The Beagle is named after HMS Beagle, in which Charles Darwin made his famous voyage to the Galapagos Islands, and later wrote his theory of evolution based on his findings in this extraordinary archipelago.
A magnificent 105-foot twin screw steel-hulled brigantine with teak decks and beautifully designed interiors, The Beagle is in a class by itself among sailing yachts in the Galapagos. She was built by Cubow Ltd. in Woolwich, England, in the 1970’s and registered with Lloyd’s (number Y 195095), but her designer is unknown. She’s been a charter vessel in the Islands for over a decade and has been substantially refurbished under her current ownership.
You will feel the sensation of space aboard the Beagle for kicking back and relaxing between your unforgettable visits on land. The saloon offers a small library of Galapagos literature, and a selection of games.
All around the wide decks, comfortable seating allows you to choose sunshine or shade for lounging and observation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board with the exception of the day you visit Puerto Ayora, when you will enjoy a meal in the highlands of Santa Cruz. Meals blend Ecuadorian and continental cuisine and are served on deck or in the saloon. Coffee and tea are available on deck, cold drinks including beer and a selection of wine and cocktails you may purchase from a well stocked bar. Refreshing snacks, especially at teatime, round out your daily menu.
A friendly and highly professional crew of six will attend you while on board: captain, helmsman, steward, cook, engineer and your certified bilingual naturalist guide. The guide will accompany you to all visiting sites within the National Park, providing a wealth of knowledge about the geological and human history of the Islands, and of course about every aspect of their intriguing flora and fauna.
Smart Voyager certificate
Because of a deep concern for the conservation of these Enchanted Isles with their increasing population of close to 25,000 people (2006), The Beagle’s management endeavours to use locally produced goods and services, maintaining its main offices in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. The Beagle has been awarded the Smart Voyager certificate, which is granted to tourist operations after careful inspection of their adherence to sound conservation practices.
Sailing in the Galapagos Islands
Wind and Sailing Conditions
The Galapagos Islands are located on the equator of the Pacific Ocean. The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), known by sailors as the doldrums, is the area encircling Earth near the Equator, where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge. This situation frustrated many pirates, buccaneers and whalers alike who sailed to Galapagos in search of fresh meat and water. Unfortunately, this phenomenon affects The Beagle’s capacity to use sails as the main form of propulsion to travel between the various sites on our itinerary.
When wind conditions, wind direction and bearing are favorable, rest assured we will use sails. We do raise our sails to stabilize the ship during longer navigations, these generally occur at night when most guests are sleeping.
Itinerary Constraints on Sailing
The Galapagos National Park is a highly regulated nature reserve. These measures are in place to protect and conserve the unique wildlife and landscapes of the archipelago. For this reason, all live-aboard vessels in the Galapagos Islands have an itinerary that is regulated and controlled by the Galapagos National Park Service, which is monitored via a GPS beacon. The goal of the itineraries is to minimize the number of visitors at any given moment on each site. The itinerary imposes times and effectively the navigation direction between sites, which are not always favorable for sailing.
Nonetheless, we were able to design The Beagle’s itinerary, to incorporate at least two diurnal crossings which have good conditions for sailing. So, you can enjoy the experience of wind in our sails.