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5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ).

Hull Type: Long fin keel
Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
Designer:Per Brohall
Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
Year First Built:1965
Year Last Built:1979
Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD)

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

Hull Type: Full Keel
Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
Displacement/Length Ratio:49
Designer: Carl Alberg
Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
Year First Built:1974
Year Last Built:1988
Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
Designer:Michael Dufour
Builder:Dufour (France)
Year First Built:1975
Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
Rig Type: Cutter rig
Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
Designer: Robert B Harris
Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
Year First Built:1986
Last Year Built: 2007
Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
Designer: Herb David
Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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The best bluewater multihulls of all time: a complete guide

Toby Hodges
October 6, 2021

Toby Hodges and François Tregouet consider the best bluewater multihulls and look at the options for sailing the oceans in spacious comfort

What are the best bluewater multihulls for long term cruising? The one you own, or the one you can afford is the simple answer.

There is a wealth of proven designs to suit bluewater sailing and a variety of budgets. While we have focussed here on the best bluewater multihulls in production, we’ve also included some cracking pedigree multihulls which tour the planet and might occasionally pop up on the brokerage market.

If you can afford to, then pushing towards the 45-50ft length will buy you space, pace and that extra payload capacity needed to take all the items you’d want on your home afloat.

When looking at the best bluewater multihulls, the choice will come down to that perennial balance between comfort/space and speed/weight. Choosing a lighter weight performance design will obviously help you cover distance voyages more rapidly and potentially allow you to outrun weather systems. It means you can sail faster, with less sail up and less load and stress. But you’ll have to sacrifice some luxuries and need to be quite scrupulous about keeping weight down and centralised in order to maintain high average speeds.

For the majority of cruisers, however, it is the amount of space multihulls offer once you’ve reached your destination that really appeals. As well as the non-heeling living area and real estate they provide, they’re well suited to typical tradewind sailing .

If you’re considering your first or next multihull, we hope the following will serve as a taster.

Best bluewater multihulls for performance cruising

Outremer 51/55.

When you think of multihulls designed for bluewater cruising, Outremer will likely be one of the first names that comes to mind. Its heritage lies in building catamarans that can sail fast and are built strong enough to do laps of the globe.

The 51, the current version of which launched three years ago, is an archetypal example of what to look for in terms of blending speed and space is a dream design for a family circumnavigation.

The French yard’s new 55ft VPLP design may look boldly different from its past models, but the philosophy behind it remains the same. It is designed to match windspeed up to 12 knots and Outremer reasons that its ability to sail in 5 knots of breeze will allow it to sail for 95% of the time on a circumnavigation.

Read more about the Outremer 51 and Outremer 55.

Photo: Diego Yriarte

Seawind 1600/1370

For nearly four decades the Australian Seawind brand and its founder Richard Ward have been gearing catamarans around safe bluewater sailing, including performance, protection and ease of handling. Its Reichel Pugh-designed 1600, which launched three years ago, is an elegant looking cat with relatively low, long lines and some smart solutions for fast bluewater sailing.

Seawind also launches its new 1370 later this year, a staggering 60 of which have sold on plans alone.

This first 50 is built from a composite sandwich of basalt fibre, a cloth made from volcanic rock, and PET foam from recycled plastic bottles, which helps to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 50% when compared with traditional glassfibre methods.

This new 50 footer is perhaps a more appealing and practical prospect than Rapido’s previous 60 (with its significant fixed beam), particularly as the amas on this new model can fold to reduce beam to 18ft.

Infused carbon foam sandwich construction is used, along with beams, daggerboards and rudder in pre-preg carbon to keep displacement to 8,200kg.

Balance 526

The 526 launched four years ago, designed to suit short-handed sailors and families looking to sail long distances, hence it can carry large payloads and promises easy maintenance. It looks good too.

Berman’s Versahelm design is a key feature. The wheel cantilevers, allowing the helmsman to steer from outboard with clear sightlines or from the hardtop protection of the aft cockpit.

Photo: Christopher White

Atlantic 47

The A47 suits short-handed fast ocean sailing at an approachable size. Lengthening it to 49ft allowed for an aft cockpit. It is available as a sloop or with White’s patented MastFoil ketch rig – rotating aerofoil masts designed for easy short-handed cruising without sacrificing performance.

Catana 53/Ocean class 50

Catana’s performance model from 2017, sports twin aft helms (which may not suit ocean sailors), reverse bows and carbon daggerboards. The high topsides help create good bridgedeck clearance and plenty of accommodation. Its new Ocean Class 50 seems more in the shipyard’s bluewater DNA. The light weight, and dynamic and modern shape with slim hulls and a relatively short nacelle suggests a seaworthy nature and high speeds.

Best bluewater multihulls for pedigree performance

Veteran multihull designers Morrelli & Melvin designed this smaller model for the Gunboat range. It was built to be more manageable for an owner-driver yet still capable of up to 300-400 mile days.

The Gunboat 48 is something of a rare breed, just six 48s were built between 2004 and 2009. Oh, to have a spare €1.3m right now… one of them is actually on the market.

Chincogan/Lightwave

Tony Grainger has been drawing fast multihulls for 35 years, including racing trimarans and the Lightwave and Chincogan cruisers. The popular Lightwave 38 has admirable performance and comfort, and the Chincogan 52 (pictured) has the length to clock high average speeds.

Outremer 45 G. Danson

With its characteristic roof, narrow hulls and daggerboards, the Outremer 45 is a standout design which has become somewhat iconic. Despite a rather spartan interior, it has been a great success with fast cruising enthusiasts. On board, family ocean crossings at an average of 10 knots are the norm.

Best bluewater multihulls for family cruising

Photo: Nicolas Claris

The Lagoon 450 remains the most popular model in Lagoons already popular range. It exemplifies the VPLP/Nauta design partnership which has made these the very definition of modern mid-size cruising catamarans which can appeal to families and charterers alike.

Indeed the 450 marked the modern look of Lagoon and was the first with interior styling from Nauta. It originally launched over a decade ago as a flybridge design with central helming position (450F), before this ‘sport top’ option (450S) was offered with a starboard helm station and lower boom.

Fountaine Pajot Saona 47

The 47 has a modern shape, with straight bows and a reverse sheer line. It incorporates significant volume in the hulls below the bridgedeck to create room for the optional athwartships cabins. Cabin space is a prime selling point, particularly the owner’s suite to port, where there is also abundant natural light and headroom.

Photo: Tui Marine

Leopard Catamarans, together with designer Simonis Voogd and builder Robertson and Caine, produce the archetypal dual-purpose owner-operator or charter boat in their modern catamaran range.

Key features of the 45 are the amount of light in the saloon and the incredible volume and space on offer in the cabins above the relatively narrow waterlines. Vast social living areas include the flybridge, saloon and dual cockpits.

Nautitech Open/Fly 46

During the 1990s and noughties Nautitech earned a good reputation for its elegant catamarans. The 441 is a timeless example and the 44 can be credited with the ongoing trend in hardtop biminis. While its acquisition by Bavaria seven years ago helped Nautitech implement industrial build techniques, the French brand has retained its DNA at its Rochefort sur Mer yard.

The modern Marc Lombard designs have tall rigs with generous square-top mainsails. Twin wheels in the aft quarters of the Open 46 offer a direct feel on the helm, however those spending long periods in the tropics may prefer the shade of the bimini-equipped flybridge option. The layout is also open, with a saloon more outside than in. Styling is clean, modern and simple, and the standard of build and finish are good.

Photo: Olivier Blanchet

First impressions of the Neel 51 are sure to centre on its sheer size and space inside. But as you’ll see from our review of the Neel 43 on page 83, when you sail one overriding impressions quickly centre on its performance.

These trimarans are becoming a popular mass production-built option.

Photo: Christophe Launay

The Excess 11 packs plenty of potential as the smallest yacht offered by the big production yards. A little like the Lagoon 380 of old, it presents a good value new entry-level boat for genuine cruising in a more sporty, modern and enticing design. Some may argue against aft helms for ocean sailing, but those coming from monohulls will appreciate the more direct steering they offer.

Broadblue 385S

Broadblue is a UK brand which offers a distinct line of cruising and Rapier performance catamarans. Its staple 385 packs a lot of cruising comfort into its length, including generous tankage, and has been sailed all over the world. Broadblue built its first electric drive catamaran 12 years ago and offers the only all-electric production sailing catamaran under 40ft in Europe.

Photo: Christophe Breschi

Bali Catspace

For those looking for maximum volume within 40ft, it’ll be hard to beat the Catspace – although it is more of a holiday apartment than a traditional bluewater cruiser. Bali’s garage style sliding aft door does help offer an enormous amount of enclosed (or open) living space.

Best bluewater multihulls for luxury cruising

Photo: Nico Krauss

Privilège 510 Signature

The 510 is designed to take a serious amount of cruising gear – up to six tonnes of it in fact. The excellent helm station now has a fixed windscreen and all lines lead to hand. Finish quality including the electrical installation is first class and Privilege’s trademark, an admirable full beam (26ft) forward cabin, is sumptuous.

Photo: Jérôme Houyvet

Garcia Explocat 52

Garcia Yachts has cornered the market for series-built aluminium monohulls and multihulls in the last decade and this new Explocat 52 is sparking real interest. We ran a full test report in our February issue, describing it as a go-anywhere cat with an enticing combination of space, pace and rugged construction.

Read our review of the Garcia Explocat 52

Built in Argentina, the Antares 44 is the ultimate evolution of a model launched 21 years ago. Entirely dedicated to bluewater cruising, it is the yard’s only model and is constantly being improved according to owner feedback.

Time seems to have no hold on this boatyard and, against the trend, the standard equipment of the Antares 44 is extremely complete

Photo: Richard Langdon

Discovery Bluewater 50

This luxury Bill Dixon design may be a decade old now and into its third iteration, but the concept behind its original appeal remains. For those used to sailing high-end thoroughbred monohulls, here is an option to consider for a comparative level of build quality and fit out when moving to a multihull.

Read more about the Discovery Bluewater 50

St Francis 50 MKII

With this latest version of its original model, this experienced South African builder has optimised a catamaran cut out for the unforgiving seas of the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic. The MKII allows for an increased load capacity, an important point in long distance cruising.

Xsquisite X5

Intelligent features on the X5 include the protected helm station with glass windscreen, integrated rainwater catcher, UV-protective glass and generous tankage.

Best bluewater multihulls for size & speed

Mcconaghy mc52.

The MC50 (now MC52) was the first and promises some high speed sailing, but it’s the open plan main living deck which will attract the majority. It incorporates an intelligent centreboard system, which hardly affects interior space, but arguably its exposed helms at the aft end of the flybridge will not suit serious ocean cruising.

Photo: Florian H. Talles

HH in Xiamen is building some really impressive large, luxury fast cats up to 90ft. This was its second model to launch, a high-end, high performance Morelli & Melvin design capable of rapid passagemaking speeds and enjoyable regatta sailing. Features include C-shaped boards and central or aft helms.

Photo: Mike Jones/Waterline Media

Ocean Explorer 60

If Nautor’s Swan made catamarans, they may look like this… The Ocean Explorer 60 uses the same designer in German Frers and some of the same builders who worked at the famous Finnish yard to produce this world cruiser. The resultant quality shines through. A new OE72 is due soon.

Kinetic KC54

A young company with plenty of experience, Kinetic produces custom fast ocean cruisers, which can occasionally race. Its 62 is a serious performance vessel with carbon hulls, rigs and rigging, daggerboards or centreboards. With fast bluewater cruising the goal, carbon is used to minimise weight so features/toys can still be added. The swim platform and hardware on the newly launched 54 weighs just 90kg, and the generous sized tanks are all in carbon too. Views from the saloon and forward cockpit also look special.

Best bluewater multihulls for ultimate performance

Marsaudon ts4/orc 42.

Few catamaran builders produce genuine performance cruisers at this ‘smaller’ size: this one is kept minimalist and light weight (around 6 tonnes) – the yard’s philosophy is ‘simplicity, then add lightness.’ The 42 is a cruiser-racer with the ability to outpace most yachts across the Atlantic, win a regatta and still offer some space for island hopping. Standard tankage is minimal however. Marsaudon recently rebranded its TS range to Ocean Rider Catamarans (ORCs) and has an ORC 57 in build.

Dazcat 1495

Dazcat builds fast, seaworthy cats from its Multihull Centre in Cornwall. The 1495 is a true ocean cruiser-racer, which is stiff and rewarding to sail, with direct steering linked to carbon rudders. The 1495 can hit 20+ knot speeds with relative ease, but it is the consistent high average speeds which will attract those looking to cover serious miles. Weight is centralised including engines, tanks, and systems all located amidships to help reduce pitching. Dazcat has a semi-custom build approach and creates all sorts of weird and wonderful craft for all abilities.

Dragonfly 40

Dragonfly trimarans are known for their high quality construction and ability to delight sailors with their ease of planing speeds. For those who can live without the space of similar length cats, the new flagship 40 is large enough to offer cruising space, while folding outriggers and retractable appendages mean you can dry out where others wouldn’t dare.

Looping 45/Freydis 48

These two designs by Erik Lerouge both offer a high-performance vision of ocean cruising. The Loopings were built individually and the Freydis in small series, and on both you can sail as fast as the wind in complete safety. Interior quality depends on whether finished by an amateur or by a shipyard.

Swisscat 48

An attractive combination of luxury, comfort and performance, the S48 is a stiff, go-anywhere premium cat that is easy to manage single-handed. The lightweight build (11t) is in epoxy infusion with carbon reinforcement.

