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.
Here are the records for the fastest crossings of the Atlantic in a Sailboat.
5d 14h 21min 25s | Comanche | Monohull | 2016 | 21.44 knots (39.71 km/h) | |
3d 15h 25min 48s | Banque Populaire V | Trimaran | 2009 | 32.94 knots (61.00 km/h) | |
4d 11h 10m 23s | Sodebo Ultim | Trimaran | 2017 | 28.35 knots (52.50 km/h) |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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Table of Contents:
The Atlantic crossing is a significant adventure that requires a boat of at least 30 feet long, whether sailing or motoring. Both sailing and motoring require a boat of this size for safety and comfort. The Atlantic crossing season occurs every winter, with 4-5,000 sailors crossing from Europe to the Caribbean in the months leading up to Christmas.
The speed of the yacht can also affect the time it takes to cross the Atlantic. A faster yacht will take less time to cross the Atlantic than a slower one. 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.
It can take from 10 days to three weeks to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Many yachts make this journey, but between 4 and 30 days on the north Atlantic route. Sailboat speed varies widely by hull type, with monohulls being slower. The northern route (U.S. to Europe) takes approximately 3-6 weeks, depending on the starting and starting points.
An Atlantic crossing is no ordinary voyage, as it involves immersing yourself in the open sea for 15 days or more. Depending on the size and speed of the superyacht in question, crossing the Pacific can be done in as little as 7 days. Sailing vessels and sailing yachts take roughly three to four weeks to perform an Atlantic Crossing, depending on weather conditions.
Follow Polar Seal across the Atlantic! www.ryanandsophie.com/#tracking In this video, we explain how sailboats have crossed the …
How Big Of A Boat Do You Need To Cross The Ocean?. If you want to cross the Atlantic Ocean, you will need a boat at least 30 feet long, regardless of whether you plan to sail or motor. For both protection and convenience, the ideal length of your boat is forty feet. Both motoring and sailing across the Atlantic are very different adventures, but to be one of them, you need a boat at least this size. You may also need an even larger boat if you plan to bring other people with you on the voyage.
Why Do You Need A Boat Of 30 Or 40 Ft To Cross The Ocean?. Since it is feasible to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in a much smaller vessel, the question arises as to why you would need a boat that is 30 or 40 feet in length. The answer is that attempting to cross in anything smaller can be very dangerous and becomes increasingly inconvenient as time goes on. This is a simple explanation. A boat of at least this size is desirable for several reasons, including the following:
Seaworthiness. When the waves start to get rough, the last thing you want to do is be confined in a little boat. In the Atlantic Ocean, storms frequently cause the sinking of boats with lengths significantly more than 30 or 40 feet. If it is any smaller than this, there is a significant possibility of sinking during a storm. Do not fall into the trap of believing that you can organize your trip so that it avoids the possibility of poor weather.
By the early 1900s, sailing ships were out and passenger liners were in. Technology had long surpassed wooden vessels, and gigantic steel hulls capable of transporting up to 2,000 people per voyage were now a reality. This ushered in the golden age of the liner — a significant contributor to the speed of American colonization. A 1900s liner once made the transatlantic journey in a record four days, but the average was around five days.
By the 1950s, passenger liners were made obsolete by airplanes that could make the journey in hours, not days. As the liner industry dwindled, liners gradually transformed into what is known today as cruise ships. On a leisure cruise ship, you can make a historic journey of your own. Most Transatlantic cruises take a bit longer than five days, stopping off at historic ports along the way to explore the local lands and indulge in cultural foods. While you lose some of the adventure of a sailboat, you gain plenty of comfort and relaxation! Cruise boats are very stable, packed with thrilling activities, and are expertly navigated across the high seas.
If you want to make the crossing the old-fashioned way, join the popular sailing race between the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro called the Cape to Rio. By all reports, it’s a pleasant downwind race that’s sunny, warm, and gentle. Held over December, steady trade winds whisk you from one continent to the other without much risk of storms or rough seas. You can find other races from European destinations, such as the single-handed Transatlantic Race.
