southwestern Greenland near Paamiut will mark our approach to the coast. From there, we’ll sail 30–50 miles offshore as we make our way to Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. Nuuk offers convenient travel connections and is an excellent gateway for exploring Greenland. While this passage is challenging, the sight of towering icebergs makes it unforgettable.
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Leg 3: Nuuk, Greenland, to St. John’s, Newfoundland
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Departure: September 7
Arrival: September 18
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Leaving Nuuk, we’ll sail down Greenland’s west coast, staying 30–50 miles offshore. After covering approximately 150 miles, we’ll head farther offshore, with a waypoint near Belle Isle Strait, just north of Newfoundland. From there, we’ll follow the island’s east coast to St. John’s. Expect breathtaking views of massive icebergs and frequent fog as we navigate the windy Labrador Sea. Reefing the sails will likely be a common task during this leg.
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Leg 4: St. John’s, Newfoundland, to Annapolis, MD
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Departure: September 22
Arrival: October 5
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The final leg of our journey is both straightforward and challenging. We’ll follow Newfoundland’s southern coastline before heading 50 miles south of southwest Nova Scotia. As this leg falls during hurricane season, we’ll stay close enough to land to seek shelter if needed. Once we reach southwest Nova Scotia, we’ll chart a direct course to Delaware Bay, weather permitting. From there, we’ll pass through the C&D Canal, entering the Chesapeake Bay for our final approach to Annapolis.
What to Bring
While these are cold-weather passages, we’ll be traveling with the comfort of a fully enclosed cockpit. Staying out of the rain, wind, and ocean spray makes a big difference. That said, you should still prepare for colder conditions, as there will be times we need to leave the cockpit to reef the sails or manage other tasks—and you might still get hit by the occasional wave.
Bring foul weather gear (jacket and bibs), warm layers for cold weather, and some comfortable indoor clothes. Feel free to pack boots or warm shoes; it’s a workboat, so boots are fine to wear inside. We will provide harnesses and tethers for your safety.
How Much Flexibility Should I Build Into My Travel Plans?
So far, we’ve never missed a departure or arrival date—but now that I’ve said that, we probably will. Weather is notoriously unpredictable. While I don’t mind sailing into a gale, I will never sail us into a full-blown storm. If dangerous weather arises, we may wait it out in port, divert to a safe harbor, or even heave to at sea if necessary.
Delays on the departure side are less likely because you can stay on the boat if we need to wait for weather to pass. However, there’s always a chance we arrive late at our destination. While I’ve built plenty of time into our schedule, the ocean is unpredictable. I recommend booking flights that can be changed if needed. Thanks to Starlink, you’ll be able to adjust your travel plans from the boat if necessary.
If we arrive earlier than planned, you’re welcome to stay on the boat through the dates you signed up for, or you can disembark—entirely your choice.
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In the rare event that the expedition doesn’t happen at all, your 50% deposit will be refunded. However, the deposit is non-refundable if the expedition takes place and you decide to cancel. In over a decade, we’ve never failed to complete an expedition we committed to.