Schionning Designs

Jeff Schionning has catamaran design in his blood. His designs exude performance and seaworthiness with flowing, even aerodynamic lines. On all tradewind routes you’ll find a G-Force (models from 12m to 23m) or an Arrow (12m to 15m) sailing more quickly than the rest. His latest venture is with Current Marine in Knysna, South Africa.

Best bluewater multihulls for pedigree cruising

The long-time best-seller from the world leader in catamarans, with more than 1,000 produced over almost 20 years from 1999. With its characteristic vertical windows, the 380 and its big brother the 410 made the purists scream when they were presented. But the 380 proved a pioneer of its kind. Safe bow volumes and light displacement (7,260 kg) helped its seaworthy behaviour. The high number of boats on the market makes this the most affordable bluewater cruising multihull for its size, even if price range is as wide as condition is variable.

Casamance 44/46

Between 44ft and 46ft depending on the year of construction and the length of its transoms, the Casamance was an impressive catamaran on launch in 1985. The design by Joubert/Nivelt offered good volume and load capacity. Of the 490 units produced, many joined the charter fleets. The exterior of the Casamance is dated, but the interior in grey ceruse oak has retained plenty of charm.

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The best sail plans for crossing an ocean

Theo Stocker
March 10, 2015

Sailing across an ocean, there are myriad sail plans and systems to choose from to power you across an ocean. We spoke to six ARC 2014 finishers to find out what works best

'Chance' round Pigeon Island Credit: Tim Wright

A warm wind at your back, the azure main rolling beneath your keel and unfettered miles left reeling in your wake. That’s the dream at least, but crossing an ocean isn’t always plain sailing, as the crews of the 2014 edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) discovered.

Those who took the rhumb line westwards from Gran Canaria to St Lucia in the Caribbean sailed hard and fast, and got wet as a result. Others sailed south for kinder but slower conditions. While some boats were sailing for glory, and others for comfort, or even just to arrive in one piece, they all proved that every Atlantic crossing is different and that preparation is the key to a successful passage.

After choosing a yacht and picking a crew, an Atlantic skipper must decide what sail plans to use and how to steer the boat. The range of options is huge. Sail-plans range from a simple main and genoa to more exotic coloured sails, and steering options span helming by hand, to windvane self-steering and electric autopilot systems.

Sails and steering interact and the two have to get along, so it’s never going to be a simple choice. The final decision may be based on many factors, but it’s only when land has slipped astern that these choices are really tested.

With the Atlantic behind them and the Caribbean sun overhead, we went to find out how the ARC crews got on.

10 tips from our Atlantic crews

Learning to use ‘coloured sails’ offshore with confidence really pays off when running in light or moderate winds.

Sail together beforehand. A long ocean passage can be really intense.
Take lots of water, you’ll need it. If in doubt, take more.
Take foul weather gear as it can be cold and wet. It is, after all, the North Atlantic in December.
Know the noises your boat makes. A different sound is the first warning when something isn’t right.
Food is important for morale. Seasoning and herbs go a long way. Little treats make a big difference.
Clean out the fuel tank and take plenty of spare parts and filters as one isn’t enough, and know how to change them.
A twin-grooved headsail foil gives more sail plan options than a single one.
Satellite communications are a boon, but expect teething problems.

What is the best sail plan for ocean sailing?

The ‘best’ sail plans depends on your boat and crew, but our crews agreed on a few points:

Twin headsails are simple, give a good amount of sail area and are easily furled. They lack power in lighter conditions and can make the boat roll. Two poles with guys and good sheeting angles are important.
Coloured sails boost speed in certain conditions, but they require practice to build confidence. Mid-ocean, with large swells running, is not the time to try it for the first time. A symmetric spinnaker is best, but a cruising chute, wing-and-wing with the poled out genoa, is a good compromise. A Parasailor is significantly more stable than a conventional kite, but isn’t a panacea for all downwind sailing.

What is a Parasailor and how does it work?

Its makers claim it does three things:

The gap allows air to flow over and through the sail, creating a steady airflow and making the sail more stable.
The wing holds the width of the sail out and dampens the speed and force with which the sail can collapse.
The wing creates lift, reducing the force pushing the bow down into the water, making the boat more directionally stable and less prone to roll.

Using a snuffer, it can be set from the bow, a pole, or flown loose like a kite. It’s not cheap, it’s still a spinnaker and needs some practice, but the manufacturer claims it puts the enjoyment back into downwind sailing.

The ARC 2014: facts and figures

ARC 2014 Routes

Start Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
Finish Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Rhumb-line distance 2700 miles
Fastest crossing Leopard by Finland (100ft Maxi), new record of 8 days, 14 hours, 39 minutes and 51 seconds.
Average cruiser crossing 18 days, 11 hours
Slowest crossing Efwa (Allegro 33), 25,days 13 hours, 34 minutes
Shortest distance sailed Atalanta (Oyster 575) 2,690 miles
Longest distance sailed Sanuk (Bavaria 47) 3,298 miles
Average number of crew per boat in cruising division 5 adults
Damage 22 boats suffered damage to sails, rigging or autopilots, mostly due to the forces of wind and waves on fully-laden boats
Drop-outs 6 boats dropped out for medical or gear failure reasons

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5 Best Liveaboard Bluewater Sailboats

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Liveaboard bluewater sailboats are both comfortable to live on and capable of making long, offshore ocean voyages.

The best liveaboard bluewater sailboats must strike a balance between comfort and seakeeping abilities. These boats are generally heavy and stable and roomy enough to spend time in. They must also include the necessary hardware to make cooking, sleeping, and bathing possible in choppy conditions.

Table of contents

Bluewater Liveaboard Sailboat Design

What makes a good bluewater liveaboard sailboat , and how is it different from a coastal cruiser? There are a few aspects of purpose-built bluewater sailboats that make them different from most production vessels. The first and (possibly) most important is the hull design.

The classic bluewater sailboat hull shape features a long, deep, full keel. The keel acts as a hydroplane and keeps the boat stable on course in all sea conditions. Deep keel sailboats aren't the only kind of bluewater-capable vessels, but they're a tried and tested design.

Other vessels gain stability from having a wide beam. Beamy sailboats are far more comfortable in rolling seas, as they tend to buffett and pitch much less than leaner, narrow boats. Most ideal liveaboard bluewater sailboats balance length and beam carefully to make the most of the space and hull shape.

Space is another important quality to consider when choosing the best bluewater liveaboard sailboat. Interior space comes first, as living quarters are a key element of comfort.

Cockpit space should also be considered, especially if more than one person comes aboard. Most liveaboard bluewater sailboats sacrifice cockpit space for cabin space.

A comfortable liveaboard sailboat should include several amenities, including a head (toilet), a shower, two sinks, a galley with a stove, an icebox, a place to eat, and a place to sleep. Ideally, the dining area is separate from the primary sleeping area.

A separate chart table is ideal as well because it keeps food and clutter away from important navigational equipment. A chart table is less important on liveaboard sailboats that spend the majority of their time docked. That said, the chart table functions well as a spot for a microwave, toaster oven, or TV when you're not underway.

A separate forward V-berth, known as a master cabin, is a big plus on liveaboard boats. Separating the sleeping area from the rest of the cabin can increase comfort and coziness.

However, on a bluewater sailboat, a side berth near the hatch is essential as well. This is because you may need to quickly take control of the vessel after waking up, and it's best to sleep close to the helm.

Power and Water

Power and water shouldn't be overlooked when choosing a bluewater liveaboard. Many liveaboards spend most of their time docked and hooked up to shore power, water, and sewage. But bluewater liveaboards are designed for cruising, which means everything must be self-contained.

The best bluewater sailboats have sufficient freshwater storage tanks for several weeks on the water. Some have desalination (water maker) machines, which require electricity to run.

Solar panels are an excellent option for power generation, and they can be installed on almost any sailboat.

But all bluewater sailboats should have battery banks and a gasoline or diesel generator built into the system. On many vessels, the inboard engine also functions as a generator.

Safety is an essential factor to consider when choosing a cruising sailboat , especially if it doubles as your primary residence. Basic safety equipment such as bilge pumps and radios should be maintained and tested regularly. Backups and spare parts should also be kept aboard.

Other safety features, such as watertight hatches, can keep your cabin safe and dry during inclement weather. Self-draining cockpits are helpful when sailing offshore, as spray and waves drain from the exposed cockpit without the use of electric or mechanical pumps. If the drain ports are kept clean, no bailing is ever necessary.

Radar is another useful safety feature that, while not mandatory, can keep you in-the-know and alert you to the presence of nearby ships. Radar is especially useful at night, as the automatic alarms can wake you whenever a potential obstacle appears nearby.

Bluewater Sailboats for Living Aboard and Cruising

Living aboard a sailboat is one of the most interesting and rewarding lifestyles available today. It's even more alluring when you can sail your vessel across oceans, which is what bluewater sailboats are designed to do.

A liveaboard cruising sailboat combines comfort, seakeeping ability, and ease of handling in a compact and thoughtfully-designed package. Here are the best liveaboard sailboats for bluewater cruising.

1. Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

The Flicka 20 is the smallest and most interesting sailboat on our list. At only 20 feet overall in length, the interior accommodations of this vessel are spartan at best and suitable for minimalist living.

What makes the Flicka 20 stand out is its exceptional bluewater performance. This sailboat is truly an ultracompact pocket cruiser. With a full ballast keel, self-draining cockpit, and wide beam, the Flicka 20 is more capable offshore than some boats almost twice its size.

This sailboat has the profile of a traditional keel cruiser. From a distance, it would be easy to mistake for a much larger vessel. Its hull shape, manageable Bermuda rig, and small size make it a perfect starter sailboat for single handed offshore cruising.

Inside, you have (almost) everything you need to live comfortably, albeit in a minimalist way. The cabin features standing headroom throughout, which is highly unusual for a 20-foot sailboat. On the port side, you're greeted with a small but functional galley. On the starboard side, there's a small head with a toilet and a shower.

The Flicka 20 displaces a hardy 5,500 lbs. Due to its large keel, there's no centerboard trunk to obstruct interior space. A V-berth upfront makes up the sleeping accommodations, and some models feature settees on both sides with a pop-up dining and chart table in between.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 has achieved somewhat of a cult status amongst bluewater sailboat enthusiasts. Only about 400 were built, so purchasing a Flicka 20 is somewhat of a rare and expensive proposition. That said, the benefits of owning a 20-foot bluewater liveaboard sailboat are hard to beat.

Cheap slip fees, low maintenance costs, and simplicity are the major selling points of this vessel. It's trailerable behind most heavy-duty pickup trucks and technically small enough to store on the street or in a driveway.

2. Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24

If the Flicka 20 is too small for your taste, try the Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24. It follows the same design principles of the Flicka 20, but with four feet of additional space for cabin amenities and seaworthiness.

Four feet may not sound like a lot, but it makes a world of difference on a sailboat. The additional space on the Allegra 24 adds room to the head, extends the port and starboard settees, and increases the size of the galley.

If you like the idea of a small, semi-trailerable offshore sailboat with liveaboard amenities, you'll love the Allegra 24. This stout sailboat has almost miraculous handling and seakeeping qualities while retaining the benefits of small overall size.

With the Allegra 24, you'll be able to make virtually any offshore passage and save on slip fees, maintenance costs, and overall labor. This vessel is easy to sail single handed and large enough for a minimalistic couple to live, eat, and sleep comfortably.

The Pacific Seacraft Allegra 24 is not ideal for people who need space for pets, children, or guests, as the interior is quite small when compared to other sailboats. That said, there's enough room for an occasional passenger, and the cockpit is comfortable enough for four adults to sit and interact.

3. O'Day 28

The O'Day 28 is a popular sailboat that makes a great liveaboard cruising platform. This affordable vessel was produced between 1978 and 1986, and over 500 examples were produced over the years.

All in all, the O'Day 28 is a stout cruising sailboat that's suitable for offshore and coastal sailing. It features a raked stern and hidden rudder, and a helm that's similar to what you'd find on much larger boats.

The O'Day has a large fuel tank for its inboard engine and an even larger 25-gallon freshwater capacity, which is excellent for offshore cruising. Additional tanks can be added in storage spaces, making the O'Day 28 suitable for long voyages.

The cabin of the O'Day 28 is spacious and includes everything you'd need to live aboard comfortably, along with plenty of storage space throughout. The wide beam of the O'Day 28 gives it lots of space, so the cabin doesn't feel cramped for its size.

Two models of the O'Day 28 were built; one featured a swing keel, and the other had a fixed swing keel. The swing keel model is ideal for coastal cruising and shallow-water sailing, while the fixed keel O'Day 28 is more suited for bluewater cruising.

That said, both keel variants make fine offshore sailboats. The cabin of the O'Day 28 features a large galley with a stove and icebox, two large settee berths, a large center table ahead, and a V-berth forward. The head serves as a separator to the forward cabin, giving the V-berth an extra layer of privacy.

4. William Atkin "Eric" 32

"Eric," designed in the 1920s by famous marine architect William Atkin, is a radical departure from typical modern liveaboard sailboats. However, as a bluewater liveaboard sailboat, this vessel likely outshines all the others on this list in almost every conceivable way.

Eric is a 32-foot traditional wooden ketch. This planked full- keel sailboat displaces over 19,000 lbs and has a draft of about five feet. The basic design of the hull is based on early Norweigian fishing boats, which were known for their resilience in rough North Sea storms.

Eric is a traditional gaff-rigged vessel with two short masts and a long bowsprit. Though complex to rig, it sails beautifully in all weather conditions. One of the earliest examples built survived a hurricane offshore in the 1930s, and subsequent models have completed numerous long-range ocean voyages.

