North Atlantic Circle Via Iceland

by John May 18, 2005

Question: Next May we are taking our new (old) boat on a shakedown to Bermuda and back (our home port is Deltaville, VA, on the southern Chesapeake Bay). After that, we’ve been imagining a summer voyage in the Atlantic, maybe Azores-Ireland-Iceland-Canada-Chesapeake. My question is, is there a good route strategy for this trip?

Newfoundland Via Greenland To The Azores

by John May 18, 2005

Question: We plan to sail from St. John’s, Newfoundland mid-June straight to Sisimiut, Greenland direct, if possible. From there spend July and August sailing slowly to Cape Farewell from where we plan to leave bound for the Azores. Any comments?

What Is The Middle Pack?

by John May 18, 2005

Question: I am planning a passage from Cartwright, Labrador to Disko Bay in Greenland leaving about July 1st. You wrote that I should watch out for the ‘Middle Pack’, please explain.

Newfoundland To Iceland Direct

by John May 18, 2005

Question: Is heading from the Strait of Belle Isle towards a point about 200 miles south of Cape Farewell, then heading towards Reykjavik, a practical strategy given your experience with wind, weather and ice?

UK To Boston Via The North In June

by John May 18, 2006

Question: I wondered if I could seek your advice on a trip that has been suggested to me but that I have serious reservations about: Sailing from the UK to Boston, leaving around the end of May, taking the North Atlantic route. The skipper seems to be under the impression that we will have easterly [...]

France To Tortola In The Autumn

by John May 18, 2006

Question: I have an opportunity to sail from France to the Canaries to Tortola, leaving the end of September through October. What can I expect from a weather perspective based on your experience? My assumption is we will be in the area of hurricane formation (eastern Atlantic) for the first week then right in the [...]

BVI To The Chesapeake Bay In October

by John May 18, 2007

Question: We are bringing our Beneteau 411 from the BVI via the Bahamas to the Chesapeake Bay,  leaving the end of October. The first leg of the trip, from the BVI to the Bahamas, is going to be the two of us (my husband and I). From the Bahamas to the Chesapeake Bay we will [...]

Maine To Ireland In June

by John May 18, 2007

Question: I am a 46 year old professional in fairly good health and in good shape. I am wanting to reverse the steps of my great-great-grandfather, sailing from Belfast, Maine to Bantry Bay, Ireland. I plan to leave June 3rd, 2011. What is my best/safest route? What time frame should I use? I have calculated [...]

Newfoundland To Europe Via The Azores In June

by John May 18, 2007
A map of the North Atlantic showing a route Newfoundland to Spain via the Azores and another showing Newfoundland direct to the UK.

Question: We would like to seek your advice on my next summer’s trip from Newfoundland to the Azores, then on to Europe. We left our boat in Newfoundland last year and plan to leave for Europe in June to avoid the hurricane season.

Trans-Atlantic Singlehanded

by John August 1, 2007

Question: I’m at a point in my life when it’s time to live the dream that I’ve had since childhood and that’s to sail across the Atlantic single handed. I’m a complete beginner to sailing. I’m currently doing a skipper’s course which will take me up to advanced cruising, coastal navigation and radio operation, although [...]

Sailing From Halifax To Bermuda In November

by John October 1, 2007

Question: I just brought my 34-foot sailboat down the Saint Lawrence to Nova Scotia, and I’m considering making the passage to Bermuda in November and then continuing further south for the winter. I’ve been hearing all kinds of differing opinions about the safety of heading out from Halifax in November, and I thought you could [...]

Autumn Crossing Of The North Atlantic, West To East

by John October 18, 2007
A weather fax map of the North Atlantic for October 06, showing a hurrican force storm.

Question: I am planning a west to east North Atlantic crossing and have read that most yachts leave in May and June. What about leaving in mid-September or early October? Is that still a possibility? Ideally I would like to cross from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Britain.

North Atlantic Crossing, East To West, In Fall

by John January 18, 2008
A map of the North Atlantic showing the direct sailing route from Scotland to Newfoundland and another showing the route via Iceland and Greenland and Labrador.

Question: I’m planning an east to west crossing via the northern route from the UK to Canada. Ideally I would like to do this in August or September and without stops. My boat is a Hallberg Rassy 46. What do you think?

Norway To The Chesapeake Bay

by John February 18, 2008
A map of the North Atlantic showing the west to east sailing route via Newfoundland and Iceland to Faeroe and Norway.

Question: I’m planning to sail from south Norway in mid-June in my Oceanis 46, hoping to arrive in the Chesapeake Bay by the beginning of August. The crew will be 5 to 6 relatively experienced sailors. Presently I’m looking at routing via Færoe and Iceland, then across to Newfoundland and then coastal. My idea is [...]

Timing, Caribbean To Europe

by John February 18, 2008
A map of the North Atlantic showing two possible routes from the Caribbean to Europe, one via Bermuda and the Azores, and one direct.

Question: What is the best time of year to sail from the Caribbean to Europe?

Best Time For A West To East Atlantic Crossing

by John April 18, 2008
Front cover of the RCC's The Atlantic Crossing Guide.

Question: I will be sailing to Gibraltar from the Chesapeake via the Azores. When would be the best time to leave and when would be the earliest I could/should leave?

Picking A Sailing Route Across The North Atlantic, West To East

by John May 18, 2008
A 500 mb forecast weatherfax map from May 10, 2008.

Question: We’re planning to sail from New York to Falmouth (UK) leaving around May 18th. Our plan is to sail WSW out from New York till we hit the Gulf Stream and then attempt to sail the great circle to Falmouth. We’re debating whether to consider a more southerly route to stay clear of weather [...]

Picking A Weather Window For A West To East Atlantic Crossing

by John May 18, 2008
Starpath Weather Trainer computer-based learning program.

Question: I’m planning an Atlantic Crossing from Boston to Scotland. How can I recognize the best moment weather wise to leave for the safest crossing?

Risk Management, Hurricanes

by John July 18, 2008

Question [received July 11, 2008]: We’re in St. John’s, Newfoundland, waiting to cross to Scotland. We’re just about ready to go and the weather forcast is good for leaving. However, Hurricane Bertha is just south of Bermuda. The current forecast is for her to weaken to 55 knots within four to five days, and stay [...]

Coastal Overnights—They’re Tough But They Get The Job Done

by Phyllis November 18, 2008
It was hard to leave our favourite Maine anchorage at Somes Sound, Mount Desert Island, but chilly nights reinforced the message that it was time to go.

After spending much of the last four winters in Maine and Nova Scotia refitting Morgan’s Cloud, John and I agreed that a winter in the Bahamas would be just the ticket. So when the blazing fall colours and chilly temperatures of early October indicated that Penobscot Bay, Maine wasn’t going to remain the balmy summer [...]

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