Viking Explorers

25/03/2025

Every year at the welcome ceremony in Grenada, the team shows participants an emotional video featuring photos from the event that they hadn’t seen before — a special surprise.
Click below to watch the Viking Explorers 2025 edition, and visit our YouTube channel to see previous editions.
We hope you like it as much as we do. And wishing all these participants fair winds, wherever in the world they are.

https://youtu.be/MC8Scnps43M

21/03/2025

Did you know that Managing Director Oliver Solanas Heinrichs personally signes each certificate by hand that is awarded to the participants during the welcome ceremony? This gesture highlights his dedication and appreciation for everyone involved, making the occasion even more special and memorable. It is a proof to his commitment to recognizing the huge achievement of the participants.
Pure Grenada Port Louis Marina Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Marina Mindelo

18/03/2025

Today, participants received the Rally Handbook for Viking Explorers 2026 via email. This PDF contains essential information about the event, including arrival protocols at the marinas, details on all activities taking place from December 2025 to February 2026 and much more.

What are you waiting for? Join the friendliest rally today! Visit our website: www.vikingexplorersrally.com.

17/03/2025

It’s great to have Port Louis Marina as our final destination after the Atlantic Crossing. Their team will assist you when you approach your berth and give you such a warm welcome. Here you can see the crew of SY Greta 3 from Viking Explorers 2025.

POV when you are entering a marina that welcomes you and has berthing masters on hand to guide you to your berth, book yours today,. Book a luxury marina berth with Camper & Nicholsons Marinas [link in bio]
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12/03/2025

Hydrovane has been supporting us since the beginning, back in 2018, and we couldn’t be happier to see that participants every year are satisfied with them.
Read below the review from Jonathan Paddle, captain of S/Y Merryn.

“We have been impressed with our Hydrovane, and glad we bought it. It fits with our approach to sailing in several ways. We try and have a “minimalist“ approach to power usage as our power generation capabilities are limited, so a manual self steering system helps conserve power compared to an autopilot. We also appreciate the back up that Hydrovane gives us: both as a back up steering option if the autopilot fails, and as a back up rudder if our main rudder fails (a particular concern sailing through Orca territory!).
We found our Hydrovane straightforward to use, although there is a bit of a learning curve, and it took time to get used to a slightly less precise direction control compared to a push-button autopilot. We used the Hydrovane almost the whole time from Gran Canaria to Mindelo, and for the first half of the main passage from Mindelo to Grenada. There are limitations (at least in our hands!): when the seas got steep with 4m swell, combined with dead downwind sailing, the roll of the boat as we surfed down waves was too much for the Hydrovane rudder to cope with and we had to revert to our autopilot. Even then, we were grateful we had the Hydrovane: it was a reassuring back up had the autopilot failed, and we were able to continue using the Hydrovane in conjunction with the autopilot, which reduced the work (and therefore power consumption) of the autopilot.
Overall for us the Hydrovane was a good buy.”
Hydrovane International Marine

09/03/2025

Time flies! It’s been one month since the welcome ceremony at True Blue Bay in Grenada, marking the end of Viking Explorers 2025.

Don’t miss Viking Explorers 2026—join the friendly rally now!
Pure Grenada Port Louis Marina Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Grenada Distillers LTD Mount Cinnamon Grenada Spice Island Marine Services Sevenstar Yacht Transport Budget Marine Sail-World Marina Mindelo

04/03/2025

Did you know that the small sailboat trophies awarded to participants during the welcome ceremony are handmade? Ángel del Rosario, a local stone carver from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), has been crafting them for the Viking Explorers for the past seven years. He works with stone from Arucas, one of the most beautiful villages on the island. We love to support local artists!

Pure Grenada Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Port Louis Marina Grenada Distillers LTD Mount Cinnamon Grenada Spice Island Marine Services Sevenstar Yacht Transport Sail-World Budget Marine

21/02/2025

Check out the adventure of S/Y Merryn across the Atlantic with Viking Explorers 2025!

A sailing voyage across the Atlantic in January 2025 onboard our 43 foot sailing yacht, Merryn, with the Viking Explorers rally. Starting in Las Palmas in th...

16/02/2025

We asked the participants of Viking Explorers 2025 to describe the event in three words. Check out what they had to say!

To register for Viking Explorers 2026, visit www.vikingexplorersrally.com.

14/02/2025

The last boat to arrive in the Viking Explorers 2025 fleet was So What, a Nautitech catamaran, captained by Stan, accompanied by his wife, Julie, their crew, Viola and Josep, and of course, their dogs, Ernie and Bertie. They received a wonderfully warm welcome from the rest of the fleet, who greeted them at night, along with the security staff of Port Louis Marina, who delivered the welcome rum punch.
The fleet gathered for dinner, where they received their certificates and gifts from the organization. They were also gifted with the basket on behalf of the Grenada Tourism Authority by staff of Port Louis Marina.
Welcome, So What! Congratulations on your incredible achievement!
Pure Grenada Port Louis Marina Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Mount Cinnamon Grenada Grenada Distillers LTD Spice Island Marine Services Sevenstar Yacht Transport Budget Marine Sail-World

13/02/2025

The Viking Explorers Rally 2025 fleet has successfully reached Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina on the stunning Caribbean island of Grenada after months of preparation.

