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TransAtlantic Speed Record: Will it Ever be Broken Again?

Posted by Greg Trauthwein June 22, 2015

The Incat built high speed catamaran Hoverspeed Great Britain, which broke the record winning the Hales Trophy on 23 June 1990, held the record and the owners held the Trophy, until 1998 when another Incat built ship Catalonia took the record in June 1998, then just a month later in July 1998 yet another ship built by Incat, CatLink V broke the record.

Will the prestigious TransAtlantic speed and endurance record ever be broken? Should it?

Twenty five years ago headlines around the world announced a new world record, the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, by a ship built in Australia.

Incat Tasmania reports that June 23, 2015, marks 25 continuous years that Incat built fast ships have held the record for the fastest Transatlantic Crossing.

On 23 June 1990 Hoverspeed Great Britain, a ship (Incat hull 025) built by Incat in Tasmania, for operation between England and France by Sea Containers Ltd, broke the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by a commercial passenger ship. The crossing from Ambrose Light at New York commenced at 7.30pm on June 19, 1990 ending her 2922 mile trip at Bishop Rock in the UK on the morning of 23 June.

The Hales Trophy is awarded to "The Ship which shall for the time being, have crossed the Atlantic Ocean at the highest average speed".. …So it is not simply reaching the highest speed momentarily, the right to fly the Blue Riband is a test of endurance as well, because the high speed needs to be maintained over the entire crossing (naturally slower at the beginning with a full fuel load and becoming faster at the end of the journey).

The previous record had been held for 38 years by the SS United States (1952 - 1990), prior to the SS United States win, the great liners vied for the honour to fly the Blue Riband. The Incat built high speed catamaran Hoverspeed Great Britain, which broke the record winning the Hales Trophy on 23 June 1990, held the record and the owners held the Trophy, until 1998 when another Incat built ship Catalonia took the record in June 1998, then just a month later in July 1998 yet another ship built by Incat, CatLink V broke the record. It was the first time in the history of the transatlantic records (dating back to the 1860s) that three ships to win the trophy in succession had been built by the same shipyard.

There have been no challenges to the record which was set in July 1998, and none in sight. The current record is 41.284 knots (76.5 km/ per hour) average over two days, 20 hours and 9 minutes. The Hales Trophy is a heavily gilded ornate trophy over one metre in height and is on display in the Fast Ferry Museum located at the Incat shipyard in Hobart. The ship then known as Hoverspeed Great Britain is now operating as Cosmos Jet for Sea Jets in Greece.

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Crossing The Atlantic By Motor Yacht? Everything You Need To Know

A yacht can travel both the Pacific and Atlantic seas. A sailing boat or a motor yacht may span the Pacific and Atlantic seas. It’s preferable to have a tank large enough to store the amount of fuel you’ll be burning.

Not all yachts, however, are capable of undertaking these journeys. If you intend to sail across any of these seas, be sure you have an ocean-going boat as well as the necessary equipment and abilities.

Some yachts will not have enough fuel to make the journey and will be transported aboard specially constructed freighters.

In this essay, I’ll go over some of the key facts concerning yachts that you should be aware of before embarking on your journey.

How Long Does it Take to Sail Across the Atlantic?

Sailing across the Atlantic takes roughly 3-4 weeks, but if you’re lucky, use shortcuts, and have a speedy sailboat, you can accomplish it in two weeks. It might take up to a month if you don’t get enough wind for a week or longer. It’s critical to know the shortcuts, optimize speed, and have cross-Atlantic sailing expertise.

How Far Can a Yacht Travel?

In an 8-hour day, a powered boat of 35 feet in length can go over 200 miles at a speed of 25 knots. They can cover about 300 miles in a day at 35 knots. You can go thousands of kilometers if you have adequate gasoline or fill-ups.

Can a Yacht Cross the Atlantic Ocean?

A typical powered boat would require a tank with a capacity of roughly 5000 gallons of petrol and a fuel efficiency of 2.5 nautical miles per gallon to traverse the Atlantic.

This is based on a gasoline consumption rate of 4 gallons per hour at a cruising speed of 10 knots. Of course, this is at cruising speed. They can’t keep going at top speed for an extended amount of time (which would burn through the fuel faster).

The voyage (about 3,000 miles) would take 300 hours or 12.5 days at 10 knots.

Every year, sailing boats cross the Atlantic since the only fuel they use is to power generators that power aboard equipment.

When the weather isn’t cooperating, some fuel may be utilized to power the boat.A fast boat traveling at 25 knots takes roughly 4–5 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean. In a sailing yacht, though, it would take longer (which also depends on the winds).

We have a lot more information on which boat types are capable of crossing oceans. If you’re thinking of taking a boat journey across the oceans, this is a must-read.

Read more: Boat Fuel Tank Vent Open or Close (What to do?)

How Large Does A Boat Need To Be In Order To Cross The Atlantic Ocean?

To cross the Atlantic, you’ll need a boat that’s at least 30 feet long, whether you’re sailing or motoring. For safety and comfort, your boat should be at least 40 feet long. Although the experience of sailing or motoring across the Atlantic is vastly different, both require a boat of this size. If you plan on having a crew on board, you may need a boat that is much larger. Why do you need a 30 or 40 foot boat when you can cross the Atlantic with a lot smaller boat? The simple answer is that attempting to cross in anything smaller may be extremely risky and inconvenient. Here are a few reasons why you should get a boat at least this size:

Seaworthiness

You don’t want to be stranded in a tiny boat as the waves start to rise. In the Atlantic, boats significantly larger than 30 or 40 feet are often sunk due to bad weather.

If you go any smaller, you run the danger of being sunk in a storm. Make the mistake of assuming you can organize your vacation around the possibility of bad weather.

Storms may appear out of nowhere in the unpredictable Atlantic Ocean, and any vessel could be caught off guard, regardless of the season. Although not every 30 or 40-foot yacht is seaworthy enough to cross the North Atlantic, this size is a minimum need for ocean navigation.

Supply Storage

Even if you want to conduct as much open-ocean fishing as possible while crossing the Atlantic, you’ll need to have supplies. You should have enough food and drink for everyone in your crew to last the whole voyage.

Keep in mind that crossings can take longer than expected, so make sure you have adequate supplies to account for delays. You’ll need to reserve gasoline if you’re crossing in a motorboat or if you have a backup motor for your sailboat.

You may need a larger boat if you need to store a lot of provisions for your voyage. Too much weight can cause your boat to sink in the water, making even a seaworthy boat much less seaworthy. A boat that is too low in the water might be swamped by waves more quickly.

Before you load up your boat and set out on the water, be sure you know how much it can securely handle.

Comfort Of The Crew

Until you’ve spent a few weeks out on the open sea aboard a 30 or 40-foot boat, it may appear to be rather large. If you want to enjoy your passage, you’ll need a boat large enough for everyone on board to have their own space and stretch their legs at regular intervals throughout the journey. Even with a one- or two-person crew, 30 to 40 feet is required to achieve this aim.

Crossing The Atlantic In A Motorboat

You might be surprised to learn how much gasoline it takes to cross the Atlantic in a powerboat. Simply storing all of that fuel aboard your yacht can take up a lot of space.

Fuel should not be utilized for longer than 90 days in most cases. This should be enough time for you to cross the Atlantic, but it could not be. You may preserve fuel for up to six months or even two years if you use a fuel stabilizer or don’t mix it before use.

Fuel storage will require a large portion of your entire storage space. For the same journey, you could require a larger motorboat than a sailboat.

The advantage of crossing in a motorboat is that, while it may require more storage and gasoline, utilizing it instead of the wind for movement may make your route much more predictable. A speedboat can move in nearly any situation except particularly severe and inclement weather, but a sailboat must wait for the wind to be right to make headway. As a result, you won’t need as many resources to prepare in case you don’t arrive at your location on time.

Enjoy Your Crossing

It’s difficult to imagine a more thrilling experience than sailing the Atlantic Ocean on your own boat. You will most likely have a very pleasurable vacation whether what kind of boat you choose, as long as you choose a boat of at least 30 or 40 feet and plan wisely.

3 speed records smashed by Comanche

Comanche breaks the transatlantic speed record.

Sailing superyacht Comanche has set a new record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean after completing her latest Transat on July 28.

The 30.45 metre carbon-fibre yacht sailed from New York’s Ambrose Lighthouse to the UK’s Lizard Point in 5 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes and 25 seconds. This new speed record for a sailing monohull, which is subject to ratification, shaves 27 hours off the previous fastest time previously set in 2003 by Mari Cha IV (which has since been refitted and renamed Samurai ).

Prior to Comanche ’s departure from New York on July 22, skipper Ken Read, president of North Sails, said: “We have been on standby for a few weeks now and have almost left on three separate occasions since the end of June. But now the right conditions have presented themselves.”

Read’s media commitments at the 2016 America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth meant he could not be on board for the record-breaking crossing. In his absence, Comanche ’s crew was led by Casey Smith.

The success of Comanche – the sailing yacht built to win – follows her second place finish at the 2014 Sydney Hobart race .

This Transatlantic speed record is just the latest in a remarkable series of records broken by Comanche .

Comanche sets a new 24-hour distance record

The Transatlantic speed record comes 12 months after Comanche set a new 24-hour distance record for monohulls. The record was broken during the 2015 Transatlantic Race after Comanche covered 618.01 nautical miles in 24 hours.

Her average speed was recorded as 25.75 knots, on the cusp of some strong southwesterly winds in the North Atlantic. The 24-hour distance record has since been ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

Comanche sets a speed record at Les Voiles de St Barth

After she failed to win the 2014 Sydney Hobart race on her maiden regatta, the first half of 2015 saw Comanche come into her own and deliver in every conceivable way.

In an April showdown with a fleet of some of the world’s finest sailing yachts at Les Voiles de St Barth 2015 , Comanche established a speed record in the Maxi I class with a time of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 4 seconds, taking all line honours in her division.

Best Yachts for Transatlantic Crossing: Our Selection and Advice for 2023

Sailing across the Atlantic is more than just an item on a bucket list for sailors. It’s how you get your boat to new horizons, whether to cruise the Caribbean islands or explore the waters around Europe. It’s a big undertaking and requires serious planning and a solid sailing vessel. You can cross the Atlantic by yourself, with a rally of like-minded racers and cruisers, or as part of a highly competitive race. But no matter how you go, the choice of a good sailing yacht lies at the foundation of a safe and enjoyable crossing.

What does a boat need for a transatlantic crossing?

If you choose to do your transatlantic crossing with a rally or race, you’ll have to meet a stringent list of required equipment and safety checks. That’s easier because you have the lists right in front of you, and a team of inspectors to check your work. Preparing for a crossing with just one boat, the captain has to take all the responsibility and know what to check.

Sailing across the Atlantic is a serious undertaking, and you will sail out of range of shore-based rescue and into rapidly changing and possibly severe weather systems. You will have several thousand miles of nonstop sailing and may be at sea for several weeks.

What you must have

Any boat sailing across the Atlantic needs solid construction and a sound rig, a reliable auxiliary engine, and enough stores for food and water for the crew. That’s a bare minimum. Every boat needs to be checked from stem to stern to make sure systems are reliable, many older boats can certainly make this trip, and not every new boat is suitable.

Some tiny boats have crossed the Atlantic, so minimum size isn’t a requirement. What successful boats have in common is a solid hull and rig, with reliable sails and systems.

Most transatlantic yachts have a lot more

You can cross the oceans with a lightly equipped boat with few conveniences or extra safety gear, but most do not. A few things to look for on your boat include:

An EPIRB satellite rescue beacon .
Long range communication devices, such as satellite phones and single sideband radios.
Certified life raft with space for all crew on board.
Storm sails
Storm safety gear such as drogues or sea anchors.
Access to up-to-date weather forecasts and reports.

Do not head offshore without these

The list of required equipment for races and rallies is exhaustive, and many of the requirements are exacting and expensive. No one is enforcing compliance when you sail on your own. But there are a few things you should not head offshore without.

A reliable auxiliary engine. If the wind dies and you need to dodge bad weather, this can be a lifesaver.
Access to good, current weather information.
Reliable sails. Have all sails inspected by a sailmaker for wear and damage before setting out.
A life raft. If you run into serious problems and lose your boat, this is your last hope for rescue.
Spare parts and tools for common repairs.

Read also: 10 Sailing Myths And Bad Advice You Shouldn’t Listen To

What experience do you need to do a transatlantic?

A transatlantic crossing is a major sailing milestone for experienced sailors. The north Atlantic is no place for new sailors and beginners, unless they’re with competent and experienced crew or a qualified captain.

If you’re thinking of a transatlantic crossing on your own, you’ll need experience with multi-day, nonstop passages. Sailing offshore is twenty-four hours a day and nonstop, there’s no place to park. Experience with night sailing, standing watches, navigation, provisioning, and basic engine and system troubleshooting are all a must.

Read also: Five Easy Beginners-Friendly Sailing Trips And Destinations

Chartering a yacht – a great option for less experienced sailors.

Charter fleets make seasonal moves from Europe to the Caribbean are an excellent way to get offshore sailing experience. Charter companies provide a captain and first mate, but you can reserve a spot and fill the roles of a full crew member, standing watch and sailing far offshore.

Many boats are also available for charter in cruising rallies, races, and deliveries. You’ll need to hire a captain with the needed offshore experience, but you may come away with enough experience to skipper your own yacht the next time.

The best yachts for a transatlantic crossing

There are many yachts which are suitable for a transatlantic passage. Some will be less expensive, some will be more comfortable, faster, or better suited to you, your experience, and your budget.

NEEL 51: Fast and easy to sail trimaran

The NEEL 51 is a fast, comfortable trimaran suited to a smaller crew. It’s spacious, but easy to handle while putting up double digit speeds and 200+ mile days. Trimarans can be a little more sea-kindly in waves and chop than catamarans, and don’t heel hard like monohulls. A protected helm station gives great protection offshore and good visibility, and there space on board for plenty of crew and guests.

The racing version of the NEEL 51 is built with lighter materials, and features a larger rig to project more sail area for more speed, while still affording the same luxury and comfort at anchor.

More info about our Neel 51 available for charter

Outremer 5X: High-speed catamaran sailing

The Outremer 5X offers top tier performance and comfort in a single passage. Sustaining double digit speeds with east, the Outremer 5X is one of the fastest cruising catamarans on the market. Outremer is known for both performance and quality, and your transatlantic trip will be fast and safe.

With four different helm stations, she’s a sailing boat foremost. It’s designed for a small crew, even when tearing up the ocean on a fast passage. With options for three or four cabins and a cockpit that can fit a dozen people, she’ll be as comfortable when you arrive as she is fast on passage.

