Passage Planning, N. Atlantic-Westbound

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 [...]

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 [...]

Trans-Atlantic In An Old Boat

by John March 18, 2009
A map showing east to west sailing routes across the North Atlantic: The North Route, The Tough Upwind Route, the Downwind Route Via The Azores, and The Traditional & Best Route.

Question: I have my 36′ Aage Nielsen yawl in Norway and I need to bring her home to Maine. I would appreciate your comments regarding my choice of routes. One idea is down to the Azores and then over to the eastern US; the reverse of how I sailed to Europe. The other option I’m [...]

Rounding Cape Farewell, Greenland

by John May 18, 2009
An iceberg is formed by waves on the southeast coast of Greenland.

Question: We are planning to cross the North Atlantic east to west via the Arctic route in June on the way to an attempt to transit the North West Passage. We plan to leave from Iceland on a passage to the west coast of Greenland and are wondering how close to round Cape Farewell [south [...]

Atlantic Crossing, East To West, Via The Arctic

by John January 18, 2010
Map showing path of east to west Atlantic crossing via the Arctic

Question: We are toying with the idea of sailing the northern route [to North America from Scotland] with stops in Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland. Is that nuts? I know you have done it at least once if not more times. Our boats are sound, an Alden 48 and a Shannon 43, and we want to [...]

A Novel, But Probably Smart, Way To Cross The Atlantic, East To West

by John February 18, 2010
A map of the northern Atlantic Ocean and surrounding land.

Question: I’m thinking about sailing to Greenland from my home in Germany. My boat is a very sound 33-foot steel sloop, which I have singlehanded often. The natural way to go to Greenland from the German coast seems to be to use the stepping stones: Norway and/or Scotland/Shetlands, thence to Faroe and Iceland and on [...]

We Can Cope With This

by Colin October 31, 2011
Dawn off Lanzarote

Leaving Morocco was a bittersweet experience in many ways, as we had really appreciated our stay in the country. Not just the charming, hospitable people, but also the fascinating culture and magnificent scenery that we experienced on our treks inland. But the anticipation of getting back under way was powerful, too, and that gradually got [...]

Trans-Atlantic Single-Handed Sanity Check

by John November 13, 2011
QandA_thumb.jpg

Question [Edited for brevity]: I’d like to move my boat, a 50’ Hinckley Yawl, from Mt Desert, Maine to Mallorca, Spain and “do” the Med for 12-18 months. I’ve been thinking about single-handing her across; from Maine direct to Gibraltar. The boat is in good condition but 33 years old, I am in good condition [...]