Eric is a purpose-built long-range ocean cruiser. Interior accommodations are spacious and designed for comfort and utility. Unlike most sailboats of the time, Eric features a full head with shower, a 'master cabin' style V-berth forward, a full galley with an icebox, and standing headroom throughout.

William Atkin's Eric is, by all definitions, an ocean-crossing sailboat designed to take between one and four adults just about as far as they want to go. It has all the qualities of an oceangoing sailboat in a compact package, along with excellent seakeeping characteristics.

The primary drawback of this 32-foot Atkin sailboat is maintenance. Most of these hulls were constructed using traditional oak planking, which lasts forever if taken care of but requires skilled maintenance. The planks are caulked using cotton wadding, and they'll need recaulking if the boat stays out of the water for too long and "dries up."

If you're looking for a beautiful and historic liveaboard sailboat with serious offshore cruising capabilities, consider an Atkin Eric 32. Although somewhat rare, examples of this design occasionally pop up for sale on the used market.

5. Pearson 35

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The Pearson 35 crosses the rubicon into the 'big boat' category, as it has everything you'd expect of a large oceangoing sailboat. The vessel also has a unique displacement keel with an additional swing keel at the base.

The Pearson 35 is a roomy sailboat with excellent seakeeping abilities and a large sail plan. It's a typical Bermuda-rigged sloop with a tall mast and the usual sheet and halyard arrangement. As a result, it's fun to sail and easy to handle. It's also a fast boat, making it ideal for longer voyages.

The swing keel certainly doesn't make the Pearson 35 a shoal-draft sailboat. It has a modified full keel which (with the swing keel retracted) draws 3 feet 9 inches. With the additional swing keel down, the draft of the Pearson 35 increases to over 7 feet.

The Pearson 35 is a heavy boat with good sea keeping abilities. It was introduced in 1968, and over 500 units were produced. That makes it one of the more popular sailboats in its class, and plenty of Pearson 35s are still sailing around the United States.

Down below in the cabin, the Pearson 35 is roomy and comfortable. It features a full galley, an enclosed head with a shower and sink, and several berthing areas, including a forward V-berth. Plenty of storage is available throughout the cabin, making the Pearson 35 an excellent choice for living aboard.

There's something empowering about piloting a 35-foot sailboat through rough weather. The size of the boat provides both safety and a sense of security, which can help you keep a clear head during stressful situations at sea. The vessel is beamy as well, making it less likely to heel aggressively and increasing roll comfort in dicey seas.

Overall, the Pearson 35 is an excellent choice for a liveaboard bluewater sailboat. It's a large boat in comparison to the others on this list, and it's known for easy handling and excellent windward performance. The Pearson 35 is a common sailboat that's widely available on the used market.

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Best Ocean Crossing Sailboats: Discover the Ultimate Powerhouses

seaoceaninfo
A November 17, 2023

The best ocean crossing sailboats include the Oyster 575 and the Hallberg-Rassy 64. These sailboats are known for their reliability, performance, and comfortable accommodations for long-distance voyages.

They are equipped with advanced navigation systems and sturdy construction to handle challenging weather conditions. Designed for offshore sailing, these sailboats provide stability and ease of handling, making them popular choices among experienced sailors. Both the Oyster 575 and Hallberg-Rassy 64 offer spacious interiors with luxurious amenities, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable journey.

Whether you are planning a circumnavigation or a transoceanic passage, these ocean crossing sailboats are trusted options for a safe and memorable sailing experience.

Discovering The Ultimate Powerhouses

Embarking on an ocean crossing journey is an exhilarating and awe-inspiring experience. The open sea, the vast horizon, the sound of the wind filling the sails – it’s a voyage that requires a sailboat capable of withstanding the challenging conditions and providing the utmost comfort and safety. In this article, we delve into the world of ocean crossing sailboats and explore the best options available. Get ready to discover the ultimate powerhouses that will take you on an extraordinary adventure.

Key Factors To Consider When Choosing An Ocean Crossing Sailboat

Choosing the perfect ocean crossing sailboat entails a careful evaluation of several crucial factors. By paying attention to these aspects, you can ensure that your vessel is well-equipped for the journey ahead:

Seaworthiness: The most important consideration is the sailboat’s ability to handle the challenging conditions of the open ocean. It should be designed with a sturdy hull, reinforced rigging, and a reliable keel that provides stability even in rough seas.
Size and Layout: Sailboats suitable for ocean crossings should strike a balance between size and maneuverability. Opting for a vessel that is large enough to provide ample living space but not excessively so that it becomes difficult to handle in various weather conditions.
Self-sufficiency: An ocean crossing sailboat should be self-sufficient in terms of power, water, and provisions. It should have an efficient engine, ample fuel and water storage capacity, and spacious storage areas for food and supplies.
Navigation and Communication: Advanced navigation and communication systems are essential for a safe and successful ocean crossing. Look for sailboats equipped with reliable GPS systems, radar, VHF radio, and satellite communication devices.
Comfort and Safety: Spending weeks or even months at sea requires a sailboat that prioritizes comfort and safety. Consider features like well-designed cabins, spacious living areas, comfortable berths, a functional galley, and sufficient safety equipment like life rafts, harnesses, and life jackets.

Attributes That Define The Best Ocean Crossing Sailboats

When it comes to ocean crossing sailboats, several key attributes set the best vessels apart from the rest:

Robust Construction: The best ocean crossing sailboats boast a robust construction using high-quality materials such as fiberglass, aluminum, or steel. This ensures long-term durability and the ability to withstand the harsh conditions of the open sea.
Stability and Balance: Stability is paramount when sailing across vast oceans. The best sailboats exhibit exceptional balance, allowing them to ride the waves smoothly and maintain a consistent course.
Reliable Performance: A reliable performance is crucial for an ocean crossing sailboat. Look for vessels that have a proven track record of handling adverse weather conditions and maintaining consistent speeds even in challenging circumstances.
Efficient Sail Plan: The sail plan of an ocean crossing sailboat should be designed for easy handling and optimum performance. The best sailboats provide a range of reefing options, allowing you to adjust sail area based on the prevailing wind conditions.
Ample Storage: Storage capacity is of utmost importance for extended offshore passages. Look for sailboats that offer ample storage space for provisions, gear, and other essentials, ensuring you have everything you need for the journey.

Hallmarks Of Top Ocean Vessels

Top ocean crossing sailboats are characterized by their durability, speed, stability, and advanced navigation systems. These vessels are designed to withstand challenging conditions, making them a reliable choice for long-distance sailing journeys across the open seas.

Design And Construction: Durability And Stability

When it comes to ocean crossing sailboats, one of the hallmarks of top vessels is their exceptional design and construction, which ensures durability and stability. These boats are built to withstand the harsh conditions of open waters, where unpredictable weather and rough seas can put any vessel to the test. The design focuses on strength, rigidity, and structural integrity to provide a sturdy and reliable platform for navigating the vast oceans. Key Features:

Rugged and robust hull design
High-quality materials, such as fiberglass or steel, for enhanced durability
Reinforced keels and frames to handle heavy loads and impact
Advanced engineering techniques for optimal weight distribution and stability
Seaworthy shapes that allow for smooth sailing and reduced drag

Safety Features For Extended Voyages

Safety is paramount when undertaking extended ocean voyages. Top ocean vessels are equipped with a range of safety features to ensure the well-being of both the crew and the boat itself. These features go beyond the basic necessities to provide comprehensive protection against potential hazards and emergencies that may arise during long crossings. Key Safety Features:

Dedicated safety compartments for storing emergency supplies
Multiple watertight bulkheads to prevent flooding and maintain buoyancy
Advanced navigation systems with radar, GPS, and chart plotters for accurate positioning
Extensive communication systems, including satellite phones and radios, for reliable connectivity
Integrated safety equipment, such as life rafts, personal flotation devices, and emergency beacons

Comfort And Livability On The High Seas

Living on the high seas for an extended period requires a boat that offers both comfort and livability. Top ocean vessels are designed with the crew’s well-being in mind, providing a comfortable and functional living space to enhance the overall experience of long-distance sailing. Key Comfort Features:

Spacious and well-designed cabins with ample storage for personal belongings
Ergonomically designed interiors to maximize space utilization
Efficient ventilation systems for fresh air circulation
Well-appointed galleys with modern appliances and storage facilities for meal preparation
Comfortable seating areas for relaxation and socialization

By ensuring a comfortable environment, these sailboats allow sailors to relax and rejuvenate even when miles away from land. This attention to comfort and livability enhances the overall journey and makes the experience of ocean crossing more enjoyable. To summarize, the hallmarks of top ocean vessels lie in their design and construction, focusing on durability and stability. These sailboats are equipped with safety features to ensure the crew’s well-being during extended voyages. Additionally, they offer comfort and livability, making the high seas feel like a home away from home. When choosing an ocean crossing sailboat, considering these hallmarks will ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey across the vast oceans.

Sailboat Varieties For Ocean Expeditions

Embarking on an ocean crossing expedition requires careful consideration of the sailboat you choose. Selecting the right sailboat variety plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey. When it comes to ocean crossings, two primary categories of sailboats dominate the market: monohulls and multihulls. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that need to be carefully evaluated.

Monohulls Versus Multihulls: Pros And Cons

Monohulls are the traditional choice for many sailors due to their stability and capability to handle rough ocean conditions. These sailboats have a single hull, which enhances their ability to cut through the water effortlessly. Monohulls offer a smooth and stable ride, making them particularly appealing for those who prioritize comfort and safety.

On the other hand, multihulls, also known as catamarans and trimarans, have gained popularity in recent years. These sailboats feature two or more hulls and provide exceptional stability on the water. Multihulls have a shallower draft, allowing them to access more sheltered areas and anchor close to the shore. However, some sailors argue that multihulls may lack the traditional sailing feel and can be more challenging to handle in heavy wind conditions.

Key Models In Each Category

When exploring the monohull category, several key models often stand out. One renowned monohull model for ocean expeditions is the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 . Known for its comfortable and well-designed interior, the Oceanis 46.1 combines performance and luxury, making it a popular choice among sailors.

Switching to multihulls, the Lagoon 450 is frequently recommended for ocean crossings. Its spacious layout, multiple cabins, and excellent stability make it an ideal choice for extended trips at sea. Another popular option is the Outremer 51 , known for its exceptional speed and performance.

What Experienced Sailors Recommend

Experienced sailors often have their own recommendations based on personal preferences and experiences. Many recommend monohulls for their reliability and comfort. They suggest considering sailboats such as the Hallberg-Rassy 48 and the Amel Super Maramu 2000 for their seaworthiness and traditional elegance.

However, some experienced sailors swear by the advantages of multihulls. They suggest exploring options like the Catana 431 and the Seawind 1260 if you value space, stability, and the ability to access shallower anchorages.

Selecting Your Ocean Crossing Companion

Choosing the right sailboat for your ocean crossing adventure is a critical decision that can make all the difference between a smooth journey and a challenging one. Your vessel will be your home and your means of transportation across vast seas, so it’s essential to consider several factors when selecting your ocean crossing companion. In this article, we’ll explore three key aspects to help you make an informed decision:

Balancing Size And Manageability

One of the primary considerations in choosing a sailboat for ocean crossings is striking the right balance between size and manageability. A larger boat offers more comfort and storage space, but it also requires a larger crew or advanced sailing skills to handle it effectively. On the other hand, a smaller vessel may be easier to handle, but it may lack the space and stability needed for a long-term ocean voyage.

It’s important to assess your sailing experience, crew size, and personal preferences to determine the ideal size for your needs. Consider the number of berths required, the presence of additional amenities such as a galley or navigation station, and the overall stability of the boat in various weather conditions. While a larger boat may provide additional comfort, remember that it can also introduce challenges when it comes to docking, maneuvering, and maintenance.

The Role Of Autopilot And Other Technologies

Advancements in technology have revolutionized sailing, and the role of autopilot and other electronic systems cannot be overlooked when selecting a sailboat for ocean crossings. Autopilot systems help maintain course direction, which is especially crucial during long voyages when fatigue can set in. These systems allow you to relax and attend to other essential tasks while ensuring your boat stays on track.

In addition to autopilot, consider the availability and integration of other cutting-edge technologies such as satellite communications, radar, and GPS. These technologies enhance your safety, situational awareness, and communication capabilities while at sea. A boat equipped with reliable and modern electronic systems can significantly enhance your overall comfort and confidence during an ocean crossing.

Importance Of Range And Storage Capabilities

Ranging far and wide across oceans requires a sailboat capable of carrying sufficient fuel, water, and provisions. As you plan for your voyage, it’s crucial to assess the range and storage capabilities of the sailboat you are considering. The range, or the distance the boat can travel on a full tank of fuel, determines the autonomy and flexibility of your journey.

Furthermore, storage capabilities play a vital role in ensuring you have enough provisions and supplies to sustain the crew throughout the crossing. Ample storage space can accommodate spare parts, tools, food, and additional safety equipment. It’s essential to assess the sailboat’s storage compartments, including lockers, bilges, and cabinetry, to ensure they meet your needs and allow for efficient organization.

By carefully considering the balance between size and manageability, the role of autopilot and other technologies, and the importance of range and storage capabilities, you can confidently choose the sailboat that will be your trusted companion during an unforgettable ocean crossing. Make an informed decision and embark on your adventure with peace of mind.

