Transatlantic and transpacific: behind the scenes of the Tara schooner’s great voyages
In this article, we take a look at major ocean crossings. From the first ocean expeditions to modern shipping routes, we revisit transatlantic and transpacific voyages, as well as the winds and currents that make them possible by sailboat. We also take you aboard the schooner Tara, currently en route to the Coral Triangle, to discover the reality of a long-distance crossing through the testimonies of those who live and sail on board.
What are transatlantic and transpacific navigations?
A transatlantic or transpacific crossing is an ocean crossing, i.e. sailing far from the coast, covering several thousand nautical miles. These crossings are part of the great historic maritime routes.
The prefix ‘trans’ means ‘across’. A transatlantic crossing refers to a crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, generally connecting Europe or Africa to the Americas. A transpacific crossing refers to a crossing of the Pacific Ocean, the largest ocean basin on the globe, between the Americas and Oceania or Asia.
The first great ocean crossings
For a long time, most transatlantic voyages were concentrated in the North Atlantic, between Western Europe and North America. Long before the rise of large shipping lines, the Vikings had already reached North America, particularly the region they called Markland (now Canada).
However, the first regular and organised transatlantic trade route appeared in the 16th century. In 1492, Christopher Columbus made one of the first documented transatlantic crossings between Europe and the Americas. Other explorers followed, paving the way for trade and migration routes.
On the Pacific side, before the 16th century and Magellan’s voyage, Europeans did not imagine that it was possible to reach Asia by crossing the Pacific Ocean. For them, the Pacific remained largely unknown. However, long before the arrival of Western navigators, many Pacific peoples already lived and sailed there.
In the 18th century, British explorer James Cook undertook several major expeditions across the Pacific, mapping vast territories and improving knowledge of currents and winds. But he owed much of his knowledge of the ocean basin to Tupaia, a Tahitian priest and navigator who accompanied him as a guide and interpreter. Without this outstanding sailor, James Cook might never have reached New Zealand.
These early voyages were adventures of exploration. Today, these crossings have become strategic passages for global trade, ocean racing… and scientific research. Schooners like Tara are part of this continuity: no longer discovering continents, but better understanding the ocean.
Knowing your environment: winds and sea currents
The Atlantic Ocean is divided into two parts: the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic, stretching from 60°N to 60°S. Each basin includes a temperate zone (between the 30th and 60th parallels) and a tropical zone (from the equator to the 30th parallel). Between them lies a belt of high pressure: the Azores High in the north and the Saint Helena High in the south. Where the two tropical zones meet, there is a well-known band of low pressure: the ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone), also known as the Doldrums.
Long ocean crossings therefore rely on a detailed knowledge of the prevailing winds. Here are the main ones:
- Trade winds: steady winds blowing from east to west in tropical areas, essential for transatlantic voyages to the Caribbean.
- Low-pressure systems: a succession of low-pressure areas moving from east to west at higher latitudes.
- The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): an unstable area, sometimes windless, feared by sailors.
In the Pacific, wind patterns are similar, with vast areas of calm but also cyclonic areas depending on the season.
Ocean currents are very different from tidal currents. They transport enormous masses of water, both warm and cold, and are mainly driven by prevailing winds, forming large loops in the ocean and crossing different ocean basins. In the Atlantic Ocean, the main known currents are the Gulf Stream (warm), the Labrador Current (cold) and the Canary Current (cold). In the Pacific Ocean, the main currents are El Niño (warm), the California Current (cold) and the Equatorial Pacific Current (warm). The complex network of these currents can have a significant impact on navigation.
The schooner en route to the Coral Triangle
Tara Coral: understanding coral resistance to global warming
The schooner Tara has just crossed the Atlantic and then the Pacific Ocean, heading for the Coral Triangle for its new expedition, Tara Coral.
For 18 months, the scientific team will study why some corals are resistant to global warming and how to protect reefs in the long term. At 10 sites explored for 35 days each, a multidisciplinary team will analyse the ecosystem as a whole, with a focus on four different species.
The data collected will be freely available to guide effective conservation strategies for these essential ecosystems.
The crossing of Tara
To reach the Coral Triangle, the schooner Tara first crossed the Atlantic, then the Pacific: two long voyages before the start of scientific operations, scheduled for May, once in the area.