Hallberg-Rassy 57: Sturdy monohull with elegance and speed

Hallberg-Rassy builds tough cruising yachts, and the 57 is no exception. While monohulls don’t put up the blistering speeds you’ll find in multihulls, the Hallberg-Rassy 57 is no slouch and can log 200 mile days. Most offshore sailing and cruising is done in monohulls, and blue water sailors love their stability and seakindliness across all conditions.

The Hallberg-Rassy 57 has generous accommodations, and loads of capacity for gear supplies. The deck layout is clear, and lines and controls are laid out for easy use with a small crew. With a performance design by German Frers, the 57 sails well on all points of sail.

There are many choices for the best boat for you for a transatlantic crossing. No matter which boat you choose for your transatlantic and how you go – on your own, or on a charter – preparation is key. Your boat needs to be equipped with a full range of safety gear, and checked from top to bottom so you know your sails, hull, and engines will get you where you’re going.

Read also: The Caribbean To Mediterranean Sailing Routes: How To Cross The Atlantic Eastward

Crossing the Atlantic by Motor Yacht Routes

Crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht is a challenging but rewarding experience. There are a number of different routes that you can take, and the best route for you will depend on your experience, the type of boat you are sailing, and the time of year you plan to sail.

Here are some of the most popular routes for crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht:

The North Atlantic Route: This route is the most direct route across the Atlantic Ocean. It starts in Europe and ends in the Caribbean. The North Atlantic Route is generally the fastest route, but it can also be the most challenging. The weather conditions in the North Atlantic can be unpredictable, and there is a risk of encountering icebergs.
The South Atlantic Route: This route is less direct than the North Atlantic Route, but it is generally considered to be safer. The South Atlantic Route starts in Europe and ends in South America. The weather conditions in the South Atlantic are more stable, and there is no risk of encountering icebergs.
The Azores Route: This route is a good option for those who are looking for a more leisurely crossing. The Azores Route starts in Europe and ends in the Azores Islands. The Azores Islands are a group of volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. They offer a safe haven for yachts crossing the Atlantic, and they also offer a variety of amenities and attractions.

No matter which route you choose, it is important to do your research and plan carefully. You should also make sure that you have the proper safety equipment on board, and that you are familiar with the weather conditions and hazards that you may encounter.

Here are some additional tips for crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht:

Plan your route carefully. There are a number of different routes that you can take across the Atlantic Ocean. It is important to plan your route carefully and to choose a route that is appropriate for your experience and the time of year you plan to sail.
Check the weather forecast. It is important to check the weather forecast before you set sail. The weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean can change quickly, so it is important to be aware of the potential hazards.
Have the proper safety equipment on board. It is important to have the proper safety equipment on board your yacht, including life jackets, flares, and a first-aid kit.
Be prepared for the worst. The Atlantic Ocean is a large and unpredictable body of water. It is important to be prepared for the worst, and to have a plan in place in case of an emergency.

By following these tips, you can help to ensure a safe and enjoyable crossing of the Atlantic Ocean.

There are many different ways to cross the Atlantic by motor yacht. Some people prefer to go straight across, while others choose to sail along one of the great circle routes. There are also a number of different options for stopping along the way, depending on your preferences and needs. Here we will explore some of the most popular routes for crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht.

Setting sail from the United States to Europe is an amazing adventure. While it’s possible to fly across the Atlantic, there’s something special about taking a leisurely journey by motor yacht. Here are some popular routes for crossing the Atlantic by yacht. The most popular route for crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht is from Newport, Rhode Island to Cowes, England. This route takes advantage of the prevailing winds and currents, making for a relatively easy journey. The trip can be done in as little as two weeks, but most people take four to six weeks to enjoy all that this amazing voyage has to offer. Another popular route is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Porto Santo in Portugal. This longer journey takes advantage of the Gulf Stream, which helps push yachts along at a good clip. Most people take three to four weeks to complete this voyage. No matter which route you choose, crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht is an incredible experience that you’ll never forget!

Crossing the Atlantic by Motor Yacht Routes

Credit: godownsize

What are Some Good Motor Yacht Routes for Crossing the Atlantic

There are many motor yacht routes for crossing the Atlantic, but some are better than others. The best route depends on the time of year, the weather conditions, and the boat’s speed and range. One good route is to start from Portugal or Spain and head west to the Canary Islands. From there, you can continue west to Cape Verde and then turn north towards the Lesser Antilles. This route takes advantage of the prevailing winds and currents in this part of the world. Another option is to start from Bermuda and head east towards Puerto Rico. This route is shorter, but it can be more difficult because of the strong trade winds that blow from east to west across this part of the ocean. Which route you choose will also depend on your destination. If you’re headed for Florida or the Gulf Coast of the United States, starting from Bermuda makes more sense. But if you’re headed for Europe or Africa, starting from Portugal or Spain is a better option. No matter which route you choose, crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht is an adventure that you’ll never forget!

What are Some Things to Consider When Planning a Motor Yacht Crossing of the Atlantic

When planning a motor yacht crossing of the Atlantic, there are a few things to consider. The first is the route. There are two main routes- one via the Canary Islands and one via Bermuda. The Canary Islands route is shorter, but has more potential for bad weather. The Bermuda route is longer, but generally has better weather. The second thing to consider is provisioning. A motor yacht uses a lot of fuel, so you will need to make sure you have enough onboard to get you across the Atlantic. You will also need to have enough food and water for everyone on board, as well as any emergency supplies that might be needed. Finally, you will need to consider the weather. This is especially important if you are taking the Canary Islands route. Check the forecast before you set sail and be prepared for any potential storms that could come your way. With some careful planning, a motor yacht crossing of the Atlantic can be a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

What are Some Hazards to Be Aware of When Crossing the Atlantic by Motor Yacht

When crossing the Atlantic by motor yacht, there are a few hazards to be aware of. First and foremost is the weather. The North Atlantic is notoriously stormy, and even in summer there can be strong winds and waves. It’s important to check the weather forecast before setting out, and to have a plan for what to do if conditions start to deteriorate while you’re at sea. Another hazard is pirates. While piracy is more commonly associated with the waters off Somalia and Indonesia, it does still happen in some parts of the world, including the Caribbean Sea and parts of South America. If you’re planning on sailing through any areas where piracy is known to occur, it’s important to take precautions such as hiring armed guards or sailing in convoy with other boats. Finally, there are also political risks to consider when crossing international waters. Tensions can flare up suddenly between countries, and if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time you could end up getting caught in the middle of a diplomatic incident or even being detained by foreign authorities. Again, it pays to do your research before setting sail and to have a contingency plan for what to do if things go wrong.

What are Some Tips for Making a Successful Transatlantic Crossing by Motor Yacht

When making a transatlantic crossing by motor yacht, there are a few key things to keep in mind in order to have a successful trip. First, it is important to have a well-equipped and well-maintained vessel. This means having all the necessary safety equipment on board and making sure that everything is in good working order before setting out. Secondly, it is crucial to have an experienced crew who knows how to handle the boat and the conditions at sea. Thirdly, it is important to plan your route carefully, taking into account weather patterns and currents. Finally, be prepared for anything and always err on the side of caution when at sea.

Atlantic Crossing in a 2019 Motor Yacht Lagoon 630

There are many ways to cross the Atlantic by motor yacht, but there are three main routes that are most popular. The first route is from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. This route is popular because it offers good weather and sailing conditions. The second route is from the Azores to Bermuda. This route is popular because it avoids bad weather and has good sailing conditions. The third route is from Newfoundland to the United Kingdom. This route is popular because it offers great scenery and wildlife watching opportunities.

Related: How Long to Cross the Atlantic by Motor Yacht

The fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic faces eviction from a pier

Matt Guilhem

In 1952, the SS United States won the famed Blue Riband, the prize given to the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic. On the record-setting maiden voyage, the ship went so fast some of the paint on the hull was sheared off by the sea. Courtesy SS United States Conservancy hide caption

The fastest ocean liner to ever cross the Atlantic — in both directions — has been languishing at a pier in south Philadelphia for more than twenty-five years. However, the days of the rusting SS United States calling at Pier 82 in the City of Brotherly Love are likely numbered. The 990 ft. ship that's bigger than the Titanic is facing eviction.

On her maiden voyage in 1952, the SS United States won the coveted Blue Riband from Great Britain. What came to be called "America's Flagship" crossed the Atlantic in 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes — besting the time set by the RMS Queen Mary by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the record.

That speed is no accident; the U.S. government helped pay for the ship. If the Cold War had heated up, the vessel could've quickly been converted to a troopship that could carry some 14,000 soldiers 10,000 miles without refueling.

Some of the biggest celebrities of the 1950s and 60s sailed aboard the SS United States, including film icon Marlon Brando and surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Courtesy SS United States Conservancy hide caption

Some of the biggest celebrities of the 1950s and 60s sailed aboard the SS United States, including film icon Marlon Brando and surrealist artist Salvador Dali.

In spite of the once classified design elements that went into the ship and a who's who of glamorous passengers that included stars and presidents, the vessel's retirement has seen it stare down scrapping a few times.

The latest threat, and potentially most dire, is a lawsuit from Pier 82's landlord.

"The lawsuit was brought by Penn Warehousing to evict the ship and to collect some $700,000 — $800,000 worth of what they allege was back rent," says Warren Jones.

He's a board member of the SS United States Conservancy , the nonprofit that's owned and overseen the vessel since 2011. He also sailed on the ship when he was 7 years old in 1961.

The SS United States has been at Pier 82 in south Philadelphia for more than 25 years The elements have taken a toll on the vessel. The giant ship looms large over south Philly and can be seen from nearby I-95. Matt Guilham hide caption

The conservancy claims Penn Warehousing unjustly doubled the rent during the pandemic for keeping the huge ship at Pier 82. The daily cost of mooring the vessel along the Delaware River jumped from $850 to $1,700.

"The rental agreement that they wrote and presented to us had no provision in it for escalating the rent and it even had no time limit on the lease as well," says Jones.

The ship was already at Pier 82 when the conservancy bought the vessel and entered into the agreement more than a decade ago.

Neither Penn Warehousing nor their attorneys responded to requests for comment.

Both sides argued their case before a federal judge, and the fate of the ship now rests in the hands of the court. Even if the conservancy prevails and the vessel can remain at Pier 82, the writing is on the wall.

"The ship needs a new home," says Susan Gibbs, the head of the SS United States Conservancy and the granddaughter of its designer, famed naval architect William Francis Gibbs.

Susan Gibbs is the head of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the ship's designer William Francis Gibbs. She views the ship as a powerful and unifying symbol. Gibbs fears if the ship is evicted it could be lost forever. Matt Guilham for NPR hide caption

Standing on the bridge of the mothballed ocean liner, taking in the view of the ship's sleek lines and sharp bow, Gibbs says the vessel's moment has come.

"She's ready to bust a move," Gibbs says. "She's been here long enough; she's ready to go to the next port of call."

While the conservancy has a multi-million dollar redevelopment plan for the ship that would see it return to the base of its transatlantic operations in Manhattan, that next port of call is a big question mark.

"There are a number of different possibilities, and we are open to any of them at this point," says Gibbs. "Time is of the essence."

New York, Florida, even staying in Philly have all been floated as possible options for where the ship may go. The conservancy said it would be open to the prospect of the West Coast if a space that could accommodate the liner could be found.

After decades of exposure to the elements, the SS United States looks every day of her 72 years. Rust has tinted vast swaths of the ship a ruddy hue, and the hull looks scaly and reptilian because of the flaking black paint. The vessel may be lacking cosmetically, but she's still got it where it counts.

"What's encouraging is that despite the peeling paint and the rust that we see as we are walking down the halls of the ship, she is still structurally sound," Gibbs says.

Her fellow conservancy member, Warren Jones, also says that while the ship could use more than a nip and a tuck on the outside, the bones are solid.

"The hull of the ship has been inspected over and over and over again at various points, and all the reports come back and it's in remarkable good shape," says Jones. "You just feel the solid structure of the ship as you walk these decks."

While the interior of the ship was essentially gutted during asbestos removal in the 1990s, the curvy original bar that served up countless martinis and old fashioneds remains intact. Matt Guilham for NPR hide caption

While the interior of the ship was essentially gutted during asbestos removal in the 1990s, the curvy original bar that served up countless martinis and old fashioneds remains intact.

Although the public hasn't had access to the vessel for ages, the conservancy is hoping the ship's next chapter has it full of life once again. Initially drawn up with New York City in mind, Jones says the redevelopment plan of the ship could be made to fit any port that'll have her. Along with a specialized dock for the old liner, the plan would transform the SS United States itself.

"It includes a refurbishment of the ship, entertainment venues, dining, a thousand-key hotel onboard," says Jones.

All of that, however, is up in the air. If the ship gets evicted, the conservancy believes the vessel could be lost forever. Berths for thousand-foot ocean liners that can't power themselves and have been out of operation since the Nixon administration aren't readily available. So, the conservancy has taken an unprecedented step.

"We have issued an appeal to the president and a number of congressional leaders," says Gibbs. "The time has come. This ship is imperiled, and it's all hands on deck."

The three-page letter addressed to President Biden succinctly lays out the vessel's storied history and the potential for repurposing it. The conservancy is so concerned the end may be near, it would be open to gifting the ship to the government: "The Conservancy is even willing to donate the ship to the National Park Service, the state of Pennsylvania, or other entities in exchange for a viable pier location."

The vessel's champions are clear-eyed that "America's Flagship" doesn't have much time left in Philly. If it's evicted, there's no telling if the next port of call is a safe haven or the scrap heap.

The Fastest Atlantic Crossing Ever Defends Its 30 Year Old Record

In August 1992, the Destriero monohull sailed from New York to the British Isles of Scilly in 58 hours, 34 minutes and 50 seconds. Since then, nobody has done better

trophy blue ribbon boat "destriero" of karim agha khan in porto cervo, italy on september 25, 1991

“We didn’t expect you so soon,” came the response from Bishop Rock, in the Isles of Scilly, England. Destriero , a monohull departing from New York just over two days earlier, had arrived. It was August 1992 and the Destriero monohull, built in aluminum at the Fincantieri shipyard of Muggiano (La Spezia), had crossed the Atlantic over 3,106 nautical miles — without refueling — in 58 hours , 34 minutes and 50 seconds at an average speed of 53.09 knots (93.323 km/h), taking 21.5 hours less than the previous record set by the English catamaran Hoverspeed Great Britain.

the boat "destriero" in sardinia, italy on may 21, 1992

The Destriero monohull was born with the goal of breaking all records set in crossing the Atlantic , awarded since 1838 with the Blue Riband , a prize given to the ship with the fastest average crossing speed. The feat was commissioned and sponsored by Prince Karim Aga Khan, President of the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club, and supported by Gianni Agnelli’s Fiat and Franco Nobili’s IRI. The Destriero , crafted in the shipyards of Muggiano and Riva Trigoso over a record-breaking 270 days, was the largest light alloy ship ever built — an unrivalled concentration of efficiency, strength and technology. The first aluminum hull plate was cut in July of 1990, and the cutting of all remaining pieces was carried out with CNC machines. Construction and assembly of the boat’s structure continued with the same methods and schematics used in Fincantieri’s military units, while the external lines and aerodynamic studies of superstructures were handled by Pininfarina. The Destriero monohull demonstrated a notable energetic and propulsive efficiency with performance — including acceleration and deceleration — equal to that of a sports car . Meanwhile, when it came to interiors, the shipyard adopted various solutions borrowed from motor racing.