Navigating With The Best Ocean Crossing Sailboats

When it comes to sailing across vast oceans and exploring the wonders of the sea, having the right sailboat can make all the difference. The best ocean crossing sailboats are equipped with advanced navigation systems and equipment, sustainable power solutions, and communication gear for remote sailing. In this blog post, we will dive into these essential aspects of navigating with the best sailboats for ocean crossing adventures.

Advanced Navigation Systems And Equipment

One of the key elements that sets the best ocean crossing sailboats apart is their advanced navigation systems and equipment. These sailboats are equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that ensure accurate and reliable navigation, even in the most challenging conditions. From GPS systems that provide real-time position tracking to radar systems that detect obstacles in the vessel’s path, these sailboats leave no room for errors in navigation.

Additionally, advanced sailboat navigation systems often include electronic charts and chartplotters, allowing sailors to plot their course and monitor their progress with ease. These tools not only enhance safety but also help optimize efficiency, allowing sailors to make the most of their ocean crossing experience.

The Importance Of Sustainable Power Solutions

When embarking on an ocean crossing adventure, sailors must ensure they have a reliable and sustainable source of power. The best ocean crossing sailboats are equipped with innovative power solutions that minimize dependence on traditional fuel sources and reduce the impact on the environment.

Renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind generators are commonly integrated into these sailboats’ design, harnessing the power of nature to recharge onboard batteries. This sustainable power solution ensures sailors have access to vital electronic systems, such as navigation equipment, communication devices, and onboard amenities, even when sailing far away from shore.

Communication Gear For Remote Sailing

Communication is crucial when sailing across vast oceans, where isolation from land and traditional communication infrastructure is inevitable. The best ocean crossing sailboats are equipped with top-of-the-line communication gear to keep sailors connected, even in remote areas.

These sailboats often feature satellite communication systems, allowing sailors to stay in touch via email, text messaging, or even make voice calls. Additionally, emergency beacons and long-range radio systems ensure sailors can reach out for help or communicate with nearby vessels in case of emergencies.

By investing in these communication gear essentials, sailors can navigate the seas with confidence, knowing that help is just a message or call away, regardless of their location.

Credit: www.northsails.com

Preparing For The Voyage Ahead

Embarking on an ocean crossing is an exhilarating and challenging adventure that requires meticulous preparation. It is essential to equip yourself with the necessary skills, customize your sailboat for extended trips, and follow a thorough pre-departure checklist to ensure a safe and successful journey. In this article, we will delve into these important aspects of preparing for your ocean crossing voyage.

Essential Training And Skills Development

Before setting sail on a long and demanding ocean crossing, it is crucial to have the necessary training and skills to handle all the challenges that may arise during the voyage. Strong foundational knowledge in sailing, navigation, seamanship, and weather forecasting will be invaluable. Additionally, honing skills such as engine maintenance, sail repair, and emergency procedures is essential for self-sufficiency at sea.

Consider enrolling in specialized courses offered by reputable sailing schools or participating in offshore passages to gain hands-on experience. These opportunities will enable you to enhance your skills and build confidence in your ability to navigate the open ocean. Remember, a well-prepared sailor with adequate training is better equipped to handle any unexpected situations that may arise during the voyage.

Customizing Your Sailboat For Extended Trips

A sailboat customized specifically for extended trips is crucial to ensure comfort, safety, and efficiency during your ocean crossing. You’ll want to carefully consider the modifications necessary to endure the long durations at sea and the challenging conditions you may encounter.

Some important aspects to address when customizing your sailboat include:

Hull Reinforcement: Strengthening your boat’s hull to withstand heavy waves is essential. This may involve reinforcing key structural areas or installing protective barriers such as bulwarks or wave breakers.
Storage Capacity: A significant consideration for extended trips is having sufficient storage space for essential supplies, equipment, and provisions. Evaluate your boat’s storage areas and consider adding additional lockers or storage compartments if needed.
Energy Self-sufficiency: Installing renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind generators can help reduce reliance on engine power and ensure a steady supply of electricity during the voyage.
Communication and Navigation Systems: Equipping your sailboat with reliable communication and navigation systems is paramount for safety and convenience. Consider installing a GPS, VHF radio, AIS, and satellite communication devices to stay connected and informed during the journey.

By carefully customizing your sailboat for extended trips, you can optimize its performance, endurance, and reliability, providing peace of mind when facing the challenges of an ocean crossing.

Pre-departure Checklist And Safety Protocols

A comprehensive pre-departure checklist is essential to ensure that you have thoroughly prepared for your ocean crossing. This checklist should cover all aspects of your sailboat, emergency procedures, and personal safety. Paying close attention to safety protocols is crucial for the well-being of you and your crew.

Here is a pre-departure checklist that covers some important considerations:

Checklist Items	Status
Inspect the hull, rigging, sails, and engine	✓
Ensure the life raft, life jackets, and safety harnesses are in good condition	✓
Check and replenish emergency supplies, such as flares, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers	✓
Review and update navigational charts and sailing directions	✓
Verify the functionality of communication and navigation devices	✓

By diligently going through this checklist and ensuring all necessary safety protocols are in place, you can significantly minimize risks and enhance safety on your ocean crossing voyage.

To conclude, preparing for an ocean crossing requires essential training and skill development, customizing your sailboat to suit extended trips, and following a thorough pre-departure checklist. By focusing on these aspects and dedicating time and effort to prepare adequately, you can embark on your voyage with confidence, knowing that you are well-prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions On Best Ocean Crossing Sailboats

What are the best sailboats for ocean crossing.

The best sailboats for ocean crossing are typically sturdy, spacious, and equipped with advanced navigation systems.

How Can I Choose The Right Sailboat For Long Distance Sailing?

When choosing a sailboat for long distance sailing, consider factors such as size, stability, seaworthiness, and comfort.

Is It Necessary To Have Prior Sailing Experience For Ocean Crossings?

While prior sailing experience is beneficial, it is not always necessary as long as you have proper training, navigation skills, and a reliable crew.

When it’s time to take on the vast ocean, having the right sailboat is essential. The best ocean crossing sailboats offer durability, stability, and comfort for long journeys at sea. From luxurious yachts to rugged expedition vessels, these boats provide the necessary features to weather the elements and ensure a successful voyage.

With their advanced designs and cutting-edge technology, these sailboats have proven themselves as reliable and seaworthy options for ocean crossings. So, make your choice wisely and embark on your next adventure with confidence.

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Pacific Passage Planning

By Alvah Simon
Updated: July 29, 2019

The definitions and delineations of a sea versus an ocean are complex, contested and best left to the learned geographers to debate. From a sailor’s point of view, excluding landlocked bodies of water, the rest of the brine is a contiguous path to glorious global adventure. Having said that, we do have our favorites. While the dreadful grind of the ice pack in the Far North and the towering graybeards of the Southern Ocean have their devotees, most sailing fantasies turn toward the seductive strum of the ukulele, the swaying palms and the white-sand beaches of the exotic South Pacific .

Ferdinand Magellan may have been a bit optimistic when he named a body of water that encompasses nearly one-third of Earth Mar Pacifico (peaceful ocean), for, like all oceans, it depends. The very size of the Pacific presents unique challenges, but so too do its strong currents, powerful storms, hazardous coral outcrops and remote low-lying islands.

Voyage Planning for Sailing the South Pacific

A successful Pacific passage will rely on meticulous planning , based on current information tempered with flexibility, because, by nature, cruising has it vagaries. But before one gets into the minutia of details, they should first step back and consider the bigger picture of sailing across the Pacific.

Is the vessel truly stem-to-stern, keel-to-masthead ready? Remember, a day’s work at the dock is worth a week’s under way. Is the dream and determination shared equally, or will the plan unravel with the first gale? Does a westward passage commit one to a circumnavigation, or are there strategic exit points? Does the voyage rely on a financial structure subject to change? Are you most comfortable as part of a rally, with a “buddy boat” or as a lone wolf?

Next is the paper chase. Gone are the whimsical days of letting the winds blow you where they may. The modern cruiser must be prepared in advance to face a host of legal requirements. First, ensure that every crewmember’s passport is as current as possible. Many countries will not issue visas to passports within six months of expiry. Next, list every country that you may wish to stop in and those in peripheral waters. Check the visa requirements carefully because the devil is in the details, especially if you have a multinational crew. Many countries require no visas if your stay is relatively short, or issue visas upon arrival. But some, such as Australia, will hit you with a hefty fine for showing up without one. Albeit increasingly expensive, cruising permits are normally obtainable upon arrival, but check the cruising websites and forums for current and accurate information. Make very high-resolution photocopies of your passports and ship’s papers. Bureaucrats love the pomp and splendor of shiny paper, and your precious original boat documents can stay safely on the vessel. If departing directly from U.S. waters, be aware that U.S. Customs does not normally issue a zarpe, or outbound clearance papers, yet these are required for entry into nearly any other nation. Download CBP Form 1300 and insist on a government stamp, any stamp. Be sure to have clear doctors’ prescriptions for every drug in the ship’s medical kit. What might be an over-the-counter medication in one country can be highly prohibited in another. Increasingly, foreign marinas demand third-party liability insurance. If you hope to further insure for damage and loss, check carefully the caveats relating to seasons and areas. If you plan to rent cars for touring, it is best to obtain an international driver’s license before departure.

Familiarize yourself with the basic elements that will shape your course and schedule — the direction and timing of the prevailing winds, significant currents, cyclone seasons, the positioning of the intertropical convergence zone and the South Pacific convergence zone. Ascertain if the year of passage has been deemed an El Niño or La Niña year because these phenomena can affect the above.

West Coast sailors may depart from as far north as the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near Seattle, or dally south to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, while awaiting the passage season. For European and East Coast sailors, the Pacific launching point is obviously the Panama Canal. The details of a canal transit are complex enough to warrant an article of their own, but relevant here is do not assume a quick passage, because during peak periods there can be several weeks of delay. Also, build in time to enjoy both the San Blas Islands, on the Atlantic side, and the Las Perlas Islands, on the Pacific side.

Pacific Sailing Routes

Although the official window for departures from Panama extends from February all the way to June, the trade winds tend to stabilize and strengthen as the year progresses. However, an early exit has many advantages. Leaving it until June allows only six months to transit up to 9,000 nautical miles before being forced to exit the cyclone belt at the western edge of the Pacific. This truncates the time to linger in favorite anchorages or tend to inevitable breakdowns and delays. Leaving as early as late January might technically put one out into the Pacific during the official cyclone season, but the statistical chances of a storm developing this far to the east are slim.

There are countless permutations of a westward passage, but the path dubbed the “Milk Run” is the most popular. Regardless of one’s plan for the western Pacific, this route passes by or through the Galápagos Islands , the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands (Tahiti).

The initial stage presents a challenge because the winds can be light and the currents contrary in the Gulf of Panama. It’s advisable to head slightly east of south when heading out of the Gulf; the western promontory is aptly named Punta Mala (Bad Point) due to its penchant for confused currents and squally weather.

Once well clear of the Gulf of Panama, fashion a southwestward course with a pronounced southern belly toward the Galápagos group. I once sailed a direct course for the Marquesas Islands that passed over the northern edge of the Galápagos. I paid for this foolishness by spinning in lazy circles for five excruciatingly long days. Given the early time of the year, I would have been better served by passing several degrees south of the island group. Because the intertropical convergence zone (better known as the doldrums) is widest in the eastern Pacific, it is best crossed at the least oblique angle reasonable.

On another Pacific passage, I chose to head south for Bahia de Caraquez in Ecuador. Not only was the cruise down the Ecuadorian coast fascinating, the passage to the Galápagos from Salinas provided steadier winds than had we departed directly from the canal.

The cost and conditions of a stay in the Galápagos are forever changing. As an admittedly stubborn form of protest, I sailed right by them on two different occasions. On the third, my wife, Diana, put her sea boots down and demanded we stop. Even with a limited stay and restricted access, we were treated to one of Earth’s most unique and fascinating natural habitats.

The 3,000-mile passage from the Galápagos to the Marquesas will probably be the longest of your sailing career. If you can focus on the journey instead of the destination, it might also be the most memorable. Many modern sailors tend to fill the Pacific void with a frenetic schedule of radio nets, emails and obsessive navigational updates. Others soak up the rare opportunity to commune deeply with nature, and experience a rare solitude and reaffirming self-reliance, which I believe to be the core virtues of bluewater sailing.

Counterintuitive to the landlubber but axiomatic to any old salt is that the rhumb line is often not the quickest route to a desired destination. Favorable winds mean speed, and the extra distance in search of them is usually well rewarded. When transiting from the Galápagos to the Marquesas, by first heading south-southwest down to 3 to 4 degrees south latitude, one should reach the upper limits of the southeast trade winds, albeit possibly sporadic at this point. But as you proceed west-southwest toward 6 degrees south latitude and 100 degrees west longitude, they should increase in both strength and consistency. As you straighten course toward your chosen port of entry in the Marquesas, you should begin experiencing your best noon-to-noon runs because you will still have a southerly component in the trades. This puts you on a broad reach, a point of sail most boats excel in. The farther west one heads, the more easterly the trades become until you are eventually running dead downwind. This tends to be a touch slower, with exacerbated rolling. Be sure to carry light-wind sails for the early portions of this journey, and equipment and sails suitable for downwind situations. That fortunate discrepancy you will notice between your speed on the log (i.e., through the water) versus the GPS speed (over the bottom) is compliments of the South Equatorial Current, which fortifies with the steadier trades.