Departing from Lorient on 14 December, Tara completed its transatlantic crossing on 23 January in Panama. The crew rotation took place at the end of this first stage, a pivotal point between the two ocean basins. We then crossed the Americas via the Panama Canal to begin the trans-Pacific crossing on 29 January, with an arrival scheduled for 9 April in Tokyo, meaning more than two months at sea to reach Asia and gradually approach the study area.
The route taken can be tracked in real time via the MarineTraffic platform by clicking there.
Such a voyage requires rigorous logistics. Food supplies were stocked up in several stages:
- Provisioning in Lorient before the transatlantic crossing,
- Complete restocking in Panama before the Pacific crossing,
- Provisioning in the Marshall Islands.
Each stopover is essential to ensure autonomy and safety during weeks of sailing.
On board, sailors, assisted by volunteers and a few scientists who take readings on the waters crossed, ensure navigation. The study of coral reefs will begin in May, once they arrive in the Coral Triangle. All volunteers and scientists contribute to the watches, maintenance and daily life on board.
These long months at sea are an essential step: before beginning the scientific work, we must first reach the area to be studied.
Life aboard the schooner Tara during the crossing
Everyday navigation
On board the schooner, navigation never stops. Twenty-four hours a day, the crew takes turns on watch, day and night. This constant rotation sets the pace for the crossing: manoeuvres, visual lookouts, sail adjustments and weather routing follow one another without interruption. The night watches are particularly memorable.
Night shifts under the stars and the warm wind! I had never sailed in such latitudes before !
Sleep is fragmented, adapting to the shift patterns. Everyone learns to manage their fatigue in order to keep going. ‘Take care of yourself, manage your fatigue,’ sums up François, a sailor who has been accustomed to life on board for nearly twenty years. Between shifts, we sleep, read, watch the sea and enjoy these rare moments of disconnection.
‘Staying disconnected! Offshore sailing is finally a time when I have nothing to do. Eventually, the thoughts racing through my head at 300 miles an hour are seen and reviewed, giving way to a void that is deeply beneficial to my mental well-being,’ explains Léa, a volunteer.
Alongside sailing, maintenance is a constant task: checking the sails, technical maintenance, safety checks, cleaning duties.
I had no idea how much agility was required to be a sailor, both to move around and to climb the sails or squeeze into the holds
Coordination is essential. ‘There is such synergy between sailors, volunteers and scientists,’ emphasises Louis, the second captain.
The weather remains the ultimate arbiter. And the performance is surprising: ‘We’re sailing at an average speed of 7.5 knots, and several times we’ve reached 9 knots!’ notes Léa. Gabriela, a volunteer, is amazed that ‘Tara heels so little, even in strong winds’.
Living in a community, in a confined space, is an integral part of sailing. ‘When it works well, the collective brings a lot of energy. You have to nurture it,’ says Léo, the schooner’s captain. Kindness, respect and organisation are the keys to a precious balance. Between watches, meals, games and discussions, the group becomes a driving force. ‘Gathered together in a confined space for several weeks, the collective is our oxygen,’ writes Théophile.
As the miles pass, navigation becomes a demanding routine, requiring rigour, adaptability and constant attention. A well-oiled human and maritime machine is essential to bring Tara safely to port before the scientific expedition begins.
Testimonials aboard Tara
To conclude this article, here is a selection of excerpts from the logbooks of some of the volunteers aboard during the transatlantic and transpacific legs of the Tara Coral expedition.
Excerpts from the transatlantic crossing:
“We’ve been gone for a week. We’ve been sailing for a week. The first few days were rough, with winds reaching 57 knots and 6-metre waves. The sailors were shaken, some confined to their cabins, others out in the open air. Everyone had their own strategy for combating seasickness. Swell, wind, rain. The sailors, meanwhile, stay on course, weathering the storm, helped by Jérôme, who manages to feed the sickest among them and keep up morale with his feasts.”
