The Route
The great circle traces a circumnavigation unlike any other. Departing from Lisbon at the end of 2026 and returning to the Mediterranean in 2030, Red Dragon will cross five oceans and touch some of the most extraordinary destinations on the planet. Every leg is bookable separately — choose your moment and come aboard.
Portugal — Lisbon
The starting point of The Great Circle. Lisbon sets the tone ancient, elegant and facing the Atlantic. From here, Red Dragon begins its circumnavigation, following the trade winds west toward the Caribbean and the first chapter of the journey.
Caribbean
The first landfall after the Atlantic crossing. Turquoise waters, secluded anchorages and a warmth that welcomes you from the moment you arrive. The Caribbean offers the perfect introduction to life on board Red Dragon.
Panama
The gateway between two oceans. Transiting the Panama Canal is one of the great experiences of any circumnavigation a feat of engineering that marks the passage from the Atlantic world to the vast, open Pacific.
Galapagos
Where nature exists on its own terms. The Galápagos Islands offer an encounter with wildlife found nowhere else on earth above and below the water. One of the most extraordinary stops on the entire Great Circle.
French Polynesia
Emerald peaks, turquoise lagoons and atolls that seem to float on the surface of the ocean. French Polynesia is the heart of the Pacific remote, breathtaking and utterly unlike anywhere else in the world.
Cook Islands
Remote and unhurried, the Cook Islands offer a glimpse of the Pacific as it once was. Pristine reefs, warm waters and a pace of life that slows everything down. A perfect pause between open ocean passages.
Fiji
Over 300 islands, each with its own character. Vibrant coral reefs, exceptional sailing waters and a warmth of welcome that is hard to leave behind. Fiji marks the transition toward the southwestern Pacific and new horizons.
New Zealand
Auckland offers a world-class stop for rest and reprovisioning. Beyond the marina, New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes and exceptional cuisine make it a destination in its own right before the next chapter begins.
Southern Australia
The southern coastline of Australia offers dramatic scenery, exceptional wines and some of the most rewarding sailing in the hemisphere. A world away from the tropical Pacific cooler, wilder and equally compelling.
East Coast Australia
From Sydney to the Whitsundays, Australia’s east coast is one of the great sailing destinations on earth. Vibrant cities, secluded bays and the constant presence of a coastline that never stops surprising.
Great Barrier Reef
The largest coral reef system on the planet. Sailing through the Great Barrier Reef aboard Red Dragon is an experience that belongs on any list of the world’s great adventures above and below the waterline.
Raja Ampat Islands
The most biodiverse marine environment on earth. Raja Ampat’s waters are home to an extraordinary richness of life corals, fish and creatures found nowhere else. Remote, pristine and absolutely unmissable.
Philippines
Over 7,000 islands, countless anchorages and some of the most spectacular underwater landscapes in Asia. The Philippines offer a seemingly endless variety of experiences each island with its own character and its own rewards.
Palau
A legendary destination for divers and sailors alike. Palau’s crystal-clear waters, dramatic drop-offs and iconic jellyfish lake make it one of the most remarkable stops on the entire Great Circle.
West Coast Thailand
The Andaman Sea offers a landscape of limestone karsts, hidden lagoons and turquoise waters that have made this coastline one of the most iconic sailing destinations in Asia. Extraordinary at anchor, extraordinary under sail.
Maldives
An archipelago of coral atolls just above the surface of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives offer absolute stillness, extraordinary underwater visibility and a beauty that is almost impossible to describe and unforgettable to experience.
Seychelles
Granite boulders, powder-white beaches and waters of impossible clarity. The Seychelles mark the transition from the Indian Ocean toward the African coast a final flourish of tropical beauty before the journey changes character entirely.
South Africa
Cape Town and the southern tip of Africa where two oceans meet and the landscape is unlike anything else on the route. South Africa offers world-class cuisine, exceptional wines and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the world.
Namibia
One of the most unexpected destinations on The Great Circle. Namibia’s Skeleton Coast where the desert meets the Atlantic offers a raw, elemental beauty that stands in complete contrast to the tropical waters left behind.
St Helena
One of the most remote islands in the world, Saint Helena is a place where time moves differently. A brief but remarkable stop in the middle of the South Atlantic historic, unhurried and unlike anywhere else on the route.
Brazil
The South American landfall. Brazil arrives in May 2029 with colour, energy and extraordinary natural beauty from the coastline to the culture. A world apart, and a welcome change of rhythm before the final arc toward Europe.
Grenadines
The southern Caribbean at its finest. The Grenadines offer pristine anchorages, excellent sailing winds and an elegance that sets them apart from the rest of the Caribbean. A perfect reintroduction to the Atlantic world.
Caribbean
The Caribbean returns familiar now, but seen with different eyes after four years at sea. A final chapter of warm waters and blue skies before Red Dragon turns northeast toward Europe and the closing of the circle.
Miami & New York
Two of the great cities of the Atlantic coast. Miami and New York offer a final taste of the Americas vibrant, extraordinary and a world apart from the remote anchorages that preceded them.
Azores
The last stepping stone before Europe. The Azores rise dramatically from the mid-Atlantic volcanic, green and quietly spectacular. A fitting final passage before The Great Circle closes.
Genoa
The end of the circle. Red Dragon returns to the Mediterranean at the end of 2030, completing a journey of five oceans and four years. Genoa marks the finish but for those who sailed even a single leg, the journey never truly ends.