With its 67 meters in length, a beam of 13 meters and 60,000 horsepower, the Destriero could reach an average speed of more than 60 knots . A true record and a source of Italian pride: even the name Destriero hinted at the brave and daring spirit of a thoroughbred horse. Despite several controversies surrounding the awarding of the prize, the Destriero’s success between New York and Bishop Rock was celebrated in Porto Cervo on September 5, 1992, and the ship was awarded not only the Blue Riband, but also the Virgin Atlantic Trophy and the Columbus Atlantic Trophy. What’s more, at that event, it was declared that the Destriero’s feat was in line with that of the Italian transatlantic liner Rex , which had won the Blue Riband 60 years earlier, bringing Italy back to the top of international seafaring.

The importance of Destriero’s feat is not only limited to the still unbeaten record for crossing the Atlantic in the shortest possible time, but also to the importance of its design: with the experience, Fincantieri gave rise to a series of fast commercial ferries. Fiat, framing the feat, unveiled a prototype called Destriero at the 1992 Turin Motor Show, which was a tender on four wheels available to the crew in Porto Cervo before departing for England. Only two models were built, echoing the beach chairs of the 1960s and based on the Fiat Panda 1000 Fire. The first, specifically for the event, was light blue with a white interior; the second was dark blue with a light gray interior, donated by the Fiat Style Center to “The Lawyer” Gianni Agnelli.

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An Architectural Trip to New York

How To Cross the Atlantic, Routes and Timelines

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Before the time of ocean liners and airplanes, crossing the Atlantic used to be a great adventure that took a long time to complete. Nowadays, it’s very different; it’s still a great adventure, but the time it takes to complete has changed.

Here’s how long it takes to cross the Atlantic on various types of boats.

Looking at this table we can clearly see that the time it takes to cross the Atlantic has decreased exponentially. Some big developments were of course the steam engine that allowed for bigger and much faster ships to travel the Atlantic while also bringing a lot more cargo.

If we look at the Sailboats in this list, we can see that the more hulls you have the faster it goes (if you want to know more about how that works, check out this article)

There is not a significant difference in time to complete between the catamarans and the trimarans in the short run, but in a circumnavigation of the world, the difference can be huge.

A monohull on the other hand is slower, this is mainly due to the amount of drag this type of hull has.

This table compares different types of boats under the same conditions and adds an airplane as a point of reference.

Transatlantic Crossing in Record Time

Here are the records for the fastest crossings of the Atlantic in a Sailboat.

The 2880 Nautical miles(5330 Km) long route starts at Ambrose Light in New York and finishes on an imaginary line between Lizard Point and Ushant of the coast of England

As you might have noticed, there aren’t any numbers for catamarans since the classes are divided between monohulls and multihulls. Since trimarans (three hulls) are faster than catamarans (two hulls), there is no real point in racing a cat.

What you also may have noticed are the ridiculously high speeds these boats are doing. Bear in mind that these are racing boats optimized for speed and made to smash world records.

There’s a big difference between the 28 knots a racing trimaran will make and the 9 knots a cruising catamaran will.

What Type of Sailboat Do You Need To Cross The Atlantic?

Crossing the Atlantic can be done in almost any sailboat or ship. As a matter of fact, it has already been done in small rowboats and open catamarans, so everything is possible.

If your question is what boat should I use to get a somewhat comfortable and safe trip, well, then we have something to talk about.

Choosing between a monohull or a multihull has more to do with personal preferences. Some people really like the stable platform of a catamaran, and others dont think it’s a real way of sailing and wants to be heeling over to its side to fully get that true sailing experience.

For me? Catamaran every day, speed, and comfort, but I’m also not a purist sailor in any way. I’m an adventurist, and the boat is merely a way to experience adventures.

The size I would say matters, bigger usually means it’s safer and can handle bigger waves, although it might be harder to handle on your own I something happens to you or your crew mid-sea.

Most people seem to cross the Atlantic with a boat in the 35 -45 ft spectrum, which fulfills both requirements!

If you are interested in digging deeper into what sized boat you should get, check out my article on Best Sized Catamaran for Ocean Sailin g

Other aspects you might consider are the size in terms of space onboard , how many people are you doing the passage with, the more people, the easier operating the boat will be. This assumes you have a well-trained crew that you know well.

And what are you going to do once you get there, is it the end of your trip or is the beginning. If you’re doing everything just to cross the ocean and then get someone else to bring it back, that’s one thing. But if its the start of a long adventure, the requirements are different. You are going to want more space for scuba gear, and other toys.

I do think the most important aspect is that you have a seaworthy boat that it’s capable of withstanding weeks on end with sailing in many times rough conditions.

This means that your equipment spent has to be the most expensive and handy, but it needs to be in good condition, and you need to be able to handle your great in every weather.

What Gear Do You Need to Cross the Atlantic?

Not including your average stuff when sailing, such as life vests, etc. There are some great that you might not be on your everyday say m still that could be of high importance during such a formidable sail as this.

Emergency food
Satellite coms
Storm drogue (want to know what it is and how it works, read this)
Spare parts(tiller, sails, etc.)
Entertainment

Different Routes to Cross the Atlantic

Westward route: europe to the caribbean.

According to Jimmy Cornell, a well-known sailor and circumnavigator that has made his own research on the subject, Las Palmas is one of the biggest ports of departure for sailboats crossing the Atlantic.

Around 75’% of the sailboats that arrive in Las Palmas on the Canary Islands will depart for an Ocean crossing.

Getting to The Canary Islands, you should not be in a hurry; there are many very beautiful places en route. No matter where you are coming from this is a good stop well worth a visit.

Coming from the north of Europe, you have France, Spain, and Portugal. Entering from the Mediterranean, you have Italy, Croatia, Greece, and so many other interesting places that you shouldn’t miss unless you’re on a very tight schedule.

Once you reach Las Palmas, you can either go straight towards the Caribbean island of Barbados, or you can do a stop along the way at Cap Verde.

Planing a Stop on Cape Verde

A stop at cap Verde makes sense in many ways; for one, it makes the transatlantic trip more manageable by dividing it into two sections.

The second reason is that it gives you the possibility to stock up on fuel and water that you might have used more than you thought. Since Cap Verde is well developed when it comes to receiving boats doing this type of passage, there is no technical expertise on the island.

From Cap Verde, you can also take a direct flight to Portugal and onwards if the need arises.

Even though you might not plan to stop here, the recommendation is to at least plan your sailing, so you pass close to the islands, so if something happens, you can head to Mindelo port and fix it.

Another good reason why you would go close is that the further south you go, the better chance you will have of catching those sweet tradewinds that will take you safely and enjoyably to the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Westbound Route On a Catamaran

Sailing west is the preferred option for any sailor and especially if you are on a boat that doesn’t sail perfectly upwind, such as a catamaran.

Sailin g west and using the tradewinds is perfect on a catamaran, the sail will be faster and more comfortable than a monohull of the same size.

Looking at the 2019 ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), a 55ft french catamaran outclassed the 65 ft professionally sailed monohull with a 10-hour lead. All this while doing yoga on board, something that I can promise was not happening on the monohull.

The stable platform of a catamaran with the wind on your stern makes sailing west on a transatlantic passage perfect for Catamaran.

Eastbound Route: The Caribbean to Europe

Coming back to Europe, I would argue that the same principles are still valid: to stop at or pass by islands close enough to have the option of going into port if need, and using the tradewinds to your advantage.

Considering this, most people leave the Caribbean from Tortola, Britsh virgin islands, or St Marteen. These make great starting points for the eastward journey since they are the last point where there is plenty of fuel, spare parts, and food for the long and sometimes arduous trip back to Europe.

Though it is not necessary, many sailors make a halt at Bermuda; this is a good start to fix anything broken or wait for the right weather before your head on to the next part of your trip.

The Azores, the same goes here, you can skip it, but staying close to it adds safety and comfort if needed, and I would also stop by just to enjoy the islands. It’s a beautiful place and good for a few days of low-intensity cruising.

If you still have some energy left after the trip from Bermuda, one option is to head for a place called Horta. The place is well remembered for its hospitality towards sailors heading towards Europe.

Once you have refueled on diesel and energy, it is time to head for northern Europe. This is usually done by sailing north until the 45th latitude and then heading east.

When is The Best Time to Cross The Atlantic

Choosing a route has a lot to do with your intended purpose of the trip, are you going for a speed record, then going more north might be an option, and accepting the risk might be ok for you and your crew.

If you are going west but more interested in doing it safely and are able to spend a little more time out at sea, then the southern routes mentioned above with a departure date around November and December.

Going west on your way to the Caribbean, you’ll notice the days are getting warmer and longer; this is because going west, you also travel south towards the equator where the days and nights are equally as long be it summer or winter.

This weather window is to avoid the hurricane season in the Caribbean that ends in late November, these are the main risk and must be considered in your plan.

What Is The Best Route For an Atlantic Crossing

Taking into consideration the information above with trade winds, the possibility of breakdowns, and the collective knowledge of the area.

The best route for a westbound Atlantic crossing is from Las Palmas (on the Island of Gran Canarias) to Barbados Via Cap Verde. The best route going east is from St Marteen to the Azores Via Bermuda.

This is, of course, based on the assumptions we have discussed above, and it might not apply to your skillset or aim of the crossing.

Can You Cross the Atlantic Single Handed?

You can definitely cross the Atlantic on your own (short-handed). As a matter of fact, many do every year. Of course, this demands more of the sailor since there is nobody to ask for advice or to help while underway.

Neither is there anyone that will help you with handling sails or maintenance while underway; because of this, it is more dangerous and more difficult to solo sailor sail short-handed as it is also called.

The usual way is to either bring a crew of your own, recruit a crew from the port of exit, or find one online via crewseeker.net.

Is Transatlantic Passages Dangerous?

Sailing in big oceans is never a hundred percent safe. This is why it is an adventure if it was absolutely safe, where would the attractiveness and the excitement lie?

Looking at the data, there aren’t many accidents happening, and of those, there are even fewer that are deadly or leave the crew injured for life.

There are also ways to make it safer; we have discussed boat size and crew skills; other route selection factors are vital. It might not be the quickest to cross the Atlantic, but the southern route seems to be a safer bet.

Prepare yourself, your crew, and the boat, and the chances for accidents will still be there, but they will be small and manageable.

How Lonely Is Crossing The Atlantic?

Spending two to three weeks in the middle of the ocean can definitely be lonely, but it can also be the absolute opposite. If you’re sailing with a crew, you will share the same small space with everyone else, always bumping your elbow. If the weather is rough, you may all be a little tired, which also adds to the group dynamics.

But even if you would get sick and tired of your crew, there are ways to call back home. You might have a Satellite phone, which is expensive by the minute but a lovely way to hear the voice of a loved one back at land. Much better than a text message through Email.

Sending emails has been a pretty straightforward process since the SSB radio started to be utilized. This type of radio is very simplistic and has good reception up to thousands of miles .

The nice thing with this radio is that it allows for data traffic, which means not only are you able to receive weather updates, but you can also contact your family through Email.

Can You Get Rescued If Something Goes Wrong?

Yes, there might not be a coast guard or anything nearby, and you might be way out to sea, but there is help to get. Since every ship is listening to some set of frequencies, usually, the first step is to call for a Mayday on that channel.

If you’re not getting anyone’s attention, then they might still see you on the AIS, Automatic Identification System, which makes anyone around you know where you are.

Many times the crossing is done together with a lot of other vessels; this gives comfort as they might also be able to help in case of emergency.

If all this fails, you probably also will have your EPIRB, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon , which is a gadget that can be activated through certain triggers such as water, tilt angle, or manually activated.

Once activated, it sends an emergency signal at different frequencies and relays the information back to shore for someone to come help you.

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

Yachting World

Digital Edition

What’s the right yacht for an Atlantic crossing? The one you’ve got now

Elaine Bunting
May 20, 2015

What sort of yacht do you need to sail across the Atlantic? There’s no black art, says Elaine Bunting, you just need a bit of preparation

Numerically, the most common yachts for sailing across the Atlantic are ordinary production cruisers with standard kit, usually with upgrades of safety and power generation equipment. The happy truth is there’s no black art to sailing 3,000 miles downwind; the toughest part can be getting across the Bay of Biscay.

So whatever boat you have right now, the chances are that she’ll be fine for an Atlantic crossing with a bit of extra preparation. You don’t have to let waiting for the ‘right’ boat put you off going.

However, this doesn’t apply so much if you intend to complete an Atlantic circuit and sail from the Caribbean to Europe . The return route can be very tough, with a real chance of rough windward work, and a yacht that is wonderfully comfortable and spacious at anchor can slam and be very uncomfortable on the way back. Shipping back or delivery are both alternative options.

I’ve found that skippers tend to focus on equipment that adds comfort, but also complication: watermakers, generators, comms equipment. All are undoubtedly useful, but remember that every additional item adds complication, spares and service cost/time.

Apart from a sound boat, all you really need is water, food, fuel and a (paper) chart of ‘North Atlantic, Southern Part’.

Whatever else you do, don’t let those extras distract you from ensuring the integrity of the rig (including the boom and gooseneck fittings), rudder and hull. These are paramount. Rudders, in particular, are subjected to very high side loads in big following seas. I’ve seen people about to set off across the Atlantic on boats that were sporting the latest luxury kit, from ice cream makers to air conditioning, but with split pins not bent back or a clevis pin working out.

What sails are best?

The simple answer is reasonably recent, quality sails that aren’t liable to break. However expensive, good sails are worth every penny. As to what combination is best on a long downwind passage, that’s a complicated and potentially long-winded debate. Let’s just say that, for the average family crew, a smart crossing is all about consistent speed, 24 hours a day. The key is not to have downtime.

There is absolutely no need to sail hot angles downwind unless you are sailing to polars on a high-performance design. A spinnaker or code sail is great in lighter winds, but in stronger winds you will need several crew on watch at a time and if you blow the sail in a squall or a sudden reload it will be a costly choice.

There is nothing wrong with the old ‘barn doors’ arrangement of mainsail and poled-out genoa. Sure, it’s unflashy and unheroic, but it’s also easy, trouble-free and you’ll trot along in any conditions with minimal drop in speed for the occasional gybe. Just keep an eye out for chafe and be sure to set up a preventer on the boom and a foreguy topping lift and downhaul when poling out the headsail, so you can furl in quickly when that night-time squall hits (which it will).

