Atlantic crossing by boat

If you have always dreamed of crossing the Atlantic but have never dared, this is the time to make it happen. You just need to enjoy the adventure and some time (around a month) to cross the Atlantic by sailboat.

The season to cross the Atlantic by boat from Europe to America begins when winter begins in Europe, which roughly coincides with the hurricane season in the Atlantic. Crowds of ships and navigators depart each year to cross the ocean and reach the Caribbean coast. This crossing requires great preparation and planning by the ship's skipper, since it is a long day at sea without touching land and it is necessary to prepare the boat properly.

There are no specific tactics to cross the Atlantic under sail, you just have to follow the basic navigation rules. The necessary supply consists of water, food, fuels and a navigation chart that shows the entire ocean.

From the month of November is when most of the boats from Europe that will take advantage of the season in the Caribbean usually leave. It is in this month when the hurricane season is over and the crossing is safer.

Most of the ships that cross the Atlantic leave from the coasts of southern Spain and Portugal, from the Canary Islands, Madeira or Cape Verde.

The Canary Islands is the natural port of departure for this crossing since from there we can take advantage of the trade winds that will push us towards the Caribbean coast.

The usual route of the crossings that cross the Atlantic from southern Europe to the Caribbean begin the crossing from the Canary Islands and some stop in Cape Verde, and from there set sail for the Caribbean ports.

The main danger of crossing the Atlantic by sailboat is tropical storms and hurricanes. That's why you always travel once the hurricane season ends, to avoid the risk of encountering these weather phenomena.

The route from Europe to the Caribbean is usually more comfortable since when the route near Ecuador is transcribed, the temperature is smoother during the whole trip.

The crossing of the Atlantic is a high navigation activity in which it is essential to plan the route to minimize the chances of finding bad weather. It is also important to trace the itinerary to be able to navigate with favorable winds and currents.

The crossing of the Atlantic starting from the Caribbean to Europe usually takes place between the months of April and June.

The usual route of crossing the Atlantic from the Caribbean to Europe is the Bermuda, the Azores and from there they reach the continental ports.

Normally a larger fuel reserve is needed on crossings departing from the Caribbean to Europe, since the Azores Anticyclone in summer can cause an absence of wind to navigate.


If you want more information, check out our blog article: Crossing the Atlantic by sailboat

Do not hesitate to ask us for more information, crossing the Atlantic by sailboat will be an incredible experience.