News & Events

The latest news and scheduled events for Great Escape sailors

Coastal Voyage – Sail Training for intermediate to experienced sailors

Our Coastal Voyage is a new six-day sailing adventure exploring Northland’s coastal cruising grounds for intermediate to advanced sailors. The operational area for this adventure is from Whangaroa in the North to Whangamumu in the South, including the islands in the Bay of Islands and the Cavalli Islands, and is lead by a sailing guru who has over 400,000 ocean miles under her belt. You’ll experience the joy of sailing in New Zealand’s most spectacular cruising grounds, whilst gaining skills, knowledge, experience, and recreational sailing qualifications.

Steering the Course – World Sailing Women’s Sailing Festival

Great Escape Sailing with the Opua Cruising Club (OCC) is going to be holding three days of “Have a Go” to participate and celebrate in the World Sailing Steering the Course Festival and you can join us.

Sharing our beautiful Bay of Islands

NZ Herald published our insider’s guide to the Bay of Islands. As well as chartering a yacht or learning to sail with Great Escape, there are a whole lot more ways you can get out on the water and enjoy this special part of the world.

WOW #4 – A wonderful weekend of women’s sailing

Fantastic weather, great sailing, fun activities, and wonderful women sailors contributed to the success of the fourth annual WOW (Women on Water) in the beautiful Bay of Islands. From Friday’s social event, Saturday’s sailing, and Sunday’s adventures it was an event not to be missed.

WOW (Women on Water) #4 getting ready to cast off

Our fourth annual WOW (Women on Water) weekend is all on track for the end of April. Interest from women […]

Cruising Guide for the Bay of Islands

We’re very excited with the new Sail NZ Bay of Islands cruising guide version developed for Great Escape Sailors. The app provides comprehensive information and waypoints for all the major anchorages in our beautiful Bay of Islands so you can competently navigate this fantastic cruising ground.

Third Annual WOW another wonderful weekend

This year, the third annual WOW was our biggest WOW yet, with 33 women sailors. Some challenging sailing, with the now-famous shared meal (feast) ashore. New friends and old friends sailing together in a fun and safe environment.

Supporting Tongan kids sailing

Great Escape is proud to be part of the Opua Business Association (OBA) team sending a fleet of Optimists (Optis) up to the Va’vau Bluewater School in Neiafu, Tonga. It is a practical application of Great Escape’s commitment to sustainable Tourism, specifically Manaakitanga – showing respect, hospitality, generosity and care for others.

Advanced Sail Training

Advanced sail training course enabling sailors to gain the International Bareboat Skipper IYT (International Yacht Training) certification and Yachting New Zealand Level 3 Keelboat certification.

Opua Cruising Club Sponsorship

Keep up to date with the local yacht club newsletter “Tell Tales”.

Overnight at Urupukapuka

If you are a sailor on our two-day introduction to sailing course you can now choose Otehei Bay, Urupukapuka for your night aboard. This is a wonderful way to spend more time out on the water in the beautiful Bay of Islands. Cook aboard or enjoy the cafe ashore, explore the wonderful walking tracks, wake up to the chorus of birdsong.