So what’s it like doing a transatlantic crossing by ship? Well, that depends on what year and what ship. Back in Columbus’ day, sailing from England to America could take you anywhere between six weeks and four months, depending on the wind and weather you faced. Without modern-day weather-prediction technology, your voyage time was largely based on luck. Columbus himself was rather lucky, making the journey in 61 days. And so began a centuries-long effort to reduce the crossing time for sailing ships. Some 200 years later, in the 1700s, sailing ships still needed at least six weeks to cross the Atlantic. But a new invention was on the way. During the 19th century, in 1845, Britain’s steam-powered ship, the SS Great Britain, could make the whole journey in a breezy 14 days. The ship, which could carry 480 people, was a mixture of new and old, combining sails with advanced iron screw propulsion.
The first, which we dub a “repositioning” voyage, takes place in spring and fall, when many cruise lines move their ships between seasons in Europe and in the Caribbean. Depending on a ship’s speed, it generally takes between six and eight days to cross the Atlantic. Many lines will add a few ports of call, and this may stretch the length of the cruise to two weeks or more.
The second, an entirely different option, is Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, a true ocean liner that crosses the Atlantic for the fun of it. The trips, which typically travel between England’s Southampton and New York City, last seven days, all of which are at sea. (The line does also offer longer itineraries with stops in between.)
The Olivier Awards aboard Queen Mary 2 (Photo: Cunard)
The distance a yacht can travel varies based on its size, engine power, and how much fuel it holds. A typical 35-foot motor yacht can usually go 200-300 miles in a day if it keeps a good pace.
The following factors can affect how far a yacht can travel:
Fuel Capacity and Efficiency. The bigger the fuel tank, the farther you can go on a single fill-up. But, just like cars, some yachts are more fuel-efficient than others. A well-designed, well-maintained yacht will squeeze more miles out of each gallon of fuel, even if it has a smaller fuel tank than another, less efficient vessel. For example, when you are looking to rent a yacht in Dubai, it is important to consider fuel efficiency, especially if you are planning a long voyage.
Yes, To cross the Atlantic, you’ll need a yacht that’s at least 30 feet long. For safety and comfort, your yacht should be at least 40 feet long. Although the experience of sailing or motoring across the Atlantic is vastly different, both require a yacht of this size.
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean To cross the Atlantic on a superyacht, you want to have a boat that has a fuel tank with a capacity to hold about 5,000 liters of fuel.
When you get to a point in your life where you’re ready to do some serious traveling, you might consider buying or renting a superyacht. One of the first things you should consider when beginning to look at your yacht options is where you’re thinking of going. All superyachts are not made the same and there are some things you’ll want to consider before settling on the right boat for you and your travel needs.
It is important to note that there isn’t a single answer to how far or to where yachts can travel. Much of the information depends on the kind of boat you want, what your goals are as far as where you want to go, and much more.
Most superyachts are either motoryachts or sailing yachts. They both have benefits and drawbacks to them, but once you understand the differences between the two types you can get an idea of which one is more likely to meet your needs.
How big of a yacht can you cross the Atlantic Ocean in?. For comfort and safety, yachts crossing the ocean should be a minimum of 30ft. This size boat allows you to travel securely across the Atlantic Ocean. When yachts cross the ocean, it’s important to have enough fuel, supplies and food for those on board, which means that the larger the boat, the better your journey.
How far can yachts travel?. The distance a yacht can travel varies on many things, including its fuel efficiency, engine size, and power. Sailing yachts that are equipped with both sail power and motor power can often travel vast distances. Modern boats with rechargeable engine power, such as S/Y BLACK PEARL built by Oceanco can power themselves without needing to stop and refuel.
When choosing to cross the Atlantic or the Pacific with your yacht, you’ll want to take notice of the yacht’s range and the size of the yacht to make sure not only that your mega yacht can cross the ocean, but you’ll be able to do so comfortably and safely.
On average, here are some typical durations for the transatlantic journey:
To give you an idea of comparison, a cruise ship would only take 6-8 days, while a traditional tall ship would be in the 3-6 week category depending on weather.
