SAILING EXPEDITIONS

JANUARY 2026 — SAILING LIBERIA IN WEST AFRICA: SAILING VESSEL “REBELS” — THE FIRST PRIVATE NON-COMMERCIAL SAILING YACHT ARRIVAL IN RECENT RECORDED MARITIME HISTORY. 

Double-handed West Africa Sailing Expedition

Words from the crew of sailing yacht “Rebels” — LIBERIA — “A hidden paradise with some of the kindest, most welcoming people we have ever met. The staff of little heaven on earth — COCONUT COVE RETREAT, are our angels and our friends for life. Beautiful Liberia is highly recommended — to sailors, overlanders, and air travelers alike.” — Captain Robert Dalinger and First Mate Elena Levon.

“This moment belongs as much to the people of Liberia as it does to the vessel that arrived.” - Elena Levon

From 2023 to the present, the Polish-registered sailing vessel “Rebels” — Vagabond 47 born in 1989, co-owned by Captain Robert Dalinger (Austrian citizen) and First Mate Elena Levon (Russian and American citizen), has been undertaking an uncharted West African sailing expedition — north to south, “the wrong way” — continuing toward South Africa and the Indian Ocean.

The expedition began in 2023 with extensive sailing around all Canary Islands, as well as Madeira and Morocco. In 2024, sailing yacht “Rebels” sailed from the Canary Islands to Cape Verde, then undertook a rarely attempted return eastward to the Canaries — against prevailing winds and currents, a route most sailors consider nearly impossible. During this passage, the yacht anchored in Mauritania and sailed along the coast of Western Sahara.

Later, in 2025, sailing yacht “Rebels” again sailed from the Canary Islands to Cape Verde, then continued south along the West African coast, stopping in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone. Notably, the passage through Guinea-Bissau took place during a period of political instability following a recent coup d’état, adding further complexity to an already challenging route, before continuing onward to Liberia.

In late January 2026, due to a mechanical failure, sailing yacht “Rebels” reached the Liberian coast entirely under sail. With no established anchorage available, the crew carefully navigated and identified a safe anchoring position near Bullom Town Point, close to the locally owned COCONUT COVE RETREAT, where the yacht remained at anchor for one week, awaiting spare parts.

To the best of available records and local testimony, sailing yacht “Rebels” is the first documented private, non-commercial sailing yacht to anchor along the Liberian coast in recent recorded maritime history. While large cruise ships have occasionally called at the port of Monrovia, there is no public record of independent, non-commercial sailing yachts anchoring along Liberia’s shoreline.

All widely available West Africa cruising guides end in Guinea-Bissau, leaving this stretch of coast effectively outside established cruising routes. Throughout the stay, local residents, the exceptional staff of COCONUT COVE RETREAT, and Liberian officials went above and beyond to assist the crew of sailing yacht “Rebels”, offering guidance, support, and remarkable hospitality.

Footnote:

There are no publicly documented visits by private pleasure sailing yachts to Liberia prior to sailing yacht “Rebels”, based on available internet archives, cruising references, and local accounts at the time of writing.

There are many “Black Pearls” in the world, but only 1 “REBELS”

She has been caught in 7 meter breaking waves, journeyed “impossible” route against winds and strongest current, had autopilot and engine failures, in the middle of Atlantic Ocean and still is thirsty for more adventures, same as her crew...

Yes, all of us, are not exactly “young” in passport numbers, but we have something that no amount of grey hair and squeaky wood can take away...…

Statistics 2026

• Vagabond 47 Ketch “Rebels” born in 1989

• Canaries (all islands) Morocco, Cape Verde (twice) Mauritania, Portugal, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia — Sailed 7,000+ nautical miles

  • 2 pairs of hands / 3 passports / 4 flags

• 1 sail sold to a possible South American drug cartel

  NOW — SAILING WEST AFRICA

  
  Timeline

  
  February 2023 - world explorers Robert Dalinger and Elena Levon became co-owners of “Rebels”.

  “I have never sailed before... Some might say "She's mad" ... and they would be right. I am mad. Mad enough to go after dreams, which could crash against reefs, not enough skill and get swallowed by storms, but not to go after them, would be deadly to our spirits.” — Elena Levon

  2024 - Anchored in Mauritania and sailed along the coast of West Africa BACK to Canaries from Cape Verde taking THE INFAMOUS EAST ROUTE, instead of West. Captain Robert celebrated his 55th Birthday on 5th of February while sailing to Cape Verde. On 27th of March I celebrated my 40th year in this world in the Atlantic ocean and on land on the same day.

  
  What's Next?

  Starting September 2025 — Sailing Expeditions along the west coast of Africa and crossing into the Indian Ocean…