There is only one shoal area along the route, which is well-charted (8 degrees 5 minutes N and 139 degrees 35 minutes W), and the islands are high and easily sighted from afar. Entrances to the main ports are open and well-marked, thus safely approached, a blessing for a fatigued crew. What the Marquesas Islands might lack in terms of white-sand beaches and aqua lagoons is more than made up for with a geography so dramatic as to be somewhat foreboding — towering rock spires, dense jungle and precipitous waterfalls. These islands have been protected from rampant development by a crushing remoteness and therefore arguably remain the cultural heart of Polynesia.

Passages between the islands are mostly clear and well-charted, but potentially windy. The anchorages tend to be open roadsteads, so anti-roll tactics and equipment come in handy. Yachts can clear in at Hiva Oa, Ua Pou or Nuku Hiva. Those first stopping in Fatu Hiva have met with mixed results, ranging from spot fines to official clearance. Yachts are no longer required to rush to Tahiti to extend their initial 30-day visa. Thus, with 90 days in pocket, you can divide your time between the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societies more evenly than in years past.

Encompassing an area larger than Western Europe, the Tuamotus are the longest chain of atolls in the world. Historically, they were known as the “dangerous archipelago,” and rightfully so due to a baffling maze of poorly charted reefs, low-lying islands and diabolically unpredictable currents. Even with the best of modern navigational equipment and weather forecasting, they demand the mariner’s absolute vigilance regarding watchkeeping, entry and exit from atoll passes, and anchoring techniques.

Those in a hurry to reach Tahiti tend to pass through the wider channels at the northern end of the chain, perhaps visiting Ahe, Manihi and the main center of Rangiroa. Others, with more time, make landfall far to the south and make their way up the chain via Makemo and the beautiful Fakarava Lagoon, enjoying a better angle off the wind on the short sail to Tahiti.

The Society Islands are divided into two groups: the Windwards, including Tahiti and Moorea, and the Leewards, with Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and, perhaps the most beautiful of them all, Bora Bora. They are all lush, high and ringed by azure seas. If early in the season, all are worth visiting. If time is short, be sure to at least attend the amazing group-dance competitions held in the buzzing capital of Papeete, celebrating Bastille Day on July 14.

North or South?

In Tahiti, the Milk Run divides into myriad possibilities. There is the northern route, for those planning to cross through the Torres Strait or into the Northern Hemisphere for the coming cyclone season, and the southern route, for those dropping south of the danger into New Zealand.

Although the majority of the South Pacific islands would remain unexplored, Tahiti is the earliest cutout for those needing to return to North America because its easterly location allows for a viable starboard tack through the southeast and northeast trades to Hawaii. The long but logical route from there is wheeling over the top of the North Pacific summer high and back south into U.S. West Coast waters.

While the land mass of the Cook Islands is a mere 100 square miles, its economic exclusion zone covers nearly 700,000 square miles of Pacific Ocean. One can only hope to draw a thin line through this scattered nation. For those on the southern route, the four- to five-day passage to Aitutaki or Rarotonga offers a predictable beam-to-broad reach right on the rhumb line.

En route to Niue lies one of two opportunities to experience the eeriness of anchoring in the middle of a featureless ocean (the other being the Minerva Reefs between Tonga and New Zealand). Beveridge Reef is a sunken atoll with not a skerrick of land awash at low tide, yet it offers anchorable depths within.

Niue is a raised coral atoll and geographically rare in the South Pacific. As anchoring depths are prohibitive, deep moorings are available. Keep in mind that it is an open roadstead vulnerable to dangerous swells. If the wind even hints at going west, as it occasionally does, get out immediately.

To break up the 1,200-nautical-mile haul to American Samoa from the Society Islands, the northern fleet usually takes a break in the remote and uninhabited atoll of Suwarrow, also known as Suvorov. The pass is challenging, as is the anchoring. But those who dare will be treated to one of the wildest places left on this planet.

From this point west, both the northern and southern fleet enter into the South Pacific convergence zone, a dangling arm of the intertropical convergence zone that extends from the Solomon Islands in an east-southeast direction. The South Pacific convergence zone drifts with some seasonal predictability (more to the north from December to May and the south from June to November), but is also influenced by larger weather anomalies. It tends to shift to the northeast in El Niño years and southwest in the La Niña phase. Generally, it is an area of enhanced convection resulting in a frustrating mix of cloud cover, line squalls and calms.

The list of interesting stops from here west includes Tonga, Wallis and Futuna, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. Nevertheless, those planning to sail directly through Torres Strait into the Indian Ocean cannot afford to dally. They should be through the Torres by late August or early September in order to cross the entire Indian Ocean into South Africa before the cyclone season begins sometime in late November. A popular alternative is to pass south to a good cyclone hole on the Australian coast, such as Cairns or Port Douglas, and backtrack up to the Torres Strait at the beginning of the next safe season.

Keep in mind that an east-to-west circumnavigation does not demand a route through the Torres. I once circumnavigated by passing north of Papua New Guinea, avoiding the Southern Hemisphere cyclone season, taking in Palau, the Philippines, and Borneo before dropping back into the Southern Hemisphere for the Indian Ocean passage to southern Africa. Any destination north of 10 degrees south latitude will keep you out of harm’s way, albeit without the steady assist of those lovely trade winds.

Those on the southern route can linger through Tonga or Fiji until well into November and still safely make New Zealand shores before any tropical depressions threaten. Most cruisers heading for New Zealand do not venture as far west as Vanuatu or New Caledonia on the assumption that they can easily fetch them on their way north the following season.

Unanimous acclaim for the beauty of the northern Tongan groups of Niua, Vava‘u and Ha‘apai makes some time here mandatory, which harks back to my original advice to head out of Panama as early as safely possible. The southern contingent usually drifts south toward Nuku‘alofa, the capital, until it likes the long-range forecast for the passage to New Zealand. Many plan to hole up in Minerva Reef, getting a head start on the 1,100 miles to New Zealand, and depart there with the absolute latest weather predictions.

The reputation of this leg has more bark than bite, but it cannot be denied that tropical weather events drifting down from the Coral Sea and cold fronts coming up from the Southern Ocean have dramatic potential. One can expect winds from nearly every direction, starting with southeast trades on departure and potentially deep lows with strong southwesterlies shifting to northwesterlies when approaching New Zealand. Thus, the usual advice is to fall off the southeast trades and make some westing in anticipation of that southwest-to-northwest change. Not to be a contrarian, but I have made this passage more than a half-dozen times and believe it is better to hold to the east as far as wind and waves allow because if that southwest change does not occur, you might find yourself on the wrong side of North Cape, New Zealand, with contrary winds and confused currents. Although Norfolk Island is not a fully protected anchorage, many vessels that find themselves west of the rhumb line with foul forecasts to the south will shelter here until conditions improve.

It’s possible, albeit tedious, to return to North America from New Zealand. Vessels head out to the east from as far south as Tauranga hoping to catch the northerly limits of the westerlies until they fetch the longitude of the Austral Islands, then turn north for Tahiti. From there, they follow the route as previously described. From the outset of their voyage, some have planned to sell their yacht in New Zealand or Australia rather than carry on with a circumnavigation or a very lengthy sail back to the United States, especially if they are East Coast residents. Import duties, brokerage costs and currency exchange rates must be factored into this strategy. Is it heresy to suggest that another option is to ship the vessel back home? The initial estimates might seem staggering, but once compared to the escalating marina and maintenance costs, and the many windward months and miles home, the horror subsides.

Whatever your plan from here, through a combination of wind and will, you have done it. You, your crew and your splendid craft have spanned the mightiest body of water on Earth. You have immersed yourself in millions of square miles of salty solitude and self-reliance. You have absorbed the exotic cultures of Central Americans, Polynesians, Micronesians and Melanesians. And now, as only a seasoned mariner can, you truly understand why they call it the Big Blue.

Contributing editor, Alvah Simon, and his wife, Diana, are presently sailing New Zealand waters on their cutter Roger Henry, with occasional voyages to the South Pacific islands.

South Pacific At A Glance

Dry Season: May-October
Wet Season: November-April
Cyclone Season: November-April. Active
Cyclone Area: south of 10° S; west of 140° W
Distance: Panama to Australia — 8,000 nautical miles
Cultural Areas: Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia/New Zealand

References:

World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell
noonsite.com (Virtually everything you will need to know on a current basis will be found on this comprehensive website.)
Atlas of Pilot Charts — South Pacific, DMA/NOAA
The Pacific Crossing Guide by Kitty Van Hagen
Charlie’s Charts of Polynesia by Charles and Margo Wood
Landfalls of Paradise by Earl Hinz and Jim Howard
South Pacific Cruising by David Thatcher
South Pacific Anchorag es by Warwick Clay
Rocket Guide to Vanuatu & New Caledonia
Solomon Island Cruising Guide by Dirk Sieling
New Zealand Coastal Cruising Handbook by Royal Akarana Yacht Club
Lonely Planet South Pacific Travel Guide

Selected SSB/Ham WX Nets:

Southbound Evening Net: 6516 kHz at 0100 UTC
Panama Pacific Net: 8143 kHz at 1400 UTC
Pacific Maritime Mobile: 21.412 MHz at
2100-2400 UTC
Pacific Magellan: 8173 kHz at 1730 UTC
Pacific Seafarers: 14300 kHz at 0300 UTC
Namba/Sheila Net: 8101 kHz at UTC plus 11 hours
Gulf Harbor Radio: 8116 kHz at 0715 local New Zealand time
(There is a host of smaller and temporary VHF and SSB nets throughout the Pacific.)
More: Affiliate , Destinations , How To , offshore , Pacific , passage making
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Home » Budget Travel » Sailing Across The Pacific: The ULTIMATE Sailboat Adventure! (2024)

Sailing Across The Pacific: The ULTIMATE Sailboat Adventure! (2024)

A freshly caught tuna sizzles in sesame oil. The Milky Way is so clear, you feel like if you just reached your hand a little further you might just touch the stars. Waves lap against the hull, and that’s about the only sound you hear.

This is how I remember sailing across the Pacific Ocean . Nostalgia hasn’t rose-tinted all the memories, though. There was still the maddening autopilot who gave up the ghost only twelve days into a month long passage (you little @#*!).

Crossing the largest ocean on earth by sailboat is no easy feat, but it brings with it an elation and joy that is unique to offbeat travel. No one can take away the fact that you did it. You crossed an ocean.

Now, what does it take to sail across the Pacific Ocean? Just a good floating tin can with some sails and enough coffee to kill a bear. 😉 Kidding aside, I strongly believe that with good preparation and training, anyone can learn to sail and cross the Pacific Ocean.

You just need:

The best routes
Some juicy inspiration
Practical tools and tips to prepare your boat (and your crew)

And that’s where I come in! So let’s get into it – let’s get you ready to cross the Pacific Ocean by sailboat!

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Crossing the Pacific Ocean in a Sailboat – WHY?

Sailing Routes Across the Pacific(and how long they take)

Oh, the Places You’ll Go (during your Pacific passage)

When to jump the pacific puddle (so you don’t die), what you will need to cross the pacific ocean by sailboat, faqs about sailing across the pacific, final thoughts on sailing across the pacific.

What kind of maniac dreams of sailing across the Pacific? What kind of person puts thousands of nautical miles between them and the nearest semblance of land?

The Pacific Ocean has been singing a siren song promising palm trees, balmy weather, and peaceful winds for centuries. You’re completely unplugged – so no damn Instagram! For many sailors – veteran and greenhorn alike – it is the ultimate, goldilocks cruising grounds.

“The principal difference between an adventurer and a suicide is that the adventurer leaves himself a margin of escape.” – Tom Robbins

To cross the Pacific Ocean by sailboat represents an accomplishment that no one can take from you. It is indeed an adventure of epic proportions. Long night watches, daily face-offs with the elements, fixing the umpteenth broken thing… it is no easy feat! But anyone with a little preparation and a bit of know-how can leave themselves a margin of escape.

With a little initiation into the trials and tribulations of boat life , a cornucopia of experience awaits the adventurer who sails across the Pacific.

Unlock Our GREATEST Travel Secrets!

Sailing Routes Across the Pacific (and how long they take)

The sailor knows that there is no point fighting the wind. So, a successful passage across the Pacific depends on good winds. Generally speaking, this lends itself to an east-to-west crossing.

All good boat plans are written in the sand at high tide, so of course, there are some deviations from the popular route. But, there are still vague targets and timelines that guide your Pacific Crossing.

Sailing the Pacific Ocean from East to West – The Coconut Milk Run

From the moment Magellan stuck his nose out from Panama and declared it Mar del Pacifico , this is the route sailors have favoured.

Your trip can begin with a little visit to Panama , heading south to charge through the notorious ICTZ, and riding the south-easterly trades all the way to French Polynesia. Some will stop in and travel the Galapagos, others will charge on through.

How long does it take to sail across the Pacific from East to West? This passage can take anywhere from 23 to 40+ days in a sailboat.

map of the pacific ocean showing east to west sailing routes

There are variations on this Coconut Milk Run. You can set off from Mexico or Ecuador, for example. Maybe this is part of a larger circumnavigation and you’re fresh off a season in sailing the Caribbean or an Atlantic Ocean crossing.

You can go onwards to Australia and New Zealand, or get stuck in the South Pacific. Even going on to travel Southeast Asia , or India, are not out of the question for the brave circumnavigator.

Wherever your starting point is in the east, you will spend a month (give or take) without seeing land. Just you in your tiny boat-universe traversing the sea and the stars.

Sailing the Pacific Ocean from West to East

Call me lazy, but this is a hard slog. Nothing is ever impossible, but you’ve got to have some patience with the winds to sail across the Pacific Ocean from west to east. If the early Polynesian navigators can do it, though, so can you and your tin can.

