Summary Ten weeks at sea - 7454 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean, through umpteen climatic zones; in cramped conditions onboard a nutshell exposed to sun, wind and high seas; with hard work, meagre rations, but the spectacle of a starry night sky: this is a journey into the past. In the autumn of 2004, a vintage sailing vessel travelled from Bremerhaven to New York with 19 passengers, 18 crew onboard and a TV-team. This documentary series is about how a group of people, who are accustomed to a modern standard of life, adapt to the far harder conditions their ancestors were exposed to in the 1850s. How do they do? Does their spirit of adventure triumph over the frustration of having to subsist on dried meat and rusk for six long weeks? What does it feel like to fight against fear, chapped and bleeding hands and seasickness? The conditions onboard the vessel emulate the historical conditions exactly, from the clothing of passengers and crew to equipment, food and accommodation available 150 years ago. "Setting Sail to the New World" tells the story of all the European emigrants who have made this journey over the centuries. Many millions tried to escape poverty, war, political oppression and religious intolerance in search of a better, brighter future. But this series does not simply tells us about history - it invites us to relive history. View more details

• Documentary