21/12/25 Florine, volunteer on board
Morgann dreams of a full night’s sleep. Charlie is learning to play chess. Manu plays the ukulele. Titi tells jokes. Jérôme treats us day and night to playlists and recipes, each one more delicious than the last. Lola analyses plankton with unrivalled enthusiasm. Alex cheerfully finishes all the dishes while waiting for us to leave the EEZ. Gigi reads the sky with her sextant. Mélanie is writing a report on the tribe.”
23/12/25 Florine, volunteer on board
“Christmas on board!
The fun of Secret Santa: carefully thought-out crossword puzzles, exotic masks, a hand-stitched dictionary of the best American expressions, homemade biscuits and so much more… Everyone contributed something special.
But best of all was the pod of dolphins that came to say hello! Even the most seasoned sailors were moved by this beautiful moment.”
28/12/2025 Mélanie, volunteer on board
“Despite this never-ending quest, I can confirm, if you had any doubts, that the people aboard Tara, during this magnificent Atlantic crossing, are indeed good people. All of them, without exception. This social study confirms to me the original goodness of human nature. In each of their daily tasks, without complaint, without difficulty, without fail, cheerful, motivated and above all motivating, committed, willing and teaching. Each member of the crew on this cruise puts their heart and soul into their work. Manoeuvres, cleaning, washing up, tidying, cooking, DIY, check-ins, teaching, watchkeeping, games, scientific studies, various tasks, reading, naps, discussions, sharing and banter. Together, we form a real travelling society, rich in our differences and experiences.“
05/01/26 Thibault, volunteer on board
Excerpts from Transpacific:
“We are sailing at 9 knots, with a superb crosswind. The tops of the waves shimmer turquoise blue before breaking into foam. Down in the Ulab, between the cabbages and lemons, Guillaume, our scientist who studies plankton, is already busy: we have left the EEZ, so he can now begin his sampling. His task is to study how light is scattered/absorbed/attenuated by the particles present in seawater in order to analyse its composition.”
“”“Un groupe de dauphins passe nous saluer, je me dépêche d’aller chercher ma VFI dans ma cabine et en profite pour prévenir tout le monde que nous avons des visiteurs. A l’avant du bateau, ils sautent et jouent pendant quelques minutes avant de nager vers d’autres horizons. Je reste un petit moment à l’ombre du mât de misaine pour observer depuis la proue cet énergumène qu’est Tara : l’igloo semble s’enfoncer dans les fonds marins à chaque vague avec une allure de soucoupe volante. Le spectacle est hypnotique, et le vent qui souffle à 30 nœuds nous fait oublier la chaleur de nos latitudes encore tropicales.”
“A group of dolphins swims by to greet us. I hurry to fetch my PFD from my cabin and take the opportunity to let everyone know we have visitors. At the bow of the boat, they jump and play for a few minutes before swimming off towards other horizons. I stay for a while in the shade of the foremast to watch Tara, that crazy creature, from the bow: the igloo seems to sink into the seabed with each wave, looking like a flying saucer. The spectacle is mesmerising, and the 30-knot wind makes us forget the heat of our still tropical latitudes.”
“After eating, Anselm begins taking samples, which must be done when NASA’s PACE satellite passes directly overhead. His plankton DNA samples will be sent to a laboratory in Roscoff and then to Paris for analysis. During the procedure, the crew is prohibited from discarding anything into the sea so as not to alter the results with our own DNA. This means not using either of the two toilets or the sinks. Luckily, 1:30 p.m. is siesta time!”
02/02/26 Léa, volunteer on board
“We are hosting a tribe of masked madmen aboard Tara. They hold secret meetings on the cable connecting the two masts and regularly fly off to skim the sea.
Fascinating companions that you can watch for hours without getting bored!”
12/02/26 Anne-Laure, volunteer on board
“Very accommodating, Aeolus turned northeast and stayed that way for five days, without moving, propelling us quietly towards the Marshall Islands (with a few gybes and a peak speed of 45 knots). The only downside was that the yankee (headsail), which was a little worn, tore slightly. But it was quickly repaired.”
“Some might think that crossing the Pacific means being rocked by the swell and admiring the sunsets… Not so! There are daily manual tasks to pamper Tara. These are carried out by the highly professional crew, but also by volunteers who have a very suggestive little list at their disposal…
Everyone takes great care of the boat, which purrs with pleasure.”
21/02/26 Anne-Laure, volunteer on board