Contrary to what some might think, you don’t need a big yacht to do big cruising. Nordhavns of all sizes have taken on incredibly ambitious journeys, but some of the most noteworthy have occurred in boats 43 feet or less. What makes this most remarkable is not that a smaller Nordhavn can complete long passages and push through harsh conditions (after all, a Nordhavn is a Nordhavn is a Nordhavn). It’s that these voyages are achieved by daring duos who feel confident and capable enough to reach the loftiest cruising milestones within the most economical of settings.
The achievements of Nordhavn’s smaller models are certainly well documented. Take, for example, the Around The World circumnavigation of the N40 in 2001-02 or the the circumnavigation done by Eric and Christi Grabb in Kosmos, their N43, in 2007-09. But if there’s one thing a Nordhavn owner won’t do, it’s let the brand rest on its laurels. So let’s take a snapshot of what the smallest Nordhavns have achieved lately.
Nordhavn 43 Celt
Certainly one of the most ambitious of the lot has to be Nordhavn 43 Celt, which arrived on the Greek island of Corfu last week after spending a month in Crete. The eastern Mediterranean is just the latest stop on owners Angela and Gerry O’Dowd’s circumnavigation, which began in Florida 2½ years ago. Since then, the O’Dowds have covered an impressive 45,000 nm aboard Celt, including the recent completion of perhaps one of the more daring routes on its—or any yacht’s—itinerary.
Embarking just a week after the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict, the boat spent a trepidatious nine days transiting the Red Sea, during which it faced a sandstorm courtesy of 50 mph winds that further complicated passage through one of the world’s most volatile marine corridors.
Between the weather and political conditions, Angela said she wouldn’t want to do this part of the trip again, but admits, “As a Nordhavn, we had it much better than the sailboats that had to battle the Northerlies” and seek refuge in anchorages. Celt was able to plow through the headwinds and, at one point, even turned back so their group—otherwise comprised entirely of sailboats—could stay together.
Through the scary moments the O’Dowds experienced in the Red Sea, the couple showed that their abilities as a two-person crew were bigger than the challenges in front of them. “Passagemaking is not only about weather windows and engine checks,” writes Angela. “It is about composure under pressure. About preparation. About partnership.”
Along the way, they have visited 20 countries across four continents, crossed the Pacific Ocean, and transited both the Panama and Suez canals. The journey has provided unparalleled travel experiences and opportunities to encounter places most people have never heard of, but it has also been a source of cathartic introspection, giving them purpose and rejuvenation following the tragic loss of their son in 2022.
Now they continue ticking away the miles toward 50,000 on this journey. “Celt has carried on,” writes Angela. “And so have we.”
Nordhavn 40 Epic
In March, Marco and Karen Johnson earned their status as “Shellbacks” after crossing the equator en route to French Polynesia. Aboard their N40 Epic, the Johnsons joined five other Nordhavns, each separately making its way across the Pacific Ocean. On Monday they arrived in Papeete, Tahiti, and have already logged nearly 6,000 nm since taking delivery in late 2025.
That’s almost as much as they covered during one entire Great Loop circuit, which they completed twice in their previous boat, earning Platinum “Looper” status in the process.
But the Johnsons had never made a long offshore passage before. That changed when they purchased Epic and brought her down to Southern California to participate in the Nordhavn Taco Run, a rally around Baja, California, Mexico last November. They covered 1,000 nm in the Sea of Cortez in just over a week, getting a taste of what more ambitious cruising felt like.
Another Taco Run participant, Last Arrow, announced plans to continue west toward the Marquesas following the conclusion of the rally. The Johnsons decided they had both the confidence and the desire to do the same.
Marco points to lyrics from the song “Live Forever,” performed by The Highwaymen, when describing his and Karen’s cruising motivation. The Highwaymen explain it best when they sang, I’m going to catch tomorrow now. And that’s exactly what they did.
Following their arrival in Papeete, Epic will visit Moorea before eventually continuing on to New Zealand.
Extended trips on a two-person boat can be exhausting because the watch schedule is demanding. Having never experienced such a long-duration offshore voyage, the Johnsons had to figure out how best to manage their wheel watches.
“Our experience was tough,” Marco said. “But we made many adjustments to insure a safe crossing.”
