The replica of Götheborg

The following itinerary is based on the average speed of the historic expeditions and subject to change on the basis of trial sailing results.

Leg 1: Göteborg to Cadiz, Spain (2,400 nm)

The Götheborg will depart from the city of Göteborg on the first Sunday in October 2005. The route to Spain will go north of Scotland and west of Ireland. The passage will take about 30 days. In Cadiz, which is a historic port, a 12-day stop is planned. There will be official receptions including a press conference, TV coverage and marketing activities in the program. The ship will also be open to the public. Maintenance work will also be done in every port. After six days the first section of trainees will be changed to the second section. The last days before departure will be used for training the new crew members.

Leg 2: Cadiz, Spain to Recife, Brazil (3,100 nm)

From Spain the Götheborg will sail south and then west, crossing the Atlantic and passing the equator to Recife in Brazil. The route passes two calm areas. With the trade winds and help by the Canary and North Equatorial sea current, the leg will take about 30 days. Christmas will be celebrated at sea. New Year 2006, however, will be celebrated in the port of Recife.

Leg 3: Recife, Brazil to Cape Town, South Africa (4,200 nm)

First, the Götheborg will sail south along the South American coast. It will then turn east against South Africa with the help of the west winds. The passage is estimated to take about 40 days. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful ports in the world. The stopover in Cape Town will be about two and a half weeks for a change of the professional crew.

Leg 4: Cape Town, South Africa to Fremantle, Australia (4,900 nm)

In the middle of March 2006, the Götheborg departs from Cape Town, rounds the Cape of Good Hope, and sets course for Fremantle in Western Australia. This is the longest leg of the whole expedition, 4900 nautical miles or about 9,000 kilometers. Strong west winds give a rather fast transit over the southern Indian Ocean of about 40 days.

Leg 5: Fremantle, Australia to Jakarta, Indonesia (1,800 nm)

From Western Australia the route continues north to the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. On the voyage the Götheborg passes the equator and the Christmas Island before arriving in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

Leg 6: Jakarta, Indonesia to Guangzhou (900 nm) and to Shanghai, China (900 nm)

In mid-June, the Götheborg will continue into the South China Sea. For four weeks, the crew will keep a sharp look out for pirates and typhoons. With modern equipment and support the dangers can be kept under control. In mid-July 2006, the Götheborg arrives at the so-called Tiger Mouth, where the Pearl River enters the sea. After lowering the masts in order to sail under bridges, the Götheborg will go up river to Guangzhou. The city will hold a grand ceremony to celebrate the revisit of the Swedish trading vessel after 250 years.

After a couple of weeks of celebrations, the Götheborg sails northward through the Taiwan Strait, arriving in Shanghai in mid-August 2006. In Shanghai the Götheborg will be used for business meetings and cultural events, and undergo a full inspection of the rigging and bottom painting. During the four-month stay in Shanghai, there will be a reduced crew on board.

Leg 7: Shanghai to Hong Kong (800 nm) and to Singapore (1,800 nm)

From the beginning of December 2006, the crew will be completed. The Götheborg will sail south to Hong Kong. Christmas and New Year will be celebrated in Hong Kong. Then the home voyage continues to Singapore, which has one of the world's largest ports. A 12-day stay is planned in Singapore, including a change of trainees.

Leg 8: Singapore to Mauritius (2,900 nm)

After the visit in Singapore, the Götheborg steers northwest towards the Indian Ocean. There might be another stop for refueling before starting the passage over the Indian Ocean. This is a relatively long leg with light winds. After a 40-day voyage, the Götheborg arrives in the vacation paradise Mauritius for refueling, taking on board provisions and exchanging trainees. On March 12, the crew of the Götheborg will join the celebrations for the National Day of Mauritius.

Leg 9: Mauritius to Port Elizabeth and to Cape Town (2,400 nm)

The voyage continues southwest in mid-March and the route will follow the outside of the island of Madagascar to Port Elizabeth in South Africa. This is also a sister city of Göteborg, which is why the welcoming will be very warm. After a week's stopover, the Götheborg continues around the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Town for changing the crew. In early May 2007, the Götheborg shall be ready to sail back across the Atlantic.

Leg 10: Cape Town to Ascension (2,500 nm)

Now, the legs start for the real sailing enthusiasts with long ocean sailing without land sighting. On the way to Ascension the Götheborg will pass Saint Helena, the rock island where Napoleon was kept prisoner after the battle of Waterloo until his death. Depending on the time schedule, there might be a short stop there. The Götheborg will arrive at the British island Ascension at the end of May.

Leg 11: Ascension to the Azores (4,700 nm)

On this leg, the blue ribbon of the expedition is won with about 50 days at sea. The equator and the calm areas must be passed. The route also goes around the high pressure southwest of the Azores before the Swedish East Indiaman can sail into Ponta Delgada on the Portuguese group of island. After a necessary stop of about 10 days with change of trainees, the Götheborg will be ready to start the final leg of her journey.

Leg 12: The Azores to London and Göteborg (2,600 nm)

This time the course is set towards the English Channel and with the persistent southwesterly winds the Götheborg can run free through the strait. After Dover the Götheborg turns to port and goes up the river Thames to Greenwich just outside London. On the prime meridian, that goes through Greenwich the ship will be proudly shown to English visitors before the final stage to Göteborg in early September. With strong following winds over the North Sea, the Götheborg will pass the Skagen Reef and will sight the lighthouse Vinga on September 12, 2007. Later on the same day, the Götheborg passes Fortress New Elfsborg, which fires a salute. Hundreds of boats and many, many more spectators on land are waiting to celebrate the happy return of the Swedish East Indiaman Götheborg to her homeport after nearly two years away. The Götheborg will moor at her new berth centrally located in the city.