Power planning

However much power you expect to use on an ocean crossing, you will need more. Nav lights, radar, radio scheds, autopilot, watermaker, fridge, freezer, computer, fans – you name it, they all add up. Last year, when we carried out our annual survey of ARC skippers , we found that yachts of between 46ft and 55ft had a battery capacity, on average, of 700ah, rising to 1,000ah for yachts over 56ft.

Since the design life for marine batteries is five years, it makes sense to set off with new batteries – it’s easier and may be cheaper than replacing them later. A majority of people in our survey had an extra house or domestic battery bank and one or two had boosted the battery used for their windlass.

Interestingly, when we asked about the power equation again in our follow-up survey a few months later , numerous skippers said that they had increased battery capacity yet again or planned to do so in future.

A water generator could be a useful addition

Rather than adding to machinery with a diesel generator, it’s worth looking at wind generators, solar panels and the Watt & Sea or Sea-Gen water turbines . These alternative power generation sources have advanced a lot in recent years. A larger alternator may be worth fitting too, and if only one is fitted to the engine, carry a spare.

Be prepared for gear failure

Be prepared for key equipment to fail because sooner or later it probably will. If it’s gear you normally rely on, like an autopilot or watermaker, have a contingency or a workable plan to do without. Of all the gear problems that give most stress and trouble, the most pressing is autopilot failure. That will start to put a small crew under strain by robbing everyone of rest time.

For the same reason, it’s a good idea to make sure most or all of your crew are decent helmsmen downwind in following seas. If not, spend some time on passage tutoring them.

If you enjoyed this….

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How to Cross an Ocean: Bringing Ranger Home

By Jim Carrier
Updated: February 5, 2013

You’ve lived your dream. You’ve sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. You’ve cruised in Spain, Italy, and even some of Africa. It’s time to go home.

But how? That’s the question I faced 10 years after Ranger ‘s Mediterranean adventure began. ( Click here to read “ Ranger ‘s Refit—and the Real Rewards,” from CW ‘s June 2003 issue.)

The options were easy: sail her back, hire a delivery crew, or ship her on a freighter. But the choice, made routinely by hundreds of transatlantic sailors every year, was complicated, and personal.

Driven from Spain by a tax crackdown at the start of Europe’s economic woes, I’d docked Ranger in Tunisia at an upscale marina. She’d been in the water for three years tended by a German expat who regularly started her engine, ran through her gears, and adjusted her lines.

But she was a mess, sirocco sand-blasted, her dodger sun-rotted, her bottom a microbiologists’ encyclopedia. Her flares, EPIRB, and life raft were out of date. Basic systems were in good shape—sails, rigging, even the batteries—but the list of to-dos, no matter which route I took home, would take time and money.

Shipping Her Home

Until the mid-1980s, shipping a yacht on a freighter was a rare, pricey move. But there are now four major companies in the business, rates are competitive though not cheap, and the service, with occasional exceptions, is reliable and safe.

Unique among them, because of its float-on/float-off semi-submersible freighters, is Dockwise Yacht Transport of Florida. The other three— Yacht Path International , Sevenstar Yacht Transport , and Peters and May —rent space on freighters going your way and use cranes and cradles for deck shipment. This year, the four companies will ship some 1,200 to 1,500 sailing yachts all over the world.

Because its schedule seemed as reliable as an Italian train, give or take 14 days, I asked Dockwise for its cheapest option, which turned out to be a ship returning to Florida after delivering luxury motorboats for the Med’s summer season. The price for my 42-year-old boat, valued at $45,000, was a shock: $11,600.

Sailors I interviewed shipped their boats for a number of reasons.

Phillip Yaffa of Miami shipped his Tayana 47, Peregrina , home from Turkey after three years of cruising in the Med. With business demands, he couldn’t afford the time for the long sail back through the Canaries after hurricane season. After pricing a cheaper delivery option, but adding wear and tear, he paid Dockwise $25,000.

Fabian Mueller of Zurich, Switzerland, shipped his 30-foot steel sloop Habichuela back to Europe from Florida in the fall of 2010 because he was out of vacation time and the boat had suffered damage to sails, the autopilot, and sailing instruments on its passage from the Canaries. After gathering bids from Sevenstar and Peters and May, he negotiated the lowest fee, $9,500, from Dockwise, and thought it worth the money. He estimated that he would’ve spent at least $5,000 to repair and ready her to sail home himself. “I didn’t have that many options,” he said. “The day the boat arrived in Genoa, I was very happy.”

Time and tenderness were on the mind of Pascal Oddo when he hired Dockwise to carry Falcon , a 1930 Lawley Boatyard-built Q racing boat from Rhode Island to France just in time for the Les Voiles d’Antibes, a classic-yacht race in the spring of 2012. The 52-foot wood sloop had been restored in 2007 and listed for sale at $495,000.

Sailing the Atlantic was out of the question, and after comparing bids, Oddo chose Dockwise for the convenience.

“The plan was to race her. When we arrived to meet the freighter, we put the sails on, and we were ready to sail off, which was fantastic,” he said by phone from Paris, where he manages a private-equity fund. “We did well. We came in second.”

Eric Korchia, a Miami developer, shipped Maxilana , a Jeanneau 53, on Dockwise after being stranded in Athens, Greece, for more than a month by Yacht Path. At the last minute, he hired a delivery crew to meet the Dockwise freighter in Italy. Dockwise charged him $25,000.

While there was a grin on his face when he saw his $700,000 boat in Florida, Korchia remained livid with Yacht Path, which had promised, but failed, to pick the boat up in Greece. After being threatened by an attorney, Yacht Path returned his $26,000 fee, although not an additional $20,000 that he says he spent on marina and delivery fees.

Yacht Path manager Kevin Cummings blamed unforeseen freighter delays and said that his company kept Korchia informed. The company, started by Cummings and his siblings, whom he describes as “working-class guys” without venture-capital backing, will ship 650 boats this year. It routinely fulfills its promises, and it’s often the cheapest. But it’s the only one of the carriers with complaints—there are four—that are on file at BoatU.S.

Hire a Delivery Crew

Shopping for a delivery captain is a bit like hiring a nanny. Price isn’t as important as experience, reputation, and chemistry. That said, the first thing I wanted to know was how much it would cost to put my baby into the hands of a stranger for a risky couple of months.

My queries produced a gaping array of charges ranging from $4,000 to $14,000. To help me judge, I consulted John LeFevre of The Moorings, who hires delivery captains to ship the company’s charter fleet between the Med and the Caribbean. His average cost for a delivery skipper from Greece to Tortola is $13,250, including airfare and food.

The Moorings’ boats are privately owned catamarans and monohulls that are less than five years old and well equipped for an ocean passage. (See “If You Go It Yourself,” below.) Captains basically get on and go.

As I went over Ranger ‘s equipment, I realized how idiosyncratic my 35-foot Allied Seabreeze yawl had been—a one-man boat full of decisions, compromises and, yes, defects, that no one else could be expected to know. There was no manual describing the periodic clunk in the anchor locker, the loose mizzen stays that were OK, or how the autopilot connected through that hole using this pin kept in one of those plastic bags in the middle drawer on the port side by the cabin door that won’t stay latched.

It always took me a week to get to know her when I paid a visit. Her condition made selling her in Europe impossible—especially during the Euro crisis. How could I ask a delivery captain to take her across an ocean?

“I have to know how to fix, identify, and work every single system, even though I’ve never seen it, because my life will depend on it,” said Blaine Parks of Parks Marine Services of Palmetto, Florida. Unlike most delivery crew, he insists that the owner be aboard on a voyage as long as a transatlantic.

Parks charges $250 to $300 a day, plus $150 a day for a mate, an average rate among professional delivery crews. For an ocean crossing, he wants a third mate at $100 a day.

He recommended that I look for captains with multiple transatlantic crossings, experience in the voyage’s ports of call, and a good reputation backed by references and their own insurance.

Gerry and Darby Gragg were rank beginners when they bought So Bella , a Passport 42, in 2000 and began cruising in western Costa Rica. “We took off knowing as little as someone could about cruising and sailing,” Gerry told me in Gaeta, Italy.

After reading a Cruising World spread on the Mediterranean (see “Promise of the Mediterranean,” November 2007), they decided to head there. Yacht Path offered to ship So Bella from Golfito, Costa Rica, to Palma de Mallorca for $34,000. The Graggs chose instead to use Yacht Path to move So Bella to Fort Lauderdale, at a cost of $13,000, in time for Gerry to sail the Atlantic. With their “savings,” they hired a captain and mate from Oceans Captain. Were it not for a transmission failure in Bermuda, the crossing would’ve been cheaper, he said.

“These two men had 15 crossings under their belts. It was essentially an advanced-sailing seminar on my own boat, and it was an experience I’ll always treasure,” he said.

Gragg has decided to ship So Bella back to the United States next year so he can sell her on the East Coast during the summer. Dockwise provided a cheaper quote and a firm shipping window between April 22 and May 6. “To get my boat from Genoa to Fort Lauderdale in 15 days with hopefully little wear and tear for $23,000 is a good value, if one is honest about the indirect expenses of a crossing.”

Sail It Yourself

For the vast majority of transatlantic sailors, sailing home is the only choice. Cruising funds may be running low, but while living aboard, they’ve likely kept the boat in working order. Provisions, dock fees, and a couple of months of their time are the primary costs.

A survey by the World Cruising Club of participants in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers shows that on average, boats spent around $2,500 for provisions and $1,400 for fuel during their three- to four-week crossing from Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands, to St. Lucia.

Joining the ARC costs $1,000 or more, but the rally’s care and safety requirements—tougher than ones that independent sailors might choose themselves—are designed to produce successful crossings.

When I took a sober look at Ranger , I estimated that upgrades, crew travel, and food costs would top $7,000. Having done the crossing, I knew that a few thousand dollars more should be in an overdraft account just in case. Clearly, my cheapest alternative was to sail home myself with a couple of volunteer crew.

On March 1, 2012, I flew to Genoa, Italy, bought a reconditioned life raft for $500, and carried it on a ferry to Tunisia. After two weeks of work on Ranger , first mate Wally Wallace and I departed for Sicily. I’d rendezvous with Dockwise in Genoa during the first week of May.

Ultimately, my decision came down to time, money, and a large X factor. Crossing the ocean to Europe in my little old boat was an achievement, a costly, exhausting journey of a lifetime. Ranger and I were now 10 years older. With “transatlantic sailor” inscribed on my heart, I had neither the need nor the desire to sail home.

When my father died, my share of the sale of his house yielded enough to buy a ride. I decided to turn the 1,000-mile sail up the Italian coast into a shared vacation with friends and family, likely my last great offshore adventure aboard Ranger . Having made the decision, I ordered charts for the Keys and the Chesapeake.

Ranger arrived in Fort Lauderdale on May 23 looking like a floating peanut in the vast hold of Dockwise’s Yacht Express. I climbed aboard and motored into a Florida sunrise.

The next morning, at Bahia Mar, the bilge pump died.

If You Go It Yourself

Before setting out on a transatlantic crossing—or on any bluewater adventure, for that matter—a prudent skipper makes sure that the boat is well equipped. The equipment list below is based on recommendations from the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers and The Moorings. The gear requirements for the Newport-Bermuda Race and ISAF race recommendations are both other good sources for the gear you’ll need.

Emergency Equipment

• Offshore life raft large enough to carry all crew • Life jackets with harnesses • Flares • Abandon-ship bag with flares, water, food, and survival tools • Offshore first-aid kit • Rescue lines • Signaling equipment

Electronics

• EPIRB • Satellite phone or SSB radio • Automatic Identification System receiver, preferably with transponder • Electronic tracking device similar to SPOT or to DeLorme’s InReach • VHF radio • Handheld VHF • Navigation lights • Searchlight • LED flashlights

For the Boat

• Navigation tools and charts • Compass • Sextant and tables • Binoculars • Depth sounder • Fog horn • Radar reflector • Fire extinguishers (3 of them, all up to date) • Fire blanket • Companionway washboards • Through-hull plugs • Emergency tiller • Hacksaw and blades • Buckets • Dinghy and oars • Storm jib and trysail • Second manual bilge pump • Sea anchor

Jim Carrier is a CW contributing editor. Ranger now lies on the hard at Glades Boat Storage, west of Lake Okeechobee, Florida. Her to-do list remains a work in progress. This article first appeared in the Hands-On Sailor section of our December 2012 issue.

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My solo Transatlantic in a 27ft cruiser

Chris Beeson
December 6, 2016

James Muggoch learns the hard way that solo Transatlantic cruising is all about practice, more practice, and yet more practice

‘What do I want to do for my 65th birthday?’ I’m going to sail the Atlantic single-handed’ Credit: S Liebenburg

My solo Transatlantic in a 27ft cruiser

I first crossed the Atlantic over 49 years ago, aged 18, as one of 16 crew onboard the 180ft motoryacht Camargo V . I felt awe and fear at the vastness and relentless power of the ocean and vowed never to go near it again. So when, in 2014, my wife Louise asked: ‘What do you want to do for your 65th birthday?’ I have no idea why I replied ‘I’m going to cross the Atlantic single-handed.’

I planned to buy a small yacht, sail the Atlantic, run her up a Caribbean beach and give the keys to the first local I met, provided they drove me to the nearest airport. My friend Ian Joseph, who comes from Grenada, suggested that I give her to the Grande Anse Sea Scouts in St George’s, Grenada, instead.

Several months later, with the support of the Grenadian High Commissioner in London, His Excellency Joslyn Whiteman, and the Deputy Commissioner of Scouts, Tim Kidd, Louise and I started looking for a yacht that was up to the passage and would suit the Sea Scouts.

Finally we found a David Sadler- designed Frigate 27 in East Cowes. The owner of Annie of Orford knocked £2,000 off the price as it was for a good cause and threw in every spare part he could find. I’ve been afloat all my life but I’m very short on ocean sailing experience, and I only managed a few weekends sailing Annie in the Solent before leaving.

The broker, Boatshed’s Corrine Willard, proved an expert in her field and a good friend – indeed her husband Simon Judge delivered Annie single-handed to Marina Rubicon in Lanzarote and had to be restrained from doing the whole trip.

When I arrived in Lanzarote, friends of friends Mike and Jean met me at the airport, took me to Mike’s radio station (The Mix) for a two-hour local radio chat show, then down to the Marina to find Annie . With the victualling done, I had to wait for two days while a gale blew itself out – not a luxury I was to be afforded for the next 42 days. Finally I spent my last euros on ten lemons and a Mars Bar.

In the first few days of the crossing I always wore a harness. It didn’t last long

I set off at 0800 on 2 February 2016, or tried to. The 7hp Volvo engine refused to start despite an expensive service in Cowes. The spares would take 2-3 weeks to arrive so I asked the marina to tow me out of the harbour. The engine only had a range of 200nm anyway, and I would be able to sail her all the way. I had a solar panel and a wind generator to charge up the batteries to power the nav lights, GPS, AIS and VHF.