The three main options for sailing from west to east are:

The “Direct Route”
The Roaring Forties
The Northern Route

Ok, I lied – I would love to do the Roaring Forties passage! Anyway, this is not about Indi’s Secret Planning to Cross the Pacific Ocean Again. This is Serious Writer Business.

So, the Direct Route has the disadvantage of it being primarily upwind. But if you’ve got a well-prepared boat – and well-prepared crew – it can be fast and exhilarating.

map showing possible west to east sailing routes across the pacific ocean

The Roaring Forties has broken stronger sailors than me. How long does it take to sail across the Pacific from West to East? Well, It’s a long passage – 40 to 50 days . Extreme latitudes and rolling seas mean you need a well-stocked boat – and hardy crew. Also, the point of cruising the Pacific is usually balmy weather. There’s not a lot of balmy weather down there, mate. But if you can hunt around for the right latitude, it’s downwind sailing (yay)!

And then there’s the Northern Route. Basically, this is several smaller passages up through the Coral Sea, through Southeast Asia and Japan, and then across the Northern Pacific. An EPIC bucket list adventure if I ever dreamed of one! You can hunt around for good wind on this passage, but again, you’ll need a resilient crew and boat ready to take on the many nautical miles to be covered.

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We got you. For reals.

If we look at a map of the Pacific Ocean, you’ll notice it’s mostly blue. On one side is the Americas, and somewhere over there is Australia and New Zealand.

clear blue water surround a lush green island in the pacific.

But scattered across this great blue spectacular, are various incarnations of paradise on Earth. Oh, the Pacific Islands! You marvellous little delights full of genuine offbeat travel!

Sailing in French Polynesia

After travelling Panama, or elsewhere in the Americas, you’ll likely arrive in French Polynesia .

There are three main groups of islands. There are the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, and the Society Islands. Your first port of call after the big crossing is likely going to be the Marquesas.

The Marquesas are epic volcanic islands that tower over deep waters. There is some cheeky hunting and epic hiking here, as well as cheap baguettes. It blew my mind that in the middle of the Pacific there was cheap, French bread!

However beautiful these islands are, though, the stereotypical shallow, blue waters teeming with coral reefs are not here.

Clear blue water is filled with fish in the pacific ocean.

You must press on to the Tuamotus and Society Islands for that. I reckon you could get lost in the Tuamotus for a lifetime – as long as the freshwater doesn’t run out.

The world’s best scuba diving, spearfishing, and lazy hammock days are your juicy reward for crossing the world’s greatest ocean! Not too shabby.

Sailing in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is 2 million square kilometres! You can’t expect to know this series of islands intimately in just one visit. Still, good fishing, chatty locals, and picturesque islands make it worth sailing through. Travelling to the Cook Islands (and briefly becoming a mermaid) may be just what you need to avoid travel burnout .

Palmerston Atoll is only able to be reached by boat. It is a series of islets whose inhabitants can all be traced back to one man – William Marsters. Island time becomes more prominent the further away from continents you get. So by the time you get to Palermston Atoll, you can throw your watch overboard!

Throughout the Cook Islands, a slow tempo to living is the norm. Expect to chat lots with strangers, explore uninhabited islands, and wonder why you’d ever return to “normal” life. If I ever end up on the run, don’t go looking for me (or my mermaid look-alike) in the Cook Islands! 😉

Sailing in Fiji

As you continue your westward sailing across the Pacific, you will probably make a stopover and stay in Fiji .

Fiji is a bit of a crossroads within the Pacific. It is both Polynesian and Melanesian, and it is also home to a large Indian diaspora. While much of the Pacific escaped a strong colonial presence, Fiji did not. Along with its own kingdoms and chiefdoms, the British stuck their nose in and left a muddy footprint on Fijian culture.

A hindu temple on Fiji in the pacific ocean.

The British chose the rainiest place in the Pacific as the capital of their colony – Suva. Because of course, they did. Suva will probably surprise first-time visitors – it’s fewer palm trees and coconuts and more traffic and nightclubs.

Suva aside, the rest of Fiji is as remote and gorgeous as you’d expect the Pacific to be. Sailing through Fiji is a reminder that the Pacific is as complex as the rest of the world – it just has more white sand beaches!

Sailing to New Zealand

If you make it to New Zealand, pat yourself on the back! You crossed the Pacific freaking Ocean – fuck yeah!

If you take the east to west passage across the Pacific, chances are you’ll end up in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The kiwis are pretty comfortable with their status as a Pacific Island. Along with the first real supermarkets on this side of the Pacific, there are familiar smatterings of Polynesian culture.

Dammit New Zealand, you’re pretty freaking sweet! Road tripping around New Zealand is bloody dreamy: the hiking and the mountains are off the charts, and the people are just so friendly! If there were ever a sticky place to tempt my wandering feet to settle down, it’d be New Zealand. Plus, the diving is pretty great .

Some sailors choose to sell their boats here. Some choose to slow down and spend a season working or exploring New Zealand. Eventually, most sailors have to move on. Travelling to New Zealand is a very special experience that will have most sailors scheming about how to get back!

Sailing to Australia

Maybe you bypassed New Zealand and came straight across the Pacific to Australia. Maybe you added crossing the Tasman Sea to your growing list of sailing achievements. However you made it, and whatever customs form you had to fill out to prove it, you arrived in Australia – the famed Land Down Under.

A pretty epic continent is bound to get under your skin. She’s bold, she’s beautiful, and she’s stinking hot! There are countless incredible adventures to be had in Australia!

Australia is less keen on embracing its geographical status as a Pacific or Asian country. It’s a whole different kettle of fish down under, mate.

There are sweet Australian road trips , and working opportunities abound for the boat bum. You can easily restock the cruising kitty for a season before continuing your sailing circumnavigation. There’s also a pristine and sparsely populated coastline good for nothing but surfing and sailing!

I reckon the reason you don’t see too many Australian sailors around the world is that they see no reason to leave their beautiful home.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Danger is a relative concept. Crossing the street and driving a car is dangerous, but we all do it every day. Crossing the Pacific Ocean can be dangerous, but you can mitigate those risks.

People always ask me how bad the weather was at sea. Were there storms? They don’t ask about keeping healthy while travelling, breakdowns at sea, or navigation nearly as often. A storm holds a captivating spot in our psyche – and for good reason.

It’s worth remembering that your boat is probably stronger than you. You shouldn’t get into your life raft until you are stepping up into your life raft. Extreme situations aside, there are safer times to cross the Pacific! And more comfortable times too. So when is it best to sail across the Pacific Ocean?

The boat sinking storms are concentrated in hurricane or cyclone season. Luckily, these seasons are quite well known now. If you are in the South Pacific between November and April, your chances of a cyclone are high. But, come May, the odds drop to almost zero. Cyclone season in the North Pacific and the Caribbean is June through November.

With this in mind, the best time to sail across the Pacific Ocean becomes clearer. If you leave Panama around March , you will arrive in the South Pacific right at the beginning of the best cruising season. You will also avoid the cyclone season of the Caribbean.

There’s no point fighting the winds, man!

You need a sailboat that is stem to stern ready. You also need a crew that is in tip-top shape and mentally prepared for the long passage ahead. Realistically, anyone who is prepared can take on sailing across the Pacific Ocean. But what does it look like to be prepared?

The Trial by Sailboat – LIVEABOARD EXPERIENCE!

Before literally chucking yourself in the deep end by sailing the Pacific, why not rent the boat life? Try your hand at skippering a sailboat bareboat (without captain or crew) so you can stress-test yourself as a sailor. Sailo lets you do exactly that!

You can rent one of over 30,000 boats. If you’re not up to skippering your own boat, then kick back on one of the many catered charter boats on offer! You’re guaranteed to find something suitable and have a splashing good time in the best places in the world to sail.

It’s not the most hardcore jump-in-the-deep-end training for your Pacific passage, but having a taste of the boat life is probably a good idea! It’d be a bit awkward if you got halfway across the Pacific only to realise this whole boat life wasn’t for you.

Boat System Preparation

Being prepared to sail across the Pacific Ocean means knowing your boat at least as well as you know your smush buddy.

I like to remember that a day spent preparing in the dock is worth a week at sea. When you walk around your boat, ask yourself: how likely is this to break, and if this broke, could I fix it? Preparing systems and the backup systems to backup systems is all part of your preparation.

Ultimately though, you need to be flexible. You might not leave port knowing how to sew anything more than a button to your pants. But if push came to shove, you would learn real fast to mend your sail.

Knowing how to use both charts and electronic navigation is useful. Keeping in touch via the radio is also a useful – and fun – way of getting weather and gossip. Nothing says boat life like a radio crackling to life somewhere off the coast of Ecuador.

“Hola amigo, cual es tu posicion? Y cuidado con los monstruos!” It’s the first voice you’ve heard in over nine days that didn’t originate from you or your crew. It’s a comfort knowing there’s someone else out there also afraid of the sea monsters!

A cat wearing sunglasses hold s a blank pice of paper.

Essentially, being prepared is about organisation and organisation is about lists.

Galley lists
Maintenance lists
Medical supplies list
Weather lists
Reading lists

Aside from adequate supplies, navigation and maintenance know-how, you need to have an adequately prepared crew.

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

Sailing Solo Across the Pacific?

An adequate crew may look like just you, yourself, and you. That pun didn’t really work in the third person, but we’re rolling with it.

Sailing solo for long passages like that which is required to cross the Pacific is not unheard of. It is often the preferred way of sailing for old salts. And there is a certain appeal in the solitude of a long passage – it’s the ultimate growth at the edge of your comfort zone .

The biggest hurdle to solo sailing is standing watches. It’s hard to maintain a constant watch and get enough sleep. Usually, a system of radar alarms, twenty-minute nap alarms, and a dash of faith in King Neptune get the solo sailor to their next port.

Knowing yourself and what you are capable of as a sailor is alluring though. Because no matter how well you know another person, you’re always going to know them better (for better or worse) after a long ocean passage.

To Crew or Not to Crew While Sailing Across the Pacific

A big advantage to having two, three, or more, people crewing a Pacific crossing is the night watches. Adequate sleep is a severely underappreciated necessity! Being able to divide the days and nights into shifts means that everyone gets to eat better and sleep better.

But managing dynamics in close confines, far away from any time out spaces, is key. Your friend might be a perfectly competent sailor. When on land you notice that they chew with their mouth open and sometimes like to rant about how the world is going to end in the next ten years.

This is all good when you can leave the bar and have a break from them. All is good when you do small passages with them. But, when you’re in a small sailboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you may not want to hear about the apocalypse for the twelfth time in as many days while watching food entirely miss their mouth.

Vanlife has a reputation for making or breaking relationships. Sailboat life is essentially vanlife without the ability to go for a hike and ignore your partner for a while. There’s also the added dynamic of captain vs crew.

With good communication, sailing across the ocean with your partner can create an unshakable bond that transforms and solidifies your partnership. Without good communication, you might not ever want to see that dickweed’s face again.

So, to crew or not to crew? Personally, I think we’re stronger together than we are apart . I think that sailing across an ocean is a sublime experience that is made easier and more pleasurable when shared. BUT, you need to be honest and aware of the dynamics. Play to your strengths and be accepting of others – and your own – weaknesses.

Mama Moana has a way of humbling us all.

Boat Food is Good Food

To sail across the Pacific, you’re going to need food – obviously! 😉 Each boat will have different capabilities when it comes to storage and fridge capacity, so fresh food may last better on some boats than others.

After a month at sea, cooking is bound to get creative though. Add in the challenges of cooking underway and fatigue and you are primed to get creative in the galley!

Food is fuel and a happy gut makes for a happy mind. Things like lemons that keep well for weeks become a godsend. Rather than see food as a cumbersome challenge, think of it as a means for innovation.

A table full of many types of food that you could recreate in a sailboat galley

I had a captain who learned to make his own yoghurt. Another who pickled their own foods. Every boat I’ve been on has had its own take on the one-pot curry. Skills like salting fish and baking bread become more accessible when you’ve got nothing but time on your hands!

Sailing across the Pacific is made easier with good supplies and a creative touch in the galley! If all else fails, high protein and high sugar snacks like peanut butter make the night watches go quicker!

Fishing While Crossing the Pacific Ocean

A way to supplement your supplies – and provide some entertainment – is to fish while underway. There are some great books and resources made by far better fishermen than me on this matter.

Two guys hold up their fish on the pacific.

Typically trolling while underway is the method cruisers go for. Once sailors finish the Pacific crossing, having a spear gun or some fishing poles opens up a world of island adventures!

Let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like fresh ceviche!

The Tools You Need to Sail Across the Pacific

There is no way for me to write a succinct list of all the tools you need to sail across the Pacific Ocean. For every system on the boat, you need tools to maintain and repair it. But I wouldn’t want to leave port without:

Good tool bag and spare parts
Deck knife (my ever faithful favourite tool)
Sewing machine
Multi-tool (my secret second love)
Solar panels

Staying Safe at Sea

Something sailors – veterans and newbies alike – tend to do is underestimate the consequences of danger. I guess you have to have a certain cognitive dissonance to cast off and not see land for over a month! Maybe it’s called getting old – or one too many close calls – but having insurance kind of puts your rational mind at ease.

You can release your wild side – but you’ve insured its dumb ass!

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

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Books and entertainment

Even when on night watch, you need something to keep you occupied. Even between fixing and tinkering things, there is a lot of time when you sail across the pacific. Most sailboats tend to be dry while underway, so there aren’t too many opportunities for drug bending entertainment.

I would recommend downloading podcasts, music, and books GALORE. I personally found movies kind of annoying to sit through, but that’s just me — I know some sailors who smash through tv series like there’s no tomorrow on passage!