12/02/2025

Sign up for is open now. Don’t miss the opportunity to join . Limited to 25 boats. To know more about the rally visit our website www.vikingexplorersrally.com
Pure Grenada Port Louis Marina Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Grenada Distillers LTD Mount Cinnamon Grenada Sevenstar Yacht Transport Spice Island Marine Services Budget Marine Sail-World Marina Mindelo

10/02/2025

On February 8, 2025, the welcome ceremony for the 8th edition of the Viking Explorers took place at True Blue Bay Resort. The event was filled with emotion and camaraderie as friends who had crossed the Atlantic together gathered to celebrate their achievements.

Oliver Solanas Heinrichs, Managing Director of the Viking Explorers, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome and invited main sponsors to the stage to welcome the sailors.

Tornia Charles from the Grenada Tourism Authority, expressed gratitude to the sailors for choosing Grenada as their destination. Zara Tremlett, Marina Manager at Port Louis Marina, also extended a heartfelt greeting to the fleet.

Sarah Evans ,from Spice Island Marine Services, and Lera Griffin from Budget Marine received a gift in recognition for their continued support of the Viking Explorers.

Oliver Solanas Heinrichs, Managing Director, along with Carlota Texeira, PR and Marketing L Director, thanked everyone for contributing to such a friendly group. Each participant had the opportunity to step on stage to receive some gifts from the Viking Explorers and its sponsors and to share a few words with their fellow sailors.

The fun prize-giving ceremony added an extra spark to the celebration. SY Voy, an Outremer 55 from 2023, was recognized as the newest boat, while SY Aquamarin, a Hanseat from 1979, earned the title of the oldest vessel. The award for the biggest sailboat went to SY Keep Kool, a Hylas 66 from the UK, while SY Seas the Day, a Fountaine Pajot 40, was celebrated as the smallest boat. The youngest captain was Jan of SY Aquamarin (born 1986), and the oldest captain was Joe (born 1949) on board Pixie Dust.

A particularly special honor—the “Spirit of Viking Explorers” award—was presented to Theo Teazis from SY Paloma, who embodied the rally’s ethos by building strong bonds with his fellow sailors.

The ceremony reached an emotional peak with a video presentation that recapped the unforgettable moments shared since the fleet first came together months ago. As the video ended, a traditional steel pan band started playing, and participants enjoyed an evening filled with endless cocktails and fun celebration.

A special thank you goes out to our sponsors: Pure Grenada Port Louis Marina Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Mount Cinnamon Grenada Grenada Distillers LTD Spice Island Marine Services Budget Marine Sevenstar Yacht Transport Sail-World PredictWind Imray Hydrovane International Marine Clarke & Carter Caribbean YACHT AGENTS GALAPAGOS Island Cruising NZ True Blue Bay Boutique Resort

It was undoubtedly a night to remember. Thank you to everyone for making this edition of Viking Explorers 2025 truly incredible. With the event now officially closed, we look forward to Viking Explorers 2026!

07/02/2025

Happy 51st Independence Day to Grenada 🇬🇩.
We feel grateful to have this vibrant island as our destination after an Atlantic crossing.
Grenada welcomed us with open arms and a warmth that feels so special.
One people, one journey, one future 🇬🇩
Pure Grenada

07/02/2025

On February 6, the Viking Explorers 2025 participants immersed themselves in the vibrant local market at Port Louis Marina. With the nation’s independence celebrations on the horizon, the atmosphere was lively and inviting—an ideal setting for mingling with locals.
The market was a success, featuring rum tasting, wine testing, and handmade jewellery, alongside an assortment of local snacks and fresh produce from Jenny’s Farmers Market. Lexi Fisher, author of Doyle Guide, was also present, delivering the new Windward Island Guide.
Thank you, everyone, for such a lovely morning!
Pure Grenada Camper & Nicholsons Marinas

07/02/2025

On the afternoon of February 5, Mount Cinnamon Grenada had the pleasure of hosting the Viking Explorers at Port Louis Marina, where sailors were treated to delicious food, refreshing rum punch, and the warm hospitality of Grenada. After an incredible journey across the Atlantic, the participants came together to share stories and enjoy a well-deserved evening of relaxation. It was a memorable gathering filled with laughter and camaraderie.
Pure Grenada Port Louis Marina Camper & Nicholsons Marinas

05/02/2025

On February 4th, the participants of Viking Explorers 2025 were invited to visit Spice Island Marine Services, a premier hurricane-safe boatyard, and Budget Marine, a well-known chandlery in the Caribbean. The event provided an insightful introduction to essential marine services in Grenada.
Upon arrival at Spice Island Marine Services, the group was warmly welcomed by Dane and Sarah Evans, owners of the boatyard. They guided participants through the facility, offering an in-depth look at the yard’s operations and answering all their questions.
Following the boatyard tour, the group made their way to Budget Marine, where they explored a wide range of products. The friendly and knowledgeable staff were on hand to assist, ensuring everyone found what they needed.
To round off the visit, the participants gathered at One Love Restaurant, enjoying some drinks and food with stunning views of Prickly Bay.
A big thank you to Budget Marine, Spice Island Marine Services, and everyone who joined.