Once outside, I raised main and genoa and sailed slowly South down the coast of Fuerteventura. I’d been told that the northeast winds funnel between the islands but I left the sails up too late and, as darkness fell, I was going too fast. I had stupidly secured the preventer to the boom, so I had to cut it and, having opted for hanked-on foresails, had to go forward to change sails. An earlier accident, while breaking a stick to throw for my dog, left me night-blind in my left eye, and a motorbike accident four years earlier hurt my right shoulder so I was in considerable discomfort. While lowering the sails, I caught my right hand in the mainsheet track, fell into the cockpit, landing on my head, and had my first, but not last, totally sleepless night of the next 41.

Tired and battered

Next morning Annie and I were tired and battered, but still on course – or so I thought. After experimenting with sail combinations to get the Pacific Light windvane to behave, we were becalmed for five hours so I went below. My head was sore. It had stopped bleeding but I felt sick – not seasick, I don’t suffer with that. Otherwise all was well apart from the GPS, which wouldn’t lock onto a position. I saw a mountain far off on the port bow and thought I was looking at Africa. The wind came up, darkness fell and I found myself being blown onto a continental lee shore – as tired as I’ve ever been and sick with pain. The Pacific Light came apart and I steered by hand for 6-7 hours to clear the land, unable to get to a drink or food. In deep trouble, I cut my losses and, ignoring the ‘voices’ that were starting to haunt me, came about onto port tack, fixed the self-steering and went below.

I woke to a calm sea, aware that I had survived a very ill-prepared start. A good breakfast and co-codamol for my head made me feel much better, until I looked up and saw two large islands dead ahead, where there should be ocean. I shot below, turned on the GPS, which decided to work, and found out it was the Canaries. We were back where we started, two days ago.

Struggling for control

I pulled myself together and reached the open Atlantic. Out of the islands’ lee, with 25-30 knots over the deck, the sea came up. Eight days of heavy cloud and my eye problem meant I couldn’t see the compass, sea, sails or stars so I lay ahull and went below – not seamanlike, but the best I could do. By now I was hallucinating quite badly. Imaginary voices and shadowy shapes haunted the boat for two weeks and became seriously worrying. Days and nights blurred and I struggled to control Annie . I was managing runs of over 100nm a day, but with great effort and little sleep. The windvane had a will of its own and I would fiddle with it at dusk, creating no end of trouble through the night. About 500 miles south of the Canaries I thought ‘I haven’t seen a ship for six days’ when I saw what turned out to be the Maersk Tacoma . I contacted her Master, Capt Catalin Petrescu, and asked him to email my wife Louise. He also gave me the forecast: ‘Force 8 becoming 9, sea 8m becoming 12-14 overnight.’ Thanks for that…

I had to make a decision: head for the Cape Verdes, or press on to Grenada. My hands had rope burns, my shoulder was killing me, and salt water sores on my bottom made life very uncomfortable. I tossed a coin – and did the opposite: Grenada it was.

Over the next few days, Annie ’s log records 35 knots over the deck, lost jib halyards, stray sheets, a soaked sleeping bag and bunk and lots of water below. The entry for 15 February reads:

‘Opened the main hatch and removed the top washboard when a breaking wave washed me back into the cabin. Floorboards afloat, electrics out and the sound of rushing water behind the galley lockers. Bailing like mad with no automatic bilge pump and the manual pump in the cockpit. Sprayed the electrics with WD-40 to dispel the sea water and carried on bailing, tiring badly. Suddenly smelled burning, smoke and flame from the electrics. Had extinguisher to hand, but thought it might make things worse, so turned the batteries off, which worked. Annie sailing on, waves still breaking on deck and more and more water coming below via the galley deckhead.’

I was at a fairly low ebb but kept bailing. Thinking I was sinking, I put out a pan-pan call on my handheld VHF, then I sent my first – and hopefully last – Mayday. With no response, it was down to me.

I cut up two Bags for Life (apt) and rigged them so that water from the hole in the deck went into the sink

I lowered the sails, which stopped a lot of the waves driving over the deck. With a hammer, I smashed out the galley lockers, cut up two Tesco Bags for Life and rigged them so that any water coming into the boat went straight into the sink. The wind dropped and the sun began to shine so I pumped out and tidied up. The cooker had come off its gimbals – no more hot drinks or food – and the chart table had collapsed.

On deck I found that a port stanchion had been ripped out by the preventer as Annie broached, leaving a triangular hole big enough to put my fist through. I tied my feet to the starboard grabrail, laid across the boat and tried to fill the hole with Plastic Padding, but the waves and the difficulty of mixing the paste with both hands while gravity tried to pull me overboard proved too much. I deployed the sea anchor and took the night off.

This was the third time I’d nearly gone overboard. On day three I just caught the starboard shroud with one hand as I went. Later I slipped while adjusting the windvane. I grabbed the ensign staff, which broke, but not before it had given me enough leverage to fall into the cockpit. After day two I gave up wearing a harness or lifejacket. Every time I went on deck I got tangled in something. I knew I couldn’t get back onboard unaided, as the emergency ladder I had was the same one with which fit, young magazine testers had failed to get back onboard – in a marina!

James checks his charts towards the end of his crossing, by which time he’d fixed his stove

Things got better: tradewinds, sunshine and clear skies – I could steer by the stars! The windvane and I had come to an arrangement: with genoa and double-reefed main, we made 5 knots at 20 degrees off the wind.

With better weather came more sleep and an end to the voices. I’ve since found that I’m not alone in being visited by these bloody things and I hope never again to hear a voice I recognise threaten to kill me.

There were still ups and downs. I was becalmed for three days, which was worse than the storms. I saw loads of flying fish, dolphins and the spouts from whales. I didn’t kill the big fish that stayed with Annie for two days – I had loads of Army rations and the fish was the only friend I had. I rewired the VHF and re-installed the cooker for the last week: coffee!

Forty-two days after setting out, Annie of Orford nears Port Louis Marina, Grenada

I hove to 25 miles off Grenada to make landfall in daylight and got underway around 0500. At 0730 I heard a lady’s voice over the VHF saying ‘Morning Grenada, this is Cruisers Net radio. Come in please!’

I was beside myself with joy and listened to boats in Prickly Bay, Secret Harbour, St George’s and many others checking in. During a silence I called in ‘Grenada, this is Annie of Orford ’

‘Hello Annie ! Welcome to Grenada, we are all waiting for you!’

Having remembered to put some shorts on, James is ready for his arrival photocall

Annie and I sailed past the South coast and turned to starboard, tacking for the first time in 42 days, towards Annie’s new home: St George’s Bay. Half a mile out, an officer on a police launch came up behind shouting ‘Put some bloody clothes on!’ I’d forgotten I’d been naked for four weeks.

With his engine out of action, James accepts a tow to get Annie alongside in Grenada

Annie raced into the harbour and a large RIB came up behind with my best mate Brian onboard. ‘What are you doing here?’ I asked. ‘I’m with her,’ he said, pointing to my wife, Louise, who I hadn’t spotted.

James and his wife Louise enjoy an emotional reunion in Grenada after six weeks apart

The landing, the greetings, the landlegs, the first beer and the best burger in the world all passed in a dream, but I knew one thing: I had made it!

Lessons learned

James learned fast on a crossing where so much went wrong. These are his key lessons

James took more than a little while to get to grips with Annie’s Pacific Light self steering gear

Choose the right boat. Mine would be steel with a doghouse, a boarding ladder welded onto the transom, a bar running down the centreline for clipping on and a deep, self-draining cockpit ( Annie ’s drains are small and block quickly, once with a dead flying fish).

It would have granny bars at the mast, where you need two hands to work, plenty of handholds on deck and below that you can actually grab ( Annie ’s were too close to the bulkhead), a deep bilge and a sump where water can collect and be pumped out.

Having water sloshing around the sole soaking everything is no problem in the Solent but gets tedious on a 40-day ocean crossing.

Annie’s cockpit mainsheet traveller caused James no end of frustration and injury

On no account choose a boat with its mainsail traveller running at knee level across the middle of the cockpit. It’s difficult enough in calm seas and daylight, but a dangerous nightmare in rough seas at night. I still have trouble with two fingers on my right hand, which was in the wrong place during a crash gybe.

I’m sure there are performance advantages to a fin keel, but I was never happy with it. When I bought her I had a surveyor check the keel. Apart from a visual inspection, this involved someone swinging on the keel with the yacht in the slings, while someone else watches inside to see if the bolts move. She passed, but I was never truly relaxed at sea. Having once, many years ago, tied my Yorkshire Coble to a 40ft container while half-way across the Adriatic from Brindisi to Dubrovnic, I promise you that, should Annie have hit one of those at night or in bad weather, the keel would have come off.

Don’t replace your furling genoa with hanked-on foresails.

Have a waterproof ‘boat book’ with details of stores, spares and kit, so you can find things quickly when you need them.

Have comfortable, waterproof seating, both inside and out, and avoid wet clothing, which leads to boils, salt water sores, and all the associated discomfort.

Annie during one of her very few training sails in the Solent

Practice. You need to earn money to pay for the boat and time off work, so you don’t have enough time to go sailing. She’s out of the water, the engine needs attention, the sails are being checked, the liferaft is being serviced: there are always reasons not to go, but you must make time to sail before embarking on a long passage. It’s too late when you set off to realise you can’t see the compass at night, you can’t remember where various switches are, where things are stored etc. Go at night, in bad weather, alone – but go.

How not to clear in and out

Though delighted to have been made an Honorary Commissioner of the Sea Scouts, it was time to go home. Then I realised I hadn’t cleared in. I went with Scoutmaster Elisha St Louis to the immigration office at the marina. A strict-looking lady took Annie ’s details and asked:

‘What time did you land?’

‘About 1220,’ I replied.

‘But it’s only 1130.’

‘Yes, but I arrived two days ago.’

‘You can’t leave Grenada if you haven’t arrived!’

She woke up the snoozing chap next to her.

‘Who’s he?’ I asked.

‘He’s the officer who hands out fines.’

‘Where have you come from?’ he asked.

‘The Canary Islands’

‘Never heard of them, where are they?’

‘Near Africa’

‘Who owns them?’

‘Right. Can I see your leaving documents?’

‘Sorry’ I said, ‘I haven’t got any.’

‘How did you leave?’

‘I just sailed away.’

Dead silence. ‘You can’t come into Grenada without leaving somewhere!’

‘Sorry,’ I said, ’do you want me to do it again?’

Luckily, Annie and I were still being treated like rock stars and a swift call to His Excellency Joslyn Whiteman (the former High Commissioner in London) cleared up the matter.

James Muggoch

My family moved on to a houseboat when I was 14 and 53 years later I’m still here. My other boats have been everything from canal boats to barges, RIBs to sailing yachts, motor yachts, oil exploration vessels and film location pirate ships.

I hold various qualifications such as ICC, Yachtmaster and Ocean Yachtmaster (shore-based). For the past 20 years I have owned the ex-RN steam tug Cob , and I’m hugely proud that she led the vintage tug flotilla in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

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Crossing the Atlantic on a Yacht in Comfort

Experienced cruisers often discover Kadey-Krogen Yachts because they begin to search for yachts capable of crossing the Atlantic. If one searches the listings for Transatlantic boats for sale or contacts a broker with a very specific request to hear about yachts that can cross the Atlantic, they’re bound to discover plenty of superyachts, and some custom trawlers, and, of course, a selection of our models that are built to take on long bluewater cruising legs such as one takes on for an ocean crossinig.

Those who are more serious about open-ocean crossings begin to think about the best time to cross the Atlantic west to east and also consider provisioning, crew, a timetable, potential destinations, and all the factors, large and small, that enter into this exciting equation.

Lessons Learned in more than two years of cruising in Northern Europe

Journey from Rhode Island to Ireland Via the Azores

How Long Does It Take to Sail Across the Atlantic? Expert Insights and Tips

Alex Morgan

Sailing across the Atlantic is a thrilling adventure that captures the imagination of many sailors and adventurers. It is a journey that requires careful planning, preparation, and an understanding of the factors that can influence the duration of the trip. In this article, we will explore the different aspects of sailing across the Atlantic and provide insights into the typical timeframes for completing this epic voyage.

The transatlantic route is a well-known passage that connects the continents of North America and Europe. Most commonly, sailors embark on their journey from the East Coast of the United States and head towards Europe, with the Azores serving as a common waypoint along the way. Alternative routes exist that can take sailors to different parts of Europe or even Africa.

The duration of the journey is influenced by several factors. The type of vessel used plays a significant role, as a faster and more efficient boat can cover the distance in a shorter amount of time. Weather conditions, including wind patterns and the presence of storms, can either speed up or delay the progress of the journey. The chosen sailing route, which can vary based on navigational strategies and personal preferences, also affects the duration. The speed at which the vessel sails, as determined by its design and crew’s skill, impacts the overall timeframe.

Typically, sailing across the Atlantic can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. The fastest recorded time for crossing the Atlantic stands at just over 5 days, accomplished by high-performance sailing yachts. The average duration for most sailors falls between 2 to 4 weeks. It is important to note that these timeframes can be impacted by factors such as weather delays, unforeseen challenges, and the specific characteristics of the vessel being used.

To ensure a successful transatlantic crossing, proper planning and preparation are essential. This includes selecting a suitable vessel, stocking up on necessary supplies and provisions, and ensuring the crew is well-trained and equipped for the journey. Safety measures such as having life-saving equipment, practicing good seamanship, and following navigational best practices are also crucial. maintaining communication and navigation systems, including satellite communication and GPS, are vital for safety and staying on course.

Capturing the experience of sailing across the Atlantic through photography, journaling, or other means can help create lasting memories and share the journey with others.

1. Sailing across the Atlantic offers unique challenges and rewards, making it a thrilling adventure for sailors. 2. The most common route for sailing across the Atlantic is from Europe to the Americas, but there are alternative routes available. 3. The duration of the journey is influenced by factors such as the type of vessel, weather conditions, sailing route, and sailing speed. 4. The fastest recorded time for sailing across the Atlantic is impressive, but the average duration can vary depending on various factors. 5. Successful transatlantic crossings require proper planning, preparation, safety measures, navigation, and communication. 6. Capturing the experience of sailing across the Atlantic can create lasting memories and enrich the journey. 7. Sailing across the Atlantic is an adventure filled with challenges, discoveries, and a sense of accomplishment.

The Transatlantic Route

The Transatlantic Route connects Europe with the Americas and can take 10 to 30 days to sail, depending on weather conditions.

Sailors must consider weather, wind patterns, and currents to successfully navigate The Transatlantic Route .

The most common route starts in Europe, heads towards the Canary Islands , and crosses towards the Caribbean or the United States .