What’s important is that you keep your mind occupied. Plus, when do you get a month of uninterrupted learning in your adult life? Why not start learning a new language while sailing?

There are many good books to read while travelling . I think I powered through close to forty books in the first Pacific passage I was on. A couple of books good for the mind at sea are:

This Old Boat by Don Casey . This is the handiest and easiest how-to fix your broken boat book that I’ve found. There are beginner projects that are best tackled in port, and advanced fixes that’ll save your butt once your in the middle of nowhere. Plus, it’s super interesting!
Storm Tactics by Larrey Pardey . Pretty self explanatory! And an all round interesting read. In a storm at sea, luck is highly biased toward the sailor who has a plan. A series of user-friendly checklists will help sailors from the moment they start looking for their perfect offshore boat, through outfitting, and as they encounter their first storms at sea.
Swell by Liz Clark . Captain Liz Clark spent her youth dreaming of traveling the world by sailboat and surfing remote waves. When she was 22, she met a mentor who helped turn her desire into reality. Embarking on an adventure that most only fantasize about, she set sail from Santa Barbara, California, as captain of her 40-foot sailboat.
Rum Diaries by Hunter S. Thompson . Begun in 1959 by a 22-year-old Hunter S. Thompson, The Rum Diary is a brilliantly tangled love story of jealousy, treachery, and violent alcoholic lust in the Caribbean boomtown that was San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the late 1950s. It’s nice to escape the boat and fall into the drugged up party land of Hunter S. Thompson.
At the Existentialist Cafe by Sarah Bakewell . Paris, near the turn of 1932-3. Three young friends meet over apricot cocktails at the Bec-de-Gaz bar on the Rue du Montparnasse. They are Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and their friend Raymond Aron, who opens their eyes to a radical new way of thinking. No book is better suited to boat life than one about existentialism.

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Can you cross the Pacific Ocean solo?

Absolutely! Sailors have done it before and they’ll damn well do it again! The biggest challenge is making sure you get enough sleep while maintaining good watchkeeping. It can be hard to sleep at the best of times on a boat, but it can be done. Might just be me, but the sea monsters are kinda scarier when you sail alone too.

How dangerous is it to cross the Pacific Ocean?

Far less dangerous than driving a car or riding a motorbike. The dangers that you will face can be mitigated with good preparation. Storms are the easiest to prepare for. Keeping up your health – and sanity – when you’re halfway between nowhere and nowhere is a far bigger hurdle in my opinion. If you can heave-to during a storm, know how to fix the worst of what can break, and eat plenty of citrus – you should be on the right track!

How long does it take to sail across the Pacific?

Depending on the sailboat, the route that is taken, the wind, and the current it can take anywhere between 22 and 40 days. When I crossed from Panama to the Marquesas (sans Galapagos Islands) it took us 26 days.

Why do people cross the Pacific Ocean by Sailboat?

I was going to answer this glibly – we sail across oceans because land life got boring haha. But I think for every sailor who leaves port there is a different reason as to why they are doing it. There is an element of challenge, there are exotic beaches, and long stretches of contemplation. There’s also an element of faith in whatever you want to call it – King Neptune, Church of the Open Sky, regular ol’ God. Sure, you can be prepared and sure, the beaches will be nice. But every sailing trip requires an element of faith .

If the Pacific calls and promises fresh fish, palm trees, and island time – you’ve got to answer! And there is no better way to travel the Pacific than by sailboat. So do your stem to stern inspection, steel your nerves, and cast off to sail across the Pacific Ocean.

The crushed peach sunsets and clear, stargazing nights will reward you tenfold. There are dreamy island paradises scattered across the great blue spectacular and hefty continents on the other side.

Crossing an ocean by sailboat is no small feat. But every mammoth task is made up of smaller puzzle pieces that come together. It is something quite spectacular to crack a beer on the other side of the Pacific knowing that those nautical miles were earned.

Sailing is the ultimate slow travel. An odyssey of mythical proportions lies ahead of the intrepid sailor who takes on such a crossing.

Avast and fair winds, fellow sailors. I’ll see you somewhere in the South Pacific! 😉

A man sits on the bow of the boat at sunset while crossing the pacific ocean.

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Indigo Blue

Share or save this post

Thanks! My dream is to sail the south Pacific.

Yeah I’m noticing water maker maybe more important than I thought… I’m just in land sailing 2-4 weeks between re supply missions lol … fuel , food and refill water is tough assignments often over loading my digny in the process.

Wow, take care out there!

Awesome read indigo thanks

Great article!

How Long Does it Take to Sail Across the Atlantic? (With Maps)

I'm checking my map here, and I'm just curious: how long does it take to cross the Atlantic? In this article, I'll answer the question for the most common sailing boats and routes.

So there's a short and a long answer. If you want the short answer, here it is:

How long does it take to sail across the Atlantic? The Atlantic takes about 3-4 weeks to cross. If you're fast, take shortcuts, and get lucky, it can be done in about 2 weeks. If you're out of luck and are without wind for a week or more, or use a slow ship, it can easily take up to one month.

It really depends on how you plan to travel, what type of ship you're sailing, its size, and -of course- your skills and speed. So there you have it. It takes three weeks. But why ? If you're in the least like me, you're not at all satisfied with this answer. You'd want the long and detailed answer. If so, read on.

How Long Does it Take to Sail Across the Pacific?

Of course, there are multiple possible routes. For sailing, however, it is advised to make use of the tradewinds (read on for details). The easiest route from East to West follows Portugal - The Canary Island - Cape Verde - Windward Islands. The total distance of this journey on a map is about 6,800km.

A boat rarely sails in a straight line. It most likely will cover more distance due to a curved or S-shaped journey. A good rule of thumb is to add 15-20% on top of the theoretical distance. In real life, you'll travel about 8,000km. This comes down to about 20 days of sailing in good weather .

Please note that sailers prefer to speak of distance (nautical miles), rather than time. You never know what the weather brings. A Nautical Mile is exactly 1.1508mi or 1,852m.

Want to know how far a sailboat can sail in a day ? Check out my other article on the average sailing distance in different conditions (new tab).

Well, I don't suggest you go and cross the Atlantic after reading this article. Sailing open seas is for experienced skippers. I'm including this part to give you a detailed idea of how to do it, and what the journey consists of.

There are two main routes , from east to west and from west to east.

The Southern passage (which is east to west)
The Northern passage (which is west to east)

You'll see that both of these routes seem like enormous detours (which they are), but they are the most forgiving sailing route and have worked for over centuries. The routes are dictated by the trade winds. I'll explain them further on.

The Southern passage (east to west)

You first need to reach the port of departure. If you travel from Europe to the Americas, you want to sail South-East. Your port of departure will most likely be the Canary Islands, offshore from Western Sahara. Then you will set sail to Cape Verde, offshore from Dakar. Or you'll sail directly to the Windward Island in the Carribean.

The distances of this route are:

Portugal to the Canary Islands - 750NM (5-7 days)
Canary Islands to Cape Verde - 850NM (5-8 days)
Canary Islands to Windward Islands - 2700NM (16-21 days)

This brings your total travel distance around 4000NM and travel time between three and four weeks.

Quickly learn how to use a boat compass with my short beginner's guide here (new tab)

The Northern passage (west to east)

First, you need to reach Bermuda, serving as your port of departure, since it has the best westward winds. Mostly you'd be sailing from somewhere in the Carribean to Bermuda. Then you will set sail to the Portuguese Azores, and from there you'll set sail to the Portuguese coast, and then your final destination.

Carribean to Bermuda - 850NM (5-8 days)
Bermuda to Azores - 1900NM (14-17 days)
Azores to Portugal - 700NM (4-8 days)
An additional 3-10 days to reach your destination

Your total sailing time will again be between three and four weeks, though this journey will take a bit longer that the westward journey.

Avoiding the hurricane season

Timing also plays an important role in the planning of your journey. Your main concern is to avoid the hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. Most boats leave in November, arriving just in time for Christmas. But the trading winds are stronger in January, making for a faster crossing.

Want to see a handy map with the best sailing season across the globe? Check out my article on sailing seasons here (opens in new tab).

Some info on the Atlantic Ocean

The crossing of the Atlantic is quite a journey. It's the seconds largest ocean in the world, after the Pacific. It covers about 41 million square miles, which is 20% of the Earth's surface. Conclusion: it's big, and you want to be smart about it.

In short: it's as hard you allow it to be.

Sailing across an ocean can seem pretty daunting. I haven't done the crossing myself (yet), but from what I understand, it's actually pretty dull. Bluewater sailing is mostly long stretches of blue, in light airs, cruising at 5 knots. So, in general, it's not super hard.

However, it can get pretty lonely at times. Being alone for 20+ days, with nothing but water and air, can take a toll on you mentally. Most sailors agree that this is the most difficult part of crossing the Atlantic.

It does take some nerve to cross an ocean. Open sea can get quite rough, and when it does, the waves are higher and the winds blow harder than anything you're used to inland.

You should be prepared for these kinds of changes. The most important thing is that you're able to quickly take down a reef. So you should have a simple rig, that allows you to adjust to sudden changes in weather.

If you don't have the experience necessary to deal with heavy weather, you could make (fatal) mistakes. You need to have the confidence that you are in control of your sailboat.

If you want to get into sailing, I recommend you read my article 9 Ways to Learn to Sail for (Practically) Free here .

Also, make sure to bring enough fuel.

How much fuel should you actually carry? It's easy to calculate . Find out how in my article on fuel usage here (opens in new tab).

But what about storms? - A solid boat with a good, capable crew can deal with almost any kind of weather.

I think that if you have the knowledge, experience, and proper gear, it's not difficult. However, if you're unprepared, inexperienced, and unsure about your own capabilities, the great blue could get the better of you.

Luckily our ancestors from the sixteenth century and up were plenty smart. They found the Atlantic had very reliable 'wind roads', which they could use to relatively safely sail to the Americas. These are called trade winds , and they're so useful precisely because they're very predictable. Each new season we can be sure the trade winds bring us to the land of the free. And so they have been used by merchants for many centuries.

In the North Atlantic, only the east-to-west blowing winds are trade winds.

The reason they are called trade winds isn't at all obvious

You might think that, since we've used them for trading so much, so we'd call them after the trade. But it's actually the other way around. The word derives from the Late Middle English trade , which means path or track. The winds were first called trade winds, and then we've named our commerce after them . In the eighteenth century, the word trade comes to mean 'commerce'.

So how do these trade winds work?

In the dead center of the Atlantic basin, there's a large area of high atmospheric pressure. We know it as the Azores High, and it stretches all the way to Bermuda. Hot air rises in tropical regions below, after which it cools at higher altitudes, and comes down near the poles. This indefinite transaction creates wind.

Because of that, there's a dead zone in the center of the Atlantic, where there's or no wind at all, or hurricanes. The reason the winds are so predictable, and nearly always blow in the same direction, is due to the rotation of the earth (this is called the Coriolis effect). The current also moves in this direction, creating a comfortable ride.

If we line up our routes with our trade winds, you'll notice they line up perfectly.

You can learn more about the prevailing winds and their origins in this excellent article at Yachting.com.

My Favorite Beginner Cruising Gear

For passages like these, you need sound navigation gear. It doesn't have to be expensive. Here are my top 3 items:

Chartplotter: Garmin echoMAP CHIRP 74cv (check current price at Amazon )
Compass: Ritchie Navigation Explorer (check current price on Amazon )
Backup GPS: Garmin Strike 4 (check current price on Amazon )

For more details on each one, head over to my recommended gear section .

How long did the Atlantic crossing use to take? In 1492 it took Columbus two months to cross the Atlantic. In the 18th and 19th century, it still took on average six weeks. If weather conditions were bad, it could take up to three months.

So why are we faster now? The wind hasn't increased (or maybe it did, how can I possibly know?).

Why does crossing the Atlantic take less time nowadays? It's mostly due to improved sailing technologies; the shape of the hull, the overall efficiency of boats, and, of course, improved navigation techniques. And sailing boats nowadays use an engine to keep going once the wind lays down. Which, you can imagine, will make quite the difference.

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I really enjoyed reading this article and learned a few things. Maybe one day I will embark on such a journey. :)

Great Easy text! Thank you so much! I am thinking and reading about this journey a long time.. I might do it.. nice article!!

James Hospedales

Enjoyed your article, which I read because I need to cross the Atlantic but don’t want to pay the carbon cost to the planet. The future of sustainable tourism and travel will have to return to using these ancient “tracks”. This will be among the messages of EarthMedic.

Roy cumming

Good information and written so a novice can understand it.

I have never sailed in my life but I am planing to learn and go from Florda to Batumi, 🇬🇪 Georgia. Great article btw!

John Bowman

Great article really put in terms a beginner sailor can understand, especially the Trade winds. You have a great site and I enjoy reading everything

Cool Breeze

Thanks for sharing. My Pake and I enjoyed sailing and spent never enough time on the water. My family is originally from Marrum and Holwerd. I look forward to one day sailing across the Atlantic.

I really like your blog posts and wondered if there is any chance to get in touch either via e-mail or https://yachting.com/en-gb/ to cover/share some of the content and cooperate?

Many thanks for considering my request. :)

Martin Richardson

I’m a healthy/fit retired person that has dreamed of taking on a challenge of a trans Atlantic sail East to West. What a great tale it would be to buy a sailboat in France and sail it back to the States. My sailing experience has been mostly in the BVI’s.

My question is: Since I don’t possess the necessary skills, how would one go about hiring a experienced skipper to make the trip with me.

