What we do

Ocean sailing for Adventurous Souls

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Outer Passage provides a unique opportunity to experience the sailing lifestyle aboard a performance cruising multihull. Whether you are new to sailing, looking to build your miles or simply curious if cruising is right for you.

Join our experienced crew for your next bespoke adventure where you can get involved in every aspect of the voyage from route planning and weather forecasting to optimizing sail trim and anchoring techniques. Our passages will help you gain the experience, skills, and confidence while you enjoy the sense of freedom and pure adventure of sailing.

The Boat

Meet โ€˜Pippilottaโ€™ a Balance 526

  • A Pure Sailing Machine

    One of the latest 526's from Balance, built by Nexus Yachts in South Africa, Pippilotta sets a new standard for performance luxury cruising. With her carbon reinforced hull and epoxy construction, she sails like a racer yet remains amazingly easy to operate and maintain.

  • a helm station you'll love

    Balance Catamarans are the creators of the VersaHelmโ„ข, allowing Pippilotta to be piloted up top in the open air, or down below in the protected copit when in inclimate weather. Whether up or down, each position offers four-corner visibility, making sailing safer, easier, and an absolute pleasure.

  • Luxury Accomodations

    Known for their semi-custom builds, this Balance 526 has an incredible bespoke luxury interior. With distinctive veneers and euro-style accents, you will be nothing short of impressed as you cozy into your private stateroom.

Balance 526

Recently launched in St. Francis South Africa by Nexus Yachts, โ€˜Pippilottaโ€™ is constructed to the highest standards, combining exhilarating sailing performance with a very comfortable and modern living area.

    • Length 52.5ft (16.0m)

    • Width 27.2ft (8.2m)

    • Draft 3.8ft (1.2m) / 7.2ft (2.2m) - Boards Down

    • Weight 12.5 metric tons (27,500 lbs)

    • Engines: Yanmar 57hp with saildrives and Gori folding propellers

    • Dessalator 100l/hr Watermaker

    • Batteries - 600ah at 48v of Victron Lithium Batteries (28.8KW!)

    • Over 2,500W of Solar

    • Integrel Solutions 48V High Output Alternators

    • Victron 120V & 230V inverters.

    • Mainsail - 106 m2 / 1,141 ft2 - Full battens for maximum power with three reefs, utilizing single-line reefing from the cockpit for quick sail changes.

    • Working Jib - 43 m2 / 461 ft2 - Self tacking jib on roller furler.

    • Furling Staysail and Storm Jib on Removable Inner Stay

    • Spinnakers - Equipped with two flying headsails - 88 m2 / 947 ft2 Code 0 and a 240 m2 / 2,582 ft2 asymmetric spinnaker, both on furlers.

  • The Balance 526 is equiped with three private double cabins. The guest cabins are located in the port hull, separated by a separate shower and head facilities. Each cabin has plenty of stowage, ample ventilation, and fantastic views. Your captain and first mate are located in the starboard cabin, which is also equiped with shower and head facilities.

  • Centrally located, the galley is at the heart of our sailing. It offers a four-burner induction stove, convection microwave oven, coffee maker, and a voluminous double sink. We have lots of food storage in the double-stainless steel pull-out fridge and freezers. Great food makes for a happy crew!

  • In certain situations, we may utilize the AST Tender to shuttle persons and supplies to and from shore. When not in use she is simply stowed under sturdy aft davits for easy launch and retrival.

 FAQโ€™s

  • None! Whether youโ€™re new to sailing and cruising or just multihull curious, no prior experience is required. We only ask for a sense of adventure and a positive attitude.

  • All prices are listed in each passage, and are priced per cabin, with up to two persons per cabin, your option.

  • Costs cover all expenses while on the boat, including food, drink, dockage, fuel and port fees. You will need to provide your own transportation to the port of departure and from the port of arrival. Depending on the port, the boat might be in a marina, mooring or on anchor. If we are out in the anchorage, we will pick you up or schedule a water taxi.

