- Bátar spirit -
the great expedition
the challenge of the crossing
The expedition is Orkan’s big departure for New York. Our largest longship will return to the far northern seas she was designed for and complete the legendary crossing: sailing from Europe to New York via the Northern route. She will leave Brittany for Scotland, from where she will set off in early May. From there, she heads for the Faroe Islands, then Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, and finally New York.
On board, some thirty men and women ready to break two records: the fastest crossing of the Northern route by a modern-era longship, and the top-speed record for a longship.
To meet this ambitious challenge, three watchwords: Solidarity, Rigour and Transmission.
ORKAN is now looking for crew members to sail her. Around thirty sailors will be on board. Professional or amateur, new to sailing or experienced, you too can join Orkan’s crew. The crew will be mixed, made up of those who have shown the greatest determination, ability to learn, adaptability and team spirit.
- expedition -
17 stopovers
following Leif Erikson’s original route
Aboard our longship Orkan, we follow in the wake of the Vikings and legendary explorers. Heading for North America via Greenland, where sea meets ice and tells tales of old. Our expedition is an invitation to relive the epic of the great navigators, rediscover a taste for the unknown and write a new page of modern history together on the waters of the Far North.
- the expedition -
our approach
test
We will test Orkan’s technical capabilities and the strength of her materials in extreme sailing conditions.
experiment
The crossing will be a chance to put into practice everything we have learnt over the past 6 years.
raise awareness
We will use the crossing as a platform to promote the protection of the oceans and polar ecosystems. At every stopover, we will organise educational workshops, talks and meetings with local communities to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our planet.
- Bátar spirit -
training schedule
sailing school
In November 2025, Orkan joins her Mediterranean home port to begin sea trials and assemble her crew. From November to January, we will welcome the men and women who have applied for the crossing. Over several days, you will get to discover the boat, take part in the association’s life on the quayside and sail aboard Orkan on a multi-day passage. It will be your chance to discover longship sailing, begin your training and confirm your wish to join the crew for the crossing. For our part, our mission will be to pass on the Bátar philosophy, ashore and at sea, and to make sure that every person selected is able to grow, technically and personally, towards the ultimate goal: the crossing and its records.
In February 2026, Orkan will be moored in her final departure port in Brittany. The final crew comes together for two and a half months of intensive training, during which they will define and test the allocation of roles, organise the watches, perfect manoeuvres, plan the route, organise provisioning, prepare the necessary equipment and carry out the last maintenance work. At Bátar, taking part in an expedition also means preparing the boat and all the logistics that come with an adventure of this scale. As a member of the association, one of your missions will also be to take part in events organised by the association to welcome our public, sponsors and generous partners on board, at events ashore or at sea.
- Bátar spirit -
crew make-up and organisation
around thirty sailors
Orkan’s crew is made up of around thirty members who will later be divided, according to their interests and affinities, into 3 groups called watches. At sea, one watch sails the boat (sail trim, helming, navigation…), one watch keeps the boat and crew in working order (repairs, cooking, fitting out…) and one watch is off duty and uses its free hours to rest.
On board, this choreography is directed by the captain and the first mate, who work hand in hand with the watch leaders, as we have always done on our previous expeditions.
- Bátar spirit -
Crossing schedule and commitment
5 months of availability
We meet in early February on the Brittany coast, in the port we will set sail from. Intensive training with the selected crew begins in February. From that date until we reach the American continent, we need your full-time commitment for 5 months. The selected crew will be fed and housed near our departure base so they can devote themselves fully to training. For 2 months, the crew will prepare physically, technically and as a team for the departure. The goal: to build true crew cohesion and synergy – the kind that makes the greatest adventures at sea possible.
In mid-April, Orkan leaves her home port and puts to sea, escorted by the finest boats. She sets course for Scotland. In early May, the great crossing begins. The expedition will take 30 to 45 days, depending on weather windows. At the end of June, Orkan will cut through American waters to reach New York. Once the celebrations are over, a week of laying-up will be needed to carry out maintenance work before leaving her until the next adventure.
- expedition -
come aboard
a project open to everyone
Since 2017, Bátar expeditions have become the beating heart of our project, proving the performance of our ships, forging a unique culture around traditional sailing and training ever more people to sail. The transatlantic crossing will be the high point of our adventure: the moment we put to the test the quality of the training and know-how built up over the years.
Selection will take place throughout 2026 among people keen on the transatlantic crossing who have come to train aboard Orkan. The selection criteria are the ability to learn, adaptability at sea, managing stress and fatigue, and finally the will to work with and for the group.
crew make-up
3 watch teams
3 watch leaders
1 captain
1 cook
who for?
Amateurs and pros! Everyone aged 18 and over, men/women, adventurers at heart.
recruitment
-2026 -
registration opens
- november 2026 -
final selection
- early 2027 -
intensive training
- april 2027 -
departure from Brittany
key figures
8,500 km
45-day crossing via the Northern route
35 sailors
8 countries
31 ports of call and sailing bases with international visibility
FAQ
- Everyone (18+)
- Men/women
- Adventurers at heart
- 3 watch teams
- 3 watch leaders
- 1 captain
- 1 cook
Amateurs, pros, mixed
- Registration opens
- Trials begin
- Shortlisting
- Intensive training – 3 months
- Departure
host us in your town?
a berth in the harbour
A berth for a boat 28 m long and 6 m wide + water + electricity (to charge the boat’s batteries)
accommodation
Hosting a crew of 30 people.
events
Private hire, media coverage, tours, exhibitions...