During the crossing, sailors must be prepared for changing weather conditions, including storms and high seas, along The Transatlantic Route .

They need sufficient provisions, fuel, safety equipment, communication, and navigation systems for the journey.

Experienced sailors may participate in races such as the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) which happens yearly and attracts sailors from around the world.

The race provides an opportunity for sailors to challenge themselves and enjoy the thrill of crossing The Transatlantic Route together.

Sailing The Transatlantic Route requires careful planning, skillful navigation, and a sturdy vessel capable of withstanding the challenges of the open ocean.

It is an adventure that tests both the physical and mental endurance of sailors and offers a unique experience crossing one of the world’s largest bodies of water.

What is the Most Common Route for Sailing Across the Atlantic?

The most common route for sailing across the Atlantic is the Trade Winds route. Sailors typically start from the eastern coast of North America or the Caribbean and navigate towards Europe in a diagonal path. This route takes advantage of the prevailing winds and eastward currents in the Atlantic Ocean .

The Trade Winds route provides favorable sailing conditions due to the steady eastward winds. Sailors can maintain a consistent speed throughout their journey, and the North Atlantic Drift current also assists in their progress.

During the voyage, sailors often make stops at islands such as the Azores or the Canary Islands to restock supplies and take a break. These islands also serve as waypoints for adjusting their course.

Although the Trade Winds route is the most common, sailors have the option to choose alternative routes based on their preferences and the prevailing conditions they encounter.

Careful planning of the route is essential for sailors, considering factors such as weather conditions, potential hazards, and desired destinations. Navigation tools like GPS and nautical charts are necessary for a safe and successful crossing.

What are the Alternative Routes for Sailing Across the Atlantic?

Alternative routes for sailing across the Atlantic offer different experiences and challenges.

1. The Northern Route: Sail from Europe to North America, passing through the North Atlantic. It is popular for its picturesque landscapes and encounters with icebergs, attracting adventure seekers.

2. The Southern Route: Sail from Europe to South America, passing through the South Atlantic. Explore beautiful islands like the Azores and Cape Verde, and enjoy favorable trade winds.

3. The Equatorial Route: Sail near the equator, crossing the Atlantic from Africa to South America or vice versa. Experience crossing the equator and navigating the unpredictable doldrums, where winds are calm.

4. The Transpacific Route: Sail from the Americas to Asia, crossing the Pacific Ocean. While not strictly an Atlantic route, some sailors choose this option for a round-the-world journey. The Pacific crossing is known for long distances, challenging weather patterns, and opportunities to visit stunning islands.

When considering alternative routes, sailors should take into account weather conditions, prevailing winds, currents, and seasonal variations. Careful planning is crucial, considering the vessel’s capabilities and the crew’s experience.

The choice of alternative routes for sailing across the Atlantic depends on sailors’ preferences and goals. Each route offers unique experiences and challenges, so choose one that suits your sailing style and aspirations. Happy sailing!

Factors Influencing the Duration of the Journey

When it comes to sailing across the Atlantic, the duration of the journey is influenced by several key factors. From the type of vessel to the weather conditions, sailing route, and speed, each aspect plays a crucial role in determining how long the voyage will take. So, whether you are a seasoned sailor or simply curious about the challenges one might face on this epic journey, let’s dive into the exciting variables that affect the duration of the Atlantic crossing.

Type of Vessel

The type of vessel used for sailing across the Atlantic greatly impacts the journey duration. Factors like size, design, and performance determine the speed and efficiency of the vessel.

Each type of vessel has advantages and disadvantages for transatlantic sailing. Cruise ships and yachts provide comfort but may lack speed. Sailboats and racing boats rely on wind power, but may sacrifice comfort and amenities due to their smaller size. Cargo ships are durable and can withstand weather conditions, but are not designed for passenger comfort.

Historically, various types of vessels have been used for transatlantic crossings. The first successful crossing was made by the steamship SS Savannah in 1819. Technological advancements have since led to more efficient and specialized vessels for transatlantic voyages.

Weather Conditions

Weather conditions are crucial for determining the success and duration of a transatlantic sailing journey. Wind direction and strength greatly impact the speed and efficiency of the sailing vessel, while the state of the sea, including wave height and swell , affects the comfort and safety of the sailors.

Stormy conditions, like strong storms such as hurricanes, pose significant risks that sailors must carefully monitor. Additionally, dense fog impairs visibility, making navigation difficult. It is vital to stay updated on weather conditions by monitoring reliable weather forecasts, utilizing advanced navigational tools like radar and GPS, and having contingency plans in place.

Incorporating these measures can enhance the safety and the overall voyage experience in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sailing Route

When planning a transatlantic sailing journey, it is important to carefully choose the right sailing route. There are several options to consider. One common route is the Trade Wind Route , which takes advantage of the prevailing Trade Winds that blow from east to west. This route is typically used for sailing from Europe to the Caribbean or the east coast of the Americas .

Another popular route is the North Atlantic Great Circle Route , which follows the shortest distance between two points on a globe. This route takes sailors from Europe to the east coast of the United States or Canada . It can be more challenging due to unpredictable weather conditions.

For those looking for a more adventurous route, the Southern Atlantic Route is a great option. This route involves sailing south from Europe , around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa , and then heading west across the Southern Atlantic to reach South America or the Caribbean .

When choosing a sailing route, it is important to consider factors such as weather patterns, prevailing currents, and the capabilities of your vessel. Consulting nautical charts, weather forecasts, and experienced sailors can provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision.

Here are some suggestions for planning your transatlantic sailing adventure:

– Research and familiarize yourself with the chosen route to understand the unique challenges and requirements it may present.

– Ensure your vessel is well-maintained and equipped with the necessary safety gear, navigation instruments, and communication devices.

– Stay updated with weather forecasts and plan your departure accordingly to avoid adverse weather conditions.

– Consider joining sailing forums or communities to connect with experienced sailors who have sailed similar routes and learn from their insights.

Sailing Speed

Sailing speed is a crucial factor to consider when embarking on a transatlantic journey. The ability to sail at a faster speed allows for quicker progress and ultimately leads to a shorter travel time. Various factors influence the speed at which a vessel can sail, including wind conditions and the design of the boat. Having strong and consistent winds can significantly increase the sailing speed , resulting in a reduction in crossing time. Conversely, when faced with unfavorable weather conditions such as calm or headwinds, the sailing speed can be slowed down, thereby prolonging the journey.

It is important to note that the type of vessel also plays a role in determining its speed. High-performance racing yachts tend to sail faster than cruising boats, which may have a slower speed. To optimize sailing speed, it is essential to carefully configure the sails and take advantage of favorable currents. Experienced sailors strategically adjust their course to make the most of wind patterns and currents, allowing them to achieve a faster sailing speed. On average, the sailing speeds for transatlantic crossings typically range from 5 to 10 knots , depending on the prevailing conditions.

It is worth mentioning that a faster speed ultimately shortens the journey time, while a slower speed can prolong the crossing. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly monitor and make necessary adjustments to the sailing speed to ensure efficient progress towards the intended destination.

Typical Timeframes for Sailing Across the Atlantic

Embarking on a journey across the vast Atlantic Ocean is an awe-inspiring endeavor. So, how long does it really take to sail across this magnificent body of water? In this section, we’ll uncover typical timeframes for sailing across the Atlantic . From the fastest recorded time to the average duration, we’ll explore the factors that can impact the duration of this incredible voyage. Brace yourself for a fascinating exploration of the time it takes to traverse this iconic oceanic expanse. Let’s set sail!

Fastest Recorded Time

The trimaran IDEC SPORT, skippered by French sailor Francis Joyon , achieved the fastest recorded time for sailing across the Atlantic in 2017. Joyon completed the journey in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes, and 30 seconds , breaking the previous record set by Thomas Coville in 2016.

This accomplishment showcases the advancement of sailing technology and the capabilities of highly skilled sailors. It also serves as a historical milestone, inspiring others to push their limits and attempt to further reduce the duration of the transatlantic crossing.

Average Duration

The duration of sailing across the Atlantic varies depending on factors such as vessel type. Here is a table showing typical timeframes for different types of vessels:

These durations can be influenced by factors such as weather, route, and speed. Crew skill, stops, and detours can also impact the timeframe.

When planning a transatlantic crossing, consider the average duration based on your vessel type. This helps with preparation, ensuring you have enough supplies and resources.

Remember, sailing across the Atlantic requires planning, safety measures, navigation skills, and communication abilities. Capturing the experience through photos, videos, or journals can enhance the journey.

Factors That Can Impact the Duration

The duration of a transatlantic sailing journey can be impacted by the type of vessel, weather conditions, sailing route, and sailing speed. Let’s explore these factors in a table:

To ensure a successful transatlantic crossing, it is important to consider these factors and plan accordingly. Choose a vessel that suits the intended purpose and desired speed. Stay updated with weather forecasts and plan the route to take advantage of favorable conditions. Maintain a steady and efficient sailing speed to optimize the journey time. Monitoring the factors that can impact the duration will help ensure a safe and enjoyable transatlantic crossing.

Tips for a Successful Transatlantic Crossing

Embarking on a transatlantic crossing? Look no further for essential tips to make your journey a success! From proper planning and preparation to staying safe with swift navigation and communication, we’ve got you covered. Capturing the unforgettable experience that awaits you will be a breeze. So get ready to set sail and conquer the mighty Atlantic with confidence and finesse!

Proper Planning and Preparation

Proper planning and preparation are essential for a successful transatlantic crossing. To ensure a smooth journey, it is important to follow these steps:

1. Conduct thorough research on the transatlantic route and familiarize yourself with both the common and alternative routes available.

2. Stay updated with the weather conditions for your intended time of the journey. Continuously monitor the forecast and weather patterns to select the optimal starting time and to plan for any potential storm systems.

3. Carefully select an appropriate vessel for the journey, taking into consideration factors such as size, stability, and its ability to withstand long voyages.

4. Develop a detailed itinerary that includes planned stops, estimated durations at each stop, and the necessary fuel and food requirements.

5. Remember to pack essential supplies , including food, water, navigation equipment, safety gear, and spare parts that may be needed for potential repairs.

6. Regularly maintain the vessel by thoroughly checking all systems, including the engine, sails, rigging, and electronics.

7. Ensure you have obtained all necessary documentation and permits , such as passports, visas, and clearance from customs and immigration authorities in the countries you plan to visit.

8. Inform your family and friends about your planned route and provide them with an estimated time of arrival at each destination.

9. Stay informed about current regulations and safety guidelines for sailing across the Atlantic.

By diligently following these steps, you can be well-prepared for your transatlantic crossing, greatly enhancing the likelihood of a safe and successful journey.

Safety Measures

When sailing across the Atlantic, it is crucial to prioritize safety by following a variety of safety measures. Here are some key guidelines to consider:

– First and foremost , regularly maintain the vessel to address any potential structural and mechanical issues that may arise.

– It is essential to equip the boat with necessary safety gear such as life jackets, flares, a first aid kit, and a life raft .

– Ensure that there is a reliable communication system installed on board to stay connected with the shore and other vessels in case of emergencies.

– Keep a close eye on weather conditions and be prepared to make necessary adjustments to the sailing route or even delay the journey if the weather becomes unfavorable.

– Have a clear and well-defined emergency plan in place for situations such as man overboard incidents, fire outbreaks, or equipment failures.

– It is vital for all crew members to undergo comprehensive safety training, encompassing navigation skills, emergency procedures, and first aid knowledge .

– Implement regular watch schedules , especially during nighttime passages, to ensure consistent surveillance.

– Minimize risks by adhering to international maritime regulations , utilizing navigational aids, and maintaining a safe distance from other vessels.

– Always have updated charts and navigation tools readily available onboard, and make it a habit to regularly update them as needed.

By conscientiously adhering to these safety measures, you can significantly enhance the safety and enjoyment of your transatlantic sailing experience.

Navigation and Communication

During a transatlantic sailing journey, navigation and communication are crucial. Here are some important considerations for sailors:

1. Marine charts and electronic navigation systems: Sailors need up-to-date marine charts with detailed route and hazard information. GPS can enhance accuracy and provide real-time positioning for navigation.

2. Communication devices: Reliable means of communication are essential. VHF radios allow sailors to communicate with other vessels and coast guard stations for safety and emergencies. Satellite phones and EPIRBs provide additional communication channels in case of emergencies.

3. Weather forecasting: Monitoring weather conditions is crucial for safe navigation. Sailors can use onboard and satellite weather forecasting services for accurate updates, helping them make informed decisions and avoid severe weather.

4. Navigation techniques: Familiarity with celestial navigation methods, like using a sextant , can be useful in case of equipment failure. Sailors can also rely on radar, depth sounders, and electronic charts for safe navigation.

5. Collision avoidance: Vigilance is key. Sailors should use radar and AIS to detect other vessels and avoid collisions. Proper communication and adherence to COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) are important for safe navigation.

During my transatlantic sailing trip, I had an unforgettable experience that highlighted the importance of navigation and communication. While navigating through dense fog, our radar detected a large cargo ship heading towards us. We immediately contacted the ship using the VHF radio, alerting them to our presence and the potential collision risk. Through effective communication and quick maneuvering, we were able to avoid a dangerous situation. This experience reinforced the need for staying alert and having reliable communication systems while sailing across the Atlantic.

Capturing the Experience

To capture the experience of sailing across the Atlantic, consider the following:

1. Bring a high-quality camera or smartphone to document the journey. Capture sunsets , ocean views , and wildlife encounters .

2. Record videos of the boat’s motion, the sound of the waves, and the feeling of being on the open sea .

3. Keep a journal to write down thoughts, feelings, and memorable moments. Describe challenges , triumphs , and personal growth during the journey.

4. Create a scrapbook with photographs , postcards , and mementos collected along the way. Include maps and notes to chronicle the route.

5. Conduct interviews with fellow crew members to gather different perspectives and stories. This adds depth to your documentation and creates a comprehensive narrative.

6. Share your experience on social media or through a blog . Connect with others who share your passion for sailing or are interested in your journey.

7. Organize a slideshow or presentation to showcase your adventure to friends and family. Relive the experience and inspire others to embark on their own sailing adventures.

Fact: A study published in the Journal of Travel Research shows that capturing experiences through photography and journaling enhances memory and increases overall satisfaction with the travel experience.

Some Facts About How Long Does It Take To Sail Across The Atlantic:

✅ The average time it takes to sail across the Atlantic is 20 to 25 days, but it can be completed in as little as two weeks if you are lucky, take shortcuts, and have a fast sailboat. (Source: Our Team)
✅ The journey can take about three to four weeks, covering a distance of about 6,800 km. (Source: Life of Sailing)
✅ The most common route from East to West follows Portugal – The Canary Islands – Cape Verde – Windward Islands, covering a distance of about 6,800 km. (Source: Improvesailing)
✅ Timing is important to avoid the hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. (Source: Improvesailing)
✅ Improved sailing technologies, hull shapes, boat efficiency, and navigation techniques have made crossing the Atlantic faster. (Source: Improvesailing)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how long does it typically take to sail across the atlantic.