Want to sail across the Atlantic?. This article is there to guide you on what to look out for, what to expect, what makes the right boat and the various routes to take. A sail across the Atlantic is more than long-distance cruising – it is a serious undertaking and should not be taken lightly. If you are taking your boat, train and prepare like never before. If you are sailing with someone else, do your due diligence, and don’t let availability or convenience cloud your judgment. There have been too many tragedies caused by poorly prepared boats and sailors. We’re biased, obviously, but we genuinely believe that led by our professional crew, there is no better, safer, or more involved way where you will learn so much as a sail across the Atlantic with Rubicon 3.
Boats to cross the ocean. There is no perfect prototype boat to cross the Atlantic, although most of the sailboats designed for this adventure usually exceed 40 feet. It is true that it is possible to make this dream come true with almost any boat, although it is best to select a ship with about 50 feet, in the case of monohulls, and about 40 feet, for multihulls.
Special boats?. Formerly it was necessary to adapt the design of the boat to cross the ocean. At present, there is no specific type of boat and all you need is to prepare it to prepare for the adventure without any problem, so it is important to know how your sailboat works.
The best thing to do is to use a boat that you’ve been sailing with for years, but you’ll need to do a complete overhaul, so you’ll need to know what all the parts are. The ideal is to introduce a new sail, check the engine and equip the space to make it habitable during this period of time.
The SS United States 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.
If you are thinking of crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean in your own boat then this video is probably for you Routes, timing, …
I am a school teacher who was bitten by the travel bug many decades ago. My husband Billy has come along for the ride and now shares my dream to travel the world with our three children.The kids Pollyanna, 13, Cooper, 12 and Tommy 9 are in love with plane trips (thank goodness) and discovering new places, experiences and of course Disneyland.
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Happy New Year and welcome to the North American Waters!!!! I just finished perusal this article and checked out your position and it looks like you have arrived at St. Lucia in the Carribean Islands, Woot, Woot!!! Actually, it looks like you are closer to Fort-de-France, Martinique. I am sure you two are so happy to have made across safely and in one piece. Looking forward to hearing the stories of your crossing!!!
You guys are so goofy and fun! I love it! This is my favorite article of yours that I’ve seen!! I’m glad you made it across the Atlantic safely (I checked were you are now on your website). HAPPY NEW YEAR!! When you are done playing in the Caribbean and Bahamas do you plan to follow the Gulf Stream north up to New York and then back to Europe? or out to the Pacific? or ??
Great article! as always… Did you ever do a similar article of crossing from the US back to the Canaries? On a “slow” article week… It would be great if you explained the trade winds going west to east and speculating the route you would take.. Thanks for always having fun and bringing the good information!
Great article. Just think about how those ancient square rigged boats did it with having the wind on their “butt” all the time, which worked best for them! Hopefully you won’t to go back east or the word tack will mean something other than a corner of a sail. Happy New Year and enjoy the Caribbean. Fair winds.
This is a phenomenal tutorial article Sofie & Ryan. THANK YOU for making this incredible article. I would recommend all sailors that are going to do Ocean crossings to take a professional survivor course prior. Been following you & reading your daily journal on your site (if you have not read their daily journal definitely take the time & go to their site). HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!! 🎉⛵️🌍🐟🐬🌴
Sailing instructors? What are those? I have never had them, I have found the best way to learn to sail is buy the book” Sailing for Dummies” and only read it after you have attempted to sail all day using only your common since. Then that book will explain all the mistakes that you made during the previous day. I remember my first day is I knew nothing about how to tack or why one would even need to. I would see a sailboat sailing in the direction I wanted to go and If I manipulated my sails to look like the other boat’s sails I could also move in that general direction. Note I was trying to sail south from NJ towards Flordia into a Northerly wind. Needless to say I saw the statue of Liberty from the rudder of my sailboat for my first time. Another book I recommend is by a fellow sailor named Jimmy Cornell, “The World Cruising Handbook”, ( I have found the best way to buy this book is off of eBay instead of West Marine buy it used because you can pick it up for one tenth the cost of new, and with the hard cover it protects the pages quite nicely.
Probably sick of people pointing out that experienced sailors and 5th graders know the earth spins West to East. I was hoping you might explain why the atmosphere moves faster than the globe, ie, weather systems (apart from high energy hurricanes) generally move West to East across the face of a spinning globe.
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