A 40-foot boat does present limitations in speed, space and, without additional crew, any semblance of decent rest. “But,” says Marco, “the size of the boat does not limit where we can go.”
Nordhavn 40 Adliya
Last summer, Robert and Pia Galgut, aboard their Nordhavn 40 Adliya, made the 1½-day voyage from Scotland to the Faroe Islands, widely considered one of the more extreme ocean runs in the region.
The Galguts endured thick fog that never lifted during the entire passage. The absence of wind meant the fog was there to stay, forcing them to rely solely on radar. It was a small price to pay given the otherwise calm conditions. Besides, the radar screen remained mostly empty, save for the occasional fishing trawler appearing within a couple of miles.
“I wonder how many Nordhavn 40s have made it to the Faroes,” Robert said.
The wide-open North Atlantic surrounding the islands is notorious for rough, unpredictable weather. But visitors are rewarded with stunning vistas of dramatic cliffs and waterfalls. Typically reached via large ferries from Denmark or Iceland, the Faroe Islands see very few small pleasure craft arrive under their own power. And for good reason, as the Galguts discovered on their return trip to Scotland.
Currently home in England attending to business, they will be limited to local cruising for the remainder of the year. Plans call for Denmark and Sweden next year before gearing up for another major excursion—to Iceland—in 2028.
They’ll draw upon experiences from previous ambitious itineraries, most notably Lofoten, Norway, two summers ago, as well as the voyage to the Faroes, which Robert described as a “practice run” because it mirrors the first half of the route they plan to take to Iceland.
“It is tempting to think that we should plan to head south, say to the Mediterranean, where we enjoyed many sun-soaked holidays in our sailing days,” says Robert. “But we won’t be doing that as we have come to realize that Northern Europe has so much more to offer, particularly in terms of fauna and flora and the challenge that exploring less crowded waters and more remote lands brings.”
Nordhavn 41 Meraki
The adventure N41 Meraki has undertaken over the past few years has been thoroughly chronicled on our website and in magazines. Since taking delivery of the boat at the factory in Turkey, owners Thomas and Jan Newman have put more than 8,600 miles on her.
They spent their first two years of ownership extensively exploring the Mediterranean before taking on Europe’s canals. The original plan was to travel from Turkey via the Black Sea to the Danube and then up the Rhine. But the start of the Russia-Ukraine war made insurance coverage in the Black Sea unattainable. So they pivoted, developing a strategy that began their canal adventure in France.
They had to modify not only their itinerary but also the boat itself to ensure it would fit through the narrow rivers and low bridges along the route. Their tenacity was rewarded handsomely, providing them with a sheep’s-eye view of the region that few others—especially aboard a vessel also capable of crossing the Atlantic—have experienced.
Now lying in Wales, the Newmans will break for the summer and leave Meraki in the UK while they fly back to the U.S. to attend the birth of their first grandchild. They plan to resume cruising in September exploring Scotland and continue on a west-bound course, potentially taking them across the Atlantic to North America.
Why smaller sometimes is better
For the Newmans, the canal cruising they’ve accomplished would not have been feasible in a larger boat. Even in the N41, they touched bottom a number of times. Still, French canals notwithstanding, they believe the N41 is the perfect boat for them.
“It is a great boat for two and many of the things we consider essential are not found in other smaller Nordhavns,” says Tom, “including dual side decks, twin engines, safe stairs and a low center of gravity.”
Robert Galgut admits that sometimes he and Pia find themselves shoulder-to-shoulder within the confines of Adliya, but it’s rarely bothersome.
“It doesn’t seem to cause us an issue, I think because we are in a dynamic situation and always encountering new and exciting environments,” he said. “We stay focused on supporting each other in running the boat and keeping ourselves safe and comfortable.”
The coziness of the N40 is a reminder of all they have accomplished with just the two of them on board.
“We have absolutely reveled in the sense of achievement in getting to places—particularly wild and remote locations—under our own steam, and without being subject to the variabilities and disruptions that can come with traveling commercially,” he says. “Our fantastic Adliya is equipped with everything we need to keep us safe and comfortable. As long as her fuel tanks are full of diesel, we can be pretty much totally self-sufficient, which is how we like it.”