On average, it takes about 20 to 25 days to sail across the Atlantic. The duration can vary depending on factors such as the type and size of the sailboat, weather conditions, and the route chosen.

2. What is the best time of year to sail across the Atlantic?

The best time to sail across the Atlantic is between November and February. During these months, the water is warmer and the chances of encountering hurricanes are lower, making the journey safer and more comfortable.

3. What are the main routes for crossing the Atlantic?

There are two main routes for crossing the Atlantic: east to west and west to east. The northern passage involves sailing from America to Europe, with departure ports typically in New York or Bermuda. The southern passage entails sailing from Europe to America, with departure ports usually in Southern Spain or the Canary Islands.

4. What factors can affect the duration of an Atlantic crossing?

Several factors can influence the duration of an Atlantic crossing, including the type and speed capabilities of the sailboat, the location of departure, and the weather conditions encountered during the journey. The skill and experience of the sailor can also play a role.

5. What are some essential preparations for sailing across the Atlantic?

To be well-prepared for an Atlantic crossing, it is important to create a time scale, choose the most suitable route, have a budget, and select a qualified and experienced crew. Having a sturdy boat with durable sails, proper navigation gear, and sufficient fuel is crucial for a successful journey.

6. Are there any shortcuts or strategies to complete the Atlantic crossing faster?

While the average duration of an Atlantic crossing is 20 to 25 days, it is possible to complete the journey in as little as two weeks if you are lucky, take shortcuts, and have a fast sailboat. Utilizing the reliable trade winds in the North Atlantic can also help maximize speed and make the journey easier.

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Sail Across the Atlantic – Everything You Need to Know

Whether you’re a serious sailor, sailing enthusiast or even a family with a shared love of the ocean, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is an unforgettable offshore adventure.

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is a dream that has captivated the hearts and minds of adventurers, explorers, and sailors for centuries. The vast expanse of water stretching between the continents of Europe and the Americas offers a unique and exhilarating challenge that beckons those with a spirit of adventure.

How Long Does It Take To Sail Across the Atlantic

Embarking on a transatlantic voyage is a dance with time itself. The duration of the journey hinges on several factors, especially the route you choose to take.

The northern passage typically takes between 15 to 30 days, depending on the specific route taken and prevailing conditions, while the southern passage route usually takes around 20 to 40 days to complete, depending on factors such as wind strength and sailing speed.

Transatlantic Routes

The Atlantic Ocean offers several routes, each with its own unique character and challenges.

Sailing West to East with the North Atlantic Route

The North Atlantic route is known for its challenging conditions, including strong winds, rough seas, and rapidly changing weather. Sailors must be prepared to handle adverse conditions and make strategic decisions to ensure the safety of the crew and the vessel.

The voyage typically begins on the east coast of the United States or Canada and follows a northeasterly course toward Europe from Bermuda.

One of the most popular routes is from Bermuda to Portugal and covers just over 2,706 nautical miles and takes 20 to 25 days to complete. Another popular route is Bermuda to the United Kingdom via the Azores covering 3,129 nautical miles and taking 25 to 31 days to complete.

The best time to complete this route is from 1 July to 30 September.

Sailing East to West with the Southern Passage

The southern passage route from Europe to the Caribbean is guided by steady trade winds and a gentler rhythm of the ocean. It offers a more predictable and comfortable sailing experience, as sailors can harness the consistent trade winds that blow from east to west across the Atlantic. This route is popular among sailors seeking a smoother and more leisurely crossing.

The voyage typically begins in Europe , often from ports in Portugal or Spain, and heads southwest toward the Caribbean. While the southern passage is generally more favourable in terms of weather and sea conditions, sailors must still remain vigilant and prepared for changes in wind strength and direction.

The most popular routes east to west are from Portugal to Barbados which covers 4,100 nautical miles and takes 21 to 31 days to complete, and from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia which covers 2,700 nautical miles and takes 20 to 25 days to complete.

The best time to complete this route is from 30 November to 28 February.

Weather on an Atlantic Crossing

The weather during a sailing trip across the Atlantic is influenced by a complex interplay of factors. Prevailing wind patterns, such as the Trade Winds and the Westerlies, shape the direction and speed of the vessel’s journey.

Ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, can accelerate or impede progress, affecting navigation decisions. Atmospheric pressure systems, such as high atmospheric pressure and low-pressure areas, dictate wind strength and weather conditions.

Seasonal variations and geographical features, like the Azores High and the Intertropical Convergence Zone, introduce variability in wind and rain patterns. Additionally, the Atlantic’s vast size and varied geography contribute to regional differences in climate, with the potential for sudden weather changes and the formation of storms.

Weather information and forecasts play a critical role in helping skippers make informed decisions to navigate challenging conditions and avoid potential dangers.

The Right Sailboat to Sail Across the Atlantic

Selecting the appropriate vessel for a transatlantic voyage is a decision that shapes the entire experience.

Monohulls: Monohull sailboats are known for their stability in rough seas and their ability to handle a variety of weather conditions. However, it’s essential to choose a well-built, ocean-worthy vessel designed for long-distance cruising. The right one can provide a level of comfort and convenience that can be especially appealing for those seeking a more leisurely transatlantic crossing.

Multihulls: Crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a multihull sailboat, which includes catamarans and trimarans, is becoming increasingly popular due to their unique advantages and capabilities. Multihulls have multiple hulls, which offer benefits in terms of stability, speed, and comfort, as well as much mroe deck space.

Tall Ship: Steeped in history and romance, tall ships evoke the nostalgia of a bygone era. Their majestic masts and billowing sails harken back to the golden age of exploration and offer a unique and authentic seafaring experience. However, despite their size, crossing the ocean with a tall ship has its challenges and demands a skilled crew familiar with traditional sailing techniques.

Unconventional Boats: Many unconventional boats have crossed the Atlantic. British adventurer Roz Savage completed two solo Atlantic Ocean crossings in a rowboat. While others have tried but not yet succeeded in unconventional vessels like Andrew Bedwell who tried to cross in a 3.5 metre vessel.

Technology Onboard

When undertaking an Atlantic crossing, a boat should be equipped with essential technology for safety and navigation. This includes GPS, electronic charts, radar, AIS, communication tools like VHF radio and satellite phone, emergency equipment such as EPIRB and life rafts, navigation and weather software, power generation sources like solar panels and wind generators, and backup systems for redundancy.

Having backup tools, spare parts, and navigational charts ensures preparedness for emergency repairs. Proper familiarity with and maintenance of these technologies are crucial for a successful and secure voyage.

Is Bigger Better?

Ultimately, the “right” boat size for crossing the Atlantic depends on your personal preferences, the type of vessel you’re comfortable with, your sailing experience, and your intended voyage. Smaller boats, including monohulls and multihulls, have successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean, often with solo sailors or small crews.

It’s essential to match the boat’s size with your skill level, comfort, and the goals you have for your voyage. Proper planning, preparation, and understanding your boat’s capabilities are key to a safe and enjoyable transatlantic crossing.

Who Can Sail Across the Atlantic

The allure of transatlantic sailing transcends skill levels, beckoning both seasoned sailors and those new to the world of seafaring.

Skill Level

Novices can sail in guided group expeditions. Many sailing schools and organisations offer transatlantic training programs designed to prepare novice sailors for the challenges of open-ocean voyages. These programs cover topics such as navigation, seamanship, weather forecasting, and emergency procedures, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to handle the demands of a transatlantic crossing.

To start gaining more knowledge consider a course like your RYA Day Skipper.

Solo and Groups

Experienced sailors can opt for solo endeavours, navigating the challenges of the open water alone. Solo transatlantic crossings require a high level of skill, self-sufficiency, and mental resilience. Solo sailors must be prepared to handle all aspects of the voyage, from navigation and sail trim to maintenance and emergency repairs. It is not an easy task but a rewarding one.

Group transatlantic voyages offer the opportunity to share the challenges and triumphs of the journey with like-minded individuals. Crew members can provide support, share knowledge, and contribute their unique skills to the overall success of the voyage.

When Is The Best Time To Sail Across The Atlantic?

Navigating the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean demands strategic timing to ensure a safe and rewarding transatlantic crossing. Sailors must carefully consider multiple factors when determining the best time to embark on this epic journey.

Avoid Hurricane Season

To mitigate risks, it’s crucial to avoid the peak of the hurricane season, which spans from early June to late November, by planning departures before or after this period.

Trade Winds

The trade wind seasons play a pivotal role. Departing between November and January is ideal for east-to-west crossings (Europe to the Americas), taking advantage of strong easterly winds, while west-to-east voyages (Americas to Europe) are best undertaken from April to June.

Transitional Seasons

The transitional seasons of spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) offer milder conditions, reducing the likelihood of encountering severe weather. Additionally, the Northern Hemisphere summer (June to August) may provide calmer conditions near specific regions like the Azores and Bermuda due to seasonal temperature gradients.

Monitoring and Flexibility

Even with careful planning, weather conditions can vary. Modern technology, including advanced weather forecasting and satellite communication, allows sailors to monitor changing weather patterns closely. This flexibility enables them to adjust departure dates to align with the most favourable conditions.

What To Expect When You Sail Across The Atlantic

Embarking on a transatlantic voyage is a transformative experience that unveils a variety of emotions and encounters.

Isolation and Self-Discovery

The vastness of the open ocean fosters introspection, offering moments of solitude and self-contemplation. Sailing farther from land, the ocean becomes a place for self-discovery. Away from distractions, sailors connect with their thoughts, gaining profound insights and a deeper understanding of themselves.

Adapting to Dynamic Conditions

Navigating the Atlantic demands adaptability, as calm waters can swiftly turn tempestuous. Sailors encounter a range of weather patterns, from tranquillity to storms. Success hinges on quick decision-making, adjusting sails, altering course, and ensuring safety in rapidly changing wind and wave conditions.

Marine Life and Celestial Wonders

The Atlantic unveils captivating marine life and celestial spectacles. Sailors witness dolphins, whales, and seabirds in their natural habitat. Nights offer starry skies and bioluminescent wonders, like meteor showers, illuminating the transatlantic journey with awe-inspiring beauty.

Camaraderie

The challenges and triumphs of crossing an ocean create a deep bond among crew members. Everyone is on the same journey, facing the same conditions, and working together towards a common goal.

Preparing for Sailing Across The Atlantic

Preparing for a transatlantic crossing demands meticulous planning and a comprehensive understanding of the necessities.

Route and Preparation

Craft a detailed route plan, communication strategies, and contingency plans for a successful transatlantic journey. Thorough preparation is key, covering route selection, departure dates, emergency procedures, and communication protocols.

Consider wind patterns, currents, and potential hazards during route planning. Prepare provisions like food, water, and supplies. Develop contingency plans for adverse weather, medical emergencies, and navigation challenges.

Apparel for All Conditions

Pack layered clothing, foul-weather gear, and safety equipment to adapt to changing weather. Proper clothing ensures comfort and safety. Layering helps regulate temperature, and specialised gear like waterproof jackets, pants, and boots protects against the elements. Safety items like life jackets and harnesses are crucial on deck. Include hats, gloves, and sunglasses for sun protection.

Essential Gear and Tools

Equip with navigation tools, communication devices, safety gear, and spare parts. Success relies on proper gear. Navigation tools (GPS, charts, compasses) aid in plotting courses. Communication devices (satellite phones, radios) keep sailors connected. Safety gear like life rafts, EPIRBs, and flares are vital in emergencies. Carrying spare parts and tools prevents breakdowns.

Stock up on non-perishable food, fresh water, and cooking facilities. Consider food diversity and nutritional balance. Fresh water should be rationed, and watermakers or desalination systems help generate freshwater. Cooking facilities enable meal preparation, accounting for dietary preferences and nutritional needs.

Navigating Legally

Secure necessary permits and documentation for international waters. Crossing boundaries requires permits, visas, and paperwork for foreign ports. Research entry requirements and apply for permits early. Maintain organised vessel documentation for customs and immigration inspections.

Risks of Sailing Across the Atlantic

While Atlantic crossings offer an unparalleled sense of accomplishment, ocean sailing carries some inherent risks.

Weather Challenges

The Atlantic’s unpredictable weather presents dangers from storms to hurricane-force winds. Vigilant weather monitoring and advanced prediction tools help sailors adapt routes and sail plans. A defined storm plan, including course adjustments and reducing sail, is vital for safety in the face of approaching storms.

Health Considerations

Seasickness, fatigue, and medical emergencies require self-sufficiency at sea. Coping with seasickness involves staying hydrated and using medications. Combatting fatigue demands a well-structured watch schedule for adequate rest. Basic first-aid training and well-equipped medical kits are crucial for addressing health issues in remote settings.

Equipment Reliability

Vessel malfunctions demand resourcefulness and preparation. Mechanical, electronic, and communication systems can fail due to the ocean’s rigours. Pre-departure checks and onboard tools aid in identifying and addressing potential issues. Crew members should possess repair skills and improvisational abilities to tackle unexpected breakdowns and ensure vessel safety.

The ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers)

Participating in organized events like the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) is one way to cross the ocean. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) is a renowned annual sailing event organised by the World Cruising Club and a favourite in the yachting world. It brings together sailors worldwide and provides an opportunity for sailors to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the company of a group, enhancing safety and camaraderie.

There are three different ARC events, which present three different ways to cross the Atlantic.

The original and most well-known event is the ARC. It typically takes place in November and involves a west-to-east crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands to Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia, in the Caribbean.

The ARC covers a distance of approximately 2,700 nautical miles and is open to a wide range of sailing vessels, from small cruisers to larger yachts. It offers a combination of bluewater sailing, challenges, and social activities, making it a popular choice for sailors seeking both adventure and community.

ARC Europe is a variation of the ARC that offers a more flexible route for sailors who prefer a northern European departure. It typically starts from a European port (such as Portsmouth, UK) and finishes in the same location as the main ARC event, Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia. ARC Europe provides participants with the opportunity to experience a mix of coastal and offshore sailing as they make their way south to the Caribbean.

The ARC+ is designed for sailors who want to extend their voyage and explore more destinations before reaching the Caribbean. The ARC+ event offers two routes: one starting from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, as in the main ARC event, and another starting from Mindelo in Cape Verde. Both routes converge in Saint Lucia, giving participants a chance to experience different cultures and sailing challenges along the way.

Each of these ARC events emphasises safety, camaraderie, and adventure. The World Cruising Club provides extensive support, including safety seminars, social events, weather routing, and radio nets to ensure participants have a smooth and enjoyable crossing.

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is a remarkable journey that demands a blend of skill, preparation, and a spirit of adventure. While it may seem like a daunting experience, it’s not just for seasoned sailors. With the right boat, people, equipment and preparation it is an accessible, life-changing adventure that almost anyone can enjoy.