  • Outer Passage offers coastal and offshore passages from the East coast of the USA, Caribbean islands, and across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Check our passages for upcoming salling locals!

  • Losing sight of shore is not for the faint of heart, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences. We encourage all soon-to-be sailors to try their hand at passage making while learning the ropes from expert sailors at Outer Passage.

    Itโ€™s ok if you arenโ€™t ready for that kind of voyage yet, we also offer coastal cruising passages which provide all the hands-on sailing you can muster, while enjoying a peaceful anchorage every night.

  • Living aboard is quite different than living on land. On our offshore passages, you will learn to sleep in shifts and sail at night. Everyone will be involved in every aspect of life onboard, from cooking and cleaning to navigating, weather routing, sail trim and hand-steering.

    On our coastal passages, you can get as involved as you want with the sailing, but we will take care of the rest as you enjoy life on the water or take a trip to shore.

  • As a crew member for our offshore passages, you will serve shifts called โ€œwatches.โ€ Basically, everyone will be assigned a watch in the daily schedule and a watch partner depending on experience and comfort level. Although our watch schedule is flexible, usually we rotate on 3-4 hour shifts.

  • We strongly encourage you to pack light. Keep in mind the itinerary and the season. Once signed up we will provide a more detailed suggested packing list.

    We supply bedding (pillow & sheets), towels, basic toiletries and personal flotation devices (PFDs).

    So just bring your own personal items in a soft travel bag - duffel or backpack. Hard wheely suitcases are strongly discouraged as they are difficult to store onboard - think carry-on sizes.

  • We take food very seriously aboard! We like to cook fresh and flavorful dishes, and simply eat good food. We believe this is a great way to keep the morale high!

    We will create a menu for the passage based on your food preferences and dietary restrictions, and stock the cupboards with a variety of snacks and drinks. All food and beverages aboard are included, however meals ashore are not.

    NOTE: For safety, we do not allow drinking alcohol on our offshore passages. So enjoy the journey, learn sailing and discover what the ocean has to offerโ€ฆitโ€™ll make your first cold one taste that much better when youโ€™ve earned it!

    • Offshore life raft (8 person)

    • PFDs and tethers

    • ePIRB & satellite phone

    • We are trained in First Aid and CPR with a fully-stocked medical kit to handle various medical situations. Please be honest with us about any medical conditions you have in advance so that we can be better prepared should any health concerns arise.

  • The number one concern about going on a boat is seasickness. Some people get it and some donโ€™t, but when you do, it can feel like one of the worst experiences. Luckily, it does eventually go away, between 24-48h, and usually the best cure is just getting sick and over with it, but here are a few remedies that we have found to help prevent seasickness.

    • Avoid going inside the cabins. Fresh air and looking at the horizon go a long way to help your inner ear.

    • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

    • Avoid alcohol, caffeine and spicy or acidic foods before departure.

    • Natural remedies such as ginger (chews, candies, ginger ale, tea etc)

    • Dramamine or other motion sickness drugs such as the patch - we tend not to use these because they can cause excessive drowsiness, however try taking these PRIOR to departure to see if this could work for you.

  • Take a look at our upcoming passages and fill out a new crew Sign Up form. If you have any questions or want to customize your experience please send us a message through the contact page.

  • Adventure beyond the horizon

  • Sail training for all experience levels

  • visit stunning destinations

  • hands-on sailing experience with every passage

Offshore and coastal Sail Training

 

Planning

Every successful passage begins with a thorough plan. Take part in all tasks required prior to hosting the sails. Together, we will delve into weather forecasting, routing, and safety procedures

hands-on

You choose your level of involvement in furthering your sailing education. We take a hands-on approach, putting you behind the helm. From trimming sails, setting the spinnaker, or making navigational decisions, our aim is to expand your knowledge and confidence as a sailor.

adventure

We love sailing aboard, but the fun doesnโ€™t stop there. Our adventures are always located in beautiful and picturesque sailing locations. After the anchor is set, enjoy a rewarding hike, invigorating swim, or simply relax and relish in the dayโ€™s experiences.

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