Experience the joy of sailing on board the good ship Steadfast! Built on the lines of a French pilot cutter from 1913, Steadfast offers guests a delightful experience of sailing in comfort and style. Our French Pass lunch cruise features freshly baked rolls from the ship’s stove, fresh organic produce, and a complimentary glass of wine….>/p>

French Pass is a picturesque little village at the end of a long but spectacularly scenic road, and the jumping off place for visitors to d’Urville Island. There is a range of options for accommodation, including a beachside DOC campground, and it’s a perfect place to just hang out and enjoy a day of just doing nothing (and the fishing is peerless!). Te Aumiti, or ‘the Pass’, is a narrow gap between the mainland and the island, where tidal streams reach up to 12 knots at spring tides, and create powerful eddies and whirlpools that can be viewed from a lookout on shore.

Departing daily from the wharf in French Pass, Steadfast offers guests a delightful experience of sailing in the sheltered waters of Admiralty Bay and along the coast of d’Urville Island. Guests are invited to help out with setting the mainsail (it’s optional), and you can hear the crew breathe a sigh of relief when the skipper turns the engine off - that first taste of silence, of being under sail alone, is one that we never get tired of! The ship heels over to the breeze, the water rushes past, and the power and responsiveness of this lovely vessel is simply wonderful.

Steadfast operates year round from her base in French Pass. Licensed to carry up to 34 day passengers, she also sleeps 7 guests in simple but elegant accommodation, and is available for overnight and private charter.