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Just do it! My family will never forget crossing the Atlantic in our 40ft motorboat

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When a devastating stroke left Philippe Guglielmetti in need of a wheelchair, he refused to abandon his ambition to cross the Atlantic on his own boat, crewed by his two sons…

“Don’t think about it too much, just do it,” says Philippe Guglielmetti, his thick French accent still clearly identifiable a decade after moving to the US. “The more you think about it, the more reasons you will find not to do it.”

He’s talking about his decision to cross the Atlantic ocean on his own 40ft motor boat – a major achievement in itself but one that’s verging on the superhuman for someone who struggles to cross his own bedroom without help.

Then again, Philippe is used to ignoring what he should or shouldn’t be able to do – the very fact he’s still alive is something of a miracle given the catastrophic stroke he suffered in 2014. “Statistically I should be dead,” he says, “that’s what the doctors told me. Now they want to study me to find out why I’m not!”

Philippe was only 50 years old when his life changed forever mid-way through a taxi ride in Paris. “I had read about illnesses that affect people in their 40s and recognised the symptoms straight away. I told the driver to take me to the hospital and explained to the doctors I was having a stroke.”

Sceptical as the doctors were about this self-diagnosis, a scan confirmed his worst fears. Philippe was placed in an induced coma and ended up spending six weeks in a French hospital before being deemed well enough to fly back to the US for further rehabilitation.

The initial prognosis was not good. He couldn’t walk, he struggled to speak, he’d lost fine control of his hands and he suffered from debilitating double vision that left him dizzy and unable to judge distances.

The only thing that kept him going was his determination to carry on living life to the full. That and the promise of a Japanese toilet!

“I know it sounds crazy but the thing I was most worried about was not being able to go to the loo on my own. When my wife Florence suggested we buy a Japanese toilet that could wash my bottom for me, it was a life-changing moment.”

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It’s a telling insight into how much life has changed for Philippe since that fateful day. He’d been a keen boater since childhood, learning to sail an Optimist dinghy from a young age and accompanying his parents on their modest sailing yacht near their home in the South of France.

But while his parents made a point of never using the engine unless they absolutely had to, Philippe always yearned for the powerful motor yachts he saw blasting past them. “I remember thinking that one day when I am an adult, I will have a fast motor boat like that,” he says.

It took him a while to achieve it but having started a successful IT company in his early 30s and selling it for a tidy sum six years later, he didn’t just buy a boat, he bought an entire shipyard.

At the time ACM was a well-respected French builder of small to mid-sized motor boats but struggled to make much of an impact beyond its home market. Philippe spotted an opportunity to expand its reach by building larger, more luxurious boats under the dormant Arcoa brand and bought the company.

He built a new factory in Brittany, relaunched the Arcoa brand as a builder of stylish lobster-style boats up to 62ft and enjoyed considerable success until the financial crisis of 2008.

An offer from a wealthy French retail magnate to buy the company proved too good to turn down so he sold up and moved to the US to launch a new business in 3D printing. It was during a sales trip to Europe in 2015 that the stroke hit.

Getting back on his feet

The road to recovery was long and painful but whatever damage it had wreaked on his brain’s ability to control his body, it hadn’t touched his cognitive function.

That same entrepreneurial spirit and lust for life that had brought him success in business now provided the drive and motivation to get back on his feet. The first goal he set himself was inspired by a small orange toy his wife Florence had placed on his bedside table at the hospital in Paris.

It was a 3D-printed model of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco which he’d brought with him as a sales prop. He decided there and then that he was going to walk across the bridge unaided.

It took months of intensive rehabilitation and bloody-minded determination to start walking again but sure enough he delivered on his promise to walk across the bridge.

With that first hurdle safely negotiated, his thoughts now turned to another crossing, on an altogether bigger scale. Ever since his time at the helm of ACM, he’d dreamed of crossing the Atlantic on his own boat but had never found the time or opportunity to do it.

Now he had both, even if his physical disabilities meant it would be a lot more complicated. As ever he refused to let that put him off.

“It was feasible, I knew I could do it, I just needed the right boat and the right people to help me. Of course a lot of people advised against it but like anything in life, if you overthink it, you’ll find reasons not to do it.”

The first step was to get back on the water. As his teenage children were into waterskiing, he decided to have a go at driving the family ski boat.

“My fine motor skills aren’t that good but you don’t actually need super fine control to steer a boat so it was OK.”

When the family moved from California to Biscayne Bay, Florida in 2020, he went one step further and bought their own seagoing boat, a Yamaha 275SD jet boat , on which he could hone his close-quarter docking skills.

Now his transatlantic plans could really start to progress. Originally he’d scheduled it for May 2023 but another cruel twist of fate forced him to reconsider.

Cerebellar atrophy, a gradual degeneration in the area of the brain controlling coordination, meant he was starting to lose his sense of balance. Although his legs and arms still had the strength, he could no longer walk without hanging on to something.

Another setback

Many people would have given up at this point, but instead of scrapping his transatlantic plans, Philippe decided to bring them forward by a year while he still had the physical ability to cope. That just left the small matter of finding a boat to do it in.

“You need three things for a successful crossing,” Philippe tells me. “The right boat, the right weather and the right crew. Given my budget of around $500,000, there were only two boats that had the necessary range and the seakeeping – a Selene 43 or a Nordhavn 40 .”

In December 2021 he found a 2001 model Nordhavn 40 for sale which, while lacking some key equipment for an ocean crossing, was in pristine condition. He snapped it up for $345,000 and set about preparing it for the challenge ahead.

Philippe’s Nordhavn 40 prepares for relaunch after modifications

This involved replacing the defunct wing engine with a 30hp Yanmar and replacing the transmission with a new ZF gearbox, overhauling the main 105hp John Deere engine, adding a stern thruster, upgrading the electronics and hydraulic steering, installing a new Simrad remote autopilot, and fitting an oversized joystick that would allow Philippe to bring the boat alongside using his hand rather than his increasingly unresponsive fingers.

In an ideal world he would also have swapped the paravane stabilisers (bird-shaped steel foils suspended from long outriggers that glide through the water either side of the boat) with active fin stabilisers.

However, a combination of limited time, money and supply chain issues soon put paid to that. Besides, a two-day sea trial to bed in the new gearbox and test all the systems proved that the paravanes, while crude by today’s standards, were at least simple and effective.

New Yanmar wing engine fitted while electronics were upgraded too

Mods and crew

Just as important as the technical upgrades to the boat were the physical adaptations needed to cope with Philippe’s disabilities.

His physical therapist specified where to place the nine new grabrails that would enable Philippe to support himself on the short journey from his cabin to the wheelhouse and heads, where he’d installed another Japanese toilet. “I even took a spare pump for it – for me it’s even more important than the engine!”

With a new departure date set for June 2022, Philippe now turned his attention to the crew. He quickly identified that it needed to be people without a rigid schedule who could adapt to the changing timelines dictated by the weather.

Matthieu gets to work in the galley

Students would be ideal and who better to have than his own children? His two sons Maxime and Matthieu, Matthieu’s girlfriend Abi, a colleague of Florence called Adélaïde and their neighbour Dominique.

The crossing would be split into three legs: Miami to Bermuda; Bermuda to the Azores; and the Azores to Portugal, with crew coming and going but with Philippe staying on board the whole time. “I was the captain as I had the experience of running boats but they had the physical ability to do whatever needed doing,” explains Philippe.

The crew would each take three-hour stints at the helm, including Philippe, albeit with someone always on hand to offer help if he needed any physical assistance.

Philippe takes a break from helming duties in the saloon

Philippe, Maxime, Dominique, Adélaïde and Jeanne left Miami on 29 May and before long were being buffeted by 30-knot winds, making it impossible for Philippe to safely negotiate the stairs down to his cabin. He settled down for the night on the saloon sofa instead.

“The first two days were pretty exciting but after that it’s just water, water, water. We read a lot, I thought a lot. I wanted the crossing to be a special moment in life, you only do it once, so make the most of it.”

Other than rougher than expected seas, the journey to Bermuda passed smoothly. Jeanne and Dominique left the boat to be replaced by Matthieu and his girlfriend Abi.

Departure day from Miami in May 2022

With both his sons now on board it was time to tackle the longest leg across the heart of the Atlantic ocean. Once again things started well enough, other than the expected seasickness, which affected almost everyone for the first few days.

However, about a week into the crossing and hundreds of miles from land, they spotted a worrying movement in the mast supporting the outriggers. The constant pressure from the paravanes had taken its toll on the two forward shrouds supporting the mast and the bolt securing the starboard one had worked loose.

With the swell already 3m high, they couldn’t risk raising the paravanes or trying to make running repairs so they had no option but to keep plugging on and hope that the one remaining shroud would hold out.

As the day went on the creaking and groaning got worse and worse until the mast itself started to bend. The crew could only look on in horror as the whole mast collapsed onto the aft deck, sending ropes, wires and paravanes hurtling into the sea around the boat.

Initially the propeller seemed to have escaped without getting tangled so they secured the mast as best they could and for three hours limped slowly onwards, listening intently for any noise that might signal all was not well.

When the inevitable happened, Philippe ordered the gearbox to be put in neutral while the crew set about taping a GoPro camera onto a long boathook to try and see what was going on under the boat. A stray section of rope had got wrapped around the propeller.

The mast had to be secured to the aft deck after collapsing

Keep calm and sit it out

“For me it wasn’t a big deal,” says Philippe, “I’d already experienced rope around a propeller twice before and I knew the swell was due to drop in a couple of days so I told everyone we were going to sit it out until it was calm enough for someone to dive in and cut the rope.”

Not surprisingly, his wife Florence was less laid back about their predicament. “I called her to let her know it wasn’t a problem. Yes, we were adrift in the middle of the Atlantic and I was stuck in a wheelchair but we were OK.

“Of course she was worried and started calling everyone she could think of. And I can tell you, in the middle of the Atlantic everyone wants to help you. I even had a phone call from the captain of a big ship offering to come and help us.”

Once the swell had died down Maxime was able to dive in and cut the rope from the propeller and let the paravanes drop into the depths

Listening to Philippe relive the experience with a big smile on his face and his relentlessly upbeat tone, you get the impression he actually relished the challenge. “You know, it’s funny, talking about it now, it’s good that we were stuck in the middle of the Atlantic. If nothing had happened it wouldn’t have been an adventure!”

After two and a half days adrift with the boat at the mercy of the wind and waves, the swell finally started to subside and Maxime was able to dive under the boat and free the propeller.

They then unscrewed the remaining shroud, allowing the paravanes and shrouds to sink to the bottom of the ocean. “It was a long few days but it’s better to spend a couple of days drifting in the ocean than for the ocean to be your grave,” muses Philippe breezily.

Rollercoaster ride

Now the question was whether to carry on to the Azores or return home to Bermuda. “If it was safer to go back and abandon the attempt I would have done it, but it was no more dangerous to carry on to the Azores so that’s what we decided to do,” reasons Philippe.

Without any form of stabilisation from the jettisoned paravanes to limit the movement, the boat rolled wildly from side to side in the 3-4m seas, regularly dipping the portholes below the surface and sometimes seeing the water come right up to the bottom of the saloon windows when the occasional bigger 6m wave passed every 30 minutes or so.

While the rugged Nordhavn was designed to take it, the constant motion made life on board even more difficult, particularly for Philippe, who could no longer risk moving up and down the companionway except for obligatory trips to the bathroom.

Philippe kept a cool head when the chips were down

Instead he spent most of the time holed up in the wheelhouse barricaded between the sofa and the liferaft to stop him sliding around on the floor. It was a bruising experience both mentally and physically but one which brought the crew even closer together.

Philippe is effusive in his praise: “My sons were so good to me, it was fantastic to share this with them. In 40 years time they will still remember this experience together.”

Looking back, it also gave Philippe the chance to put his seagoing experience to good use. “When the sea is beautiful everybody can be a good captain, when it’s not going to plan that’s when the real character comes out. Thankfully, everybody trusted me and respected my decisions.”

Safely alongside in Horta, the Azores

His calmness paid off and on 25 June, after 17 days of being rolled around like a tea towel in a washing machine, they finally made landfall in Horta, the Azores, having covered two thirds of the way across the Atlantic.

That still left one final leg of their journey to reach mainland Europe and complete their Atlantic crossing but with a chance to get the boat properly checked over, the engine serviced and another change of crew, it felt like the worst was over.

Philippe had originally planned to make Portugal his first port of call before heading north to Southampton and re-crossing the Atlantic in the other direction but with a return journey now out of the question due to the missing paravanes he re-routed to Barcelona in Spain where he could have the Nordhavn lifted onto a ship and transported back to Miami.

The final furlong

Despite enduring 45-knot winds and an epic 12-hour stint at the helm when passing through the busy strait of Gibraltar, the rest of the journey passed relatively uneventfully for Philippe and his crew.

They finally made landfall in Tarragona, a few miles from Barcelona, on 12 July some 44 days and 4,300nm after leaving Miami, making Philippe the first wheelchair user to cross the Atlantic by motor boat.

Philippe is justifiably proud of his transatlantic achievement: “I did it, I did it, I crossed the Atlantic ocean. I am proud to show what is possible when you are disabled. If you have an accident in your life, you don’t need to stay in your bedroom, you can still set challenges and achieve them.”

Philippe celebrates their arrival in Tarragona

As for what comes next, Philippe is still undecided but the chances are it won’t involve his current boat. “When I suggested to Florence that we take it through the Panama Canal to Hawaii, she said, ‘Are you looking for a divorce, do you want a divorce?’

“So no, it won’t be on this boat but I will find something and it will involve a crossing. I have some ideas but I can’t share them yet, my wife will kill me!”

One thing’s for sure, Philippe isn’t done yet and once he finds the right opportunity, this inspirational Frenchman will embrace it with all the same enthusiasm and planning as his Transatlantic challenge – but without too much thinking!

First published in the March 2023 issue of MBY.

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Philippe takes a difficult few steps on board, philippe’s sons made the most of the calmer moments of their eventful voyage, the first leg from miami to bermuda went smoothly and without incident, with another change of crew coming on board in bermuda, “i told everyone we were going to sit it out until it was calm enough for someone to dive in and cut the rope”, the collapsed mast was an ugly reminder of their brush with disaster, the azores gave the crew a chance to catch up with repairs, stocking up on supplies, circumnavigating great britain in an 18ft speedboat: brixham to milford haven, new fjord f480 first look: 40 knot capable 47 footer, navan s30 & c30 tour: exceptional new axopar rival, latest videos, galeon 440 fly sea trial: you won’t believe how much they’ve packed in, parker sorrento yacht tour: 50-knot cruiser with a killer aft cabin, yamarin 80 dc tour: a new direction for the nordic day cruiser.

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