Michael Hearns

Thanks so much, very informative, I will be reading again…

Great article.

Very enjoyable read! I would like to cross myself but my other half wants to go the other way!

“The most important thing is that you’re able to quickly take down a reef.” Usually we say, “to reef” or “put in a reef”. This made it sound like you’re actually taking OUT a reef. Or shaking out a reef. Which is what you do when the wind lightens a bit. :)

Wooo! [email protected] this massage keep it up.

it is so inspirational

Hugh Tetley

There is some good information in your article, but also some heavy errors. I have done multiple Atlantic crossings since the 1950’s. The worst error is that you don’t have you own crossing experience, which means you are only relaying second hand information. Reliance on electronics is only for fools. You mention GPS and back up GPS. The only back up is charts and a compass .. if you keep sailing west, then eventually you are going to reach land. I sail with a fifty year old Shipman 28 and all I ever use are charts and compass. Not even a sextant .. and I’m still alive. It is essential to have knowledge, tools and materials to do repairs. Ocean crossings create a lot of wear and tear, particularly with sails. Now, there are far too many spoilt idiots in supermarket level boats, especially catamarans of dubious quality and suitability who give up (and cry about it on social media) or need to be rescued.

Romin de Globein

I totally agree with Hugh Telley. All second hand info and assumptions from a writer with no experience. Too much pretty this and pretty that. Living in Nederland i’ve never seen the “great lakes” of Friesland.

You may also like, how long does it take to sail around the world.

My big dream is to one day sail the world seas with my wife. But I was unsure how long it actually takes. So I got into it and wrote this article.

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Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

Sailing through the Atlantic Ocean is a testament to a sailor’s knowledge and abilities. By reading this guide, you will know the Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Also, you can know,

Introduction to the topic

Top 10 best sailboats for crossing the atlantic ocean, what do you need to have before sailing the atlantic ocean, is it safe to sail across the atlantic ocean, watch sailing across the atlantic ocean | watch, top 5 faqs & answers on sailboats for crossing the atlantic ocean.

Let’s start,

Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

Sailing in the trade winds around the Atlantic – or returning to Europe one of the most challenging and thrilling sailing feats and adventures. A sailboat, also known as a sailing boat, is a smaller version of a sailing ship that is powered partly or entirely by sails.

The wind in its sails propels it, but an engine can also propel it. The definitions of sailing boats and ships differ depending on the area and maritime culture. In terms of numbers, the most famous yachts for crossing the Atlantic are regular production cruisers with standard equipment, typically with protection and power generation upgrades.

Sailing through the Atlantic Ocean will take 30 to 40 days, bringing with it a few dangers. Big waves and bad storms will disrupt your trip even if you sail outside of hurricane season. There are even freighters, boaters, and even whales to be aware of.

1. Catalina 30

Catalina 30 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

The Catalina 30 is one of the most popular production cruising sailboats of all time. Although they first entered the market in 1972, thousands of these reliable and robust fiberglass boats still sail. With all the accommodations on a large boat, this 30-ft boat is decorated with a modern and spacious interior.

Many models have a large, useful kitchenette and running water supplied with electric pumps. The Catalina 30 had a’suite’ layout, with a master bedroom V-Berth that was separated from the rest of the cabin by a door. It really is a nice boat to live on, with an enclosed shower and head. The Catalina 30’s layout included a dinette that doubled as a map table and workspace.

Specifications


LOA	29.92 ft. (9.12 m)
LWL	25.00 ft. (7.62 m)
Beam	10.83 ft. (3.30 m)
Boat weight	10,200 lb. (4,627 kg)
Draft	5.25 ft. (1.60 m)
Keel/board type	Fin keel
Ballast	4,250 lb. (1,928 kg) Total sail area 437.00 sq. ft. (40.599 m2)
Fuel	21 gals / 79 L

The Catalina 30 is a beautiful boat that offers excellent value. It’s well-constructed. The boat has a typical modern look. The cockpit is spacious and comfortable. The Catalina 30 has a spacious and well-designed interior.

2. Prout Snow goose 37

Prout Snow goose 37 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

Look no further than the Prout Snow Goose 37 if you’re looking for a reliable sailboat. The double hulls of this big catamaran provide improved width and stability. It’s simple to drive, has good handling, and is very roomy.

There are larger catamarans available, but none are as capable as this one. It’s designed to be sailed over long distances in challenging conditions. Its fiberglass hull keeps it light and nimble while also keeping it solid. It’s a slightly older model, but it’ll complete the task. Since it is British-made, locating one in the United States could be difficult. If you come across one, you could take the opportunity to purchase it.


Length	11.30m
LWL	10.30m
Beam	4.65m
Draft Min	0.90m
Draft Max	0.90m
Air draft	15.00m
Displacement	5,216kg (11,501.3lbs)
Headroom	1.85m
Total # of berths	6
Max speed (approx.)	8 Knots

The Prout Snow Goose is a tried-and-true ocean sailor – a powerful, seaworthy, and cost-effective catamaran. She sails well for its length and does well in light winds. With her canoe sterns, it could withstand even the worst conditions. It’s easy to haul or beach, thanks to her flat keels and narrow beam, which saves you money on maintenance.

3. Islander 36

Islander 36 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

The Islander 36 is a versatile live aboard a sailboat with excellent cruising capabilities. The I-36 was the company’s greatest model, with approximately a thousand built until production ended in the 1980s.

Most Islander boats featured elegant wooden interior trim and had well-decorated cabins. The Islander 36, like the Catalina 30, has an enclosed head with a shower and flush toilet. The I-36’s interior layout is open and well-designed, with a long port and starboard settee that converts to a double berth for sleeping. It’s a well-rounded choice for cruising and living aboard, with an enclosed shower and a large master’s berth.


Hull	Catamaran
Keel	Twin
Length Overall	11.3 m
Waterline Length	10.1 m
Beam	4.6 m
Draft	0.6 m
Displacement	5,500 kg
Sail Area	612 sq. ft
Fuel/Water	30/50 gal.

$44,000

Overall, the Islander 36 is a well-behaved, fast-sailing boat that performs best in light winds. A couple could easily do it for shorthanded cruising with proper, modern sail-handling equipment. It could also be a competitive PHRF club racer with decent sails and a smooth bottom.

4. Corbin 39

Corbin 39 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

The Corbin 39 is a stunning blue-water sailing vessel. It’s yet another vessel with a long and successful past. Just a few of these boats were completed in the factory; the vast majority were sold as kits to be assembled by the boat’s owner. Because of this development method, this model’s interior could differ greatly.

The interiors are all works of art and craftsmanship produced by the owners. This means that before buying a boat, you should take a thorough look inside. Since they were sold as a package, the exterior, particularly the hull, is likely to be consistent from boat to boat. If you don’t mind maybe having to remodel the interior, this could be the boat for you. The Corbin 39 is a big boat with a large deck that is ideal for carrying a large group of people. The boat is great, so you’ll have to spend a little more on maintenance.


Length	39 ft. / 11.89 m.
Length Overall	39 ft. / 11.89 m.
Beam	12’2 ft. / 3.71 m.
Max Draft	5’10 ft. / 1.78 m.
Displacement	22,800 lb.
Ballast	9,000 lb.

The Corbin 39 is a comfortable and seaworthy sailboat. In light winds, these boats perform admirably. The deck is spacious and ideal for carrying a large number of passengers.

5. Contessa 32

Contessa 32 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

Contessa Yachts manufactured their venerable 32-foot cruising and racing sailboat from 1970 to 1990, but custom boat builders are still building the yacht today. Its cruising capabilities are well-known, but it still has much to offer as a life aboard.

A fold-up table enhances the thoughtful aspect of the traditional cabin in the center of the cabin floor. The Contessa 32’s space-conscious nature makes it ideal for the no-frills and well-organized sailor. This vessel has a separate master bedroom and a head and shower in the corridor between compartments.


LOA	41′ 6.”
LWL	32′ 0″
Beam	12′ 1.”
Draft	5′ 6.”
Displacement	22,800 lbs
Ballast	9,000 lbs
Sail Area	822 sqft
Engine type	Westerbeke 33 hp (25 kW) diesel engine
Ballast	9,000 lb. (4,082 kg)
Total sail area	811.28 sq. ft. (75.370 m2)

$30,000 to $50,000

The Contessa 32 is a stunning vessel. On the wind, she’s a pleasure to sail, fast on a reach, and well-equipped for spinnaker work downwind. She was built to sail, and she does it so gracefully, cutting through the waves in a way that makes you like to keep her sailing. Within, she’s a cozy and welcoming boat, with some of the old charms that come with sitting in a Tupperware box.

6. Cabo Rico 38

Cabo Rico 38 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

“Everything came together best in the Cabo Rico 38 hull shape,” Bill Crealock wrote in his design notes. Few would argue that this 38-foot cutter, built-in Costa Rica, is flat-out stunning. He may have changed his mind later in life, given that the Cabo Rico was launched in 1977, and he designed several boats after that, but some would deny that this 38-foot cutter, built-in Costa Rica, is flat-out beautiful. The Cabo Rico 38, with its clipper bow, sweet sheer, and abundance of honey-colored teak, is a boat that will encourage even the most realistic among us to leave their work, buy this yacht, and head to the South Pacific.

Cabo Rico has been one of the outliers of time since serious cruise ships were built in Central America, but not in Taiwan. The whole keel is partially sliced, and the steering wheel has been fixed to the edge. The prop is in an opening and completely safeguarded but unsuitable for slips. An aperture secures the prop but isn’t well suited to backing into a slide. Although the CR 38 has an extremely soft drive in raw seas and heaves to effectively make several younger sailors new. It is also equipped with a sturdy fiberglass hull with an insulation layer. Often the hull is balsamic, but it isn’t.

Lead was used instead of iron for internal ballast after hull number 40. On the other hand, the deck is balsa-cored and has a substantial bulwark. Teak decks (which are used on the majority of 38s) and bobstay fittings should be avoided.

The 38 is a true cutter rig with just under 1,000 square feet of working sail area and outperforms most people’s expectations. Originally, the staysail was attached to a boom, which cluttered the foredeck and reduced sail shape. Many boats have been upgraded to have furling staysails without the boom, which is a good improvement. With a reefed main and staysail, the 38 tracks beautifully when the wind picks up.


LOA	38 ft. 0 in
Beam	11 ft. 6 in
LWL	29 ft. 3 in
Minimum Draft	5 ft. 0 in
Displacement	21500 lbs Dry Load
Ballast	7000 lbs
Dry Weight	21500 lbs
Total Power	46 HP
S.A. (reported)	962.00 ft2 / 89.37 m2

$38,000.00 to $139,000.00

Cabo Rico 38s are low-cost, long-lasting offshore boats with a decent chance of speed. They’re easy to find in the anchorage; they’re lovely vessels.

7. Nordic 40

Nordic 40 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

This 40-foot cruiser is a true jack-of-all-trades vessel. This is the one for you if you’re searching for a solid middle-of-the-pack choice. It does everything well but excels almost exclusively in one area: scale. The Nordic 40 is a substantial size for the price, so you’re getting your money’s worth here. This boat is durable, strong, light, and agile.

It can move rapidly and agilely through the water in a light breeze, but it can also withstand more challenging conditions. This can be the boat for you if you’re searching for a cruiser that can be used for more than just sailing. Its larger size allows for more storage and living space. It has a wonderful bathroom, a large refrigerator, plenty of counter space, and comfortable sleeping quarters.


LOA	39.70 ft. (12.10 m)
LWL	32.50 ft. (9.91 m)
Beam	12.43 ft. (3.79 m)
Engine type	Universal 44 hp (33 kW) diesel engine
Ballast	7,091 lb. (3,216 kg)
Boat weight	18,000lb (8,165 kg)
Draft	6.50 ft. (1.98 m)
Total sail area	756.00 sq. ft. (70.235 m2)
Displacement	18,000 lb. / 8,165 kg

$120,000 to $150,000.

This boat is both spacious and fast. Impulse is spacious and fast, with a deep-draft fin keel that provides superior windward efficiency, plenty of water and fuel capacity, and plenty of storage space in the interior.

8. Oyster 56

Oyster 56 Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

The Oyster 56 is a famous boat that many people might consider to be a dreamboat. The Oyster 56’s greatest benefit is its flexibility and ease of use, but the quality of the instruments and interior is simply breathtaking.

There’s not much else to tell because everything is made to such a high standard. The deck is designed to be small enough for two people to be part of the crew but spacious enough to cover large distances easily and comfortably. The systems could be manned by four to 6 individuals, with two to four being the optimal number.

It’s exactly the same condition below the decks. The luxurious interior is built to make you feel at ease. Finally, the Oyster 56 excels in almost every competition in which it competes. You are unquestionably purchasing a high-quality vessel!


Length	16.8 m
Beam	4.88 m
Draft	1.95 m
Displacement	27442 Kg
Berths	5
Water capacity	950 L
Number of engines	1
Power	114 HP
Fuel capacity	946 L
Motor type	Inboard
Fuel type	Diesel

£625,000 Vat Paid

The Oyster 56 is best described as a high-quality blue-water cruiser that was ahead of its time and blends excellent sailing performance with comfortable accommodations. Since there is so much room, it feels more like a home than a boat. Anything you might possibly need is readily available. Long-distance sailing is a dream come true with the 56.

9. Bavaria 42

The Bavaria 42 is the most widely used mass-produced ocean-crossing vessel. The sailboat is intended to be a straightforward, cost-effective, and adaptable cruiser. For the price, it is really excellent. A long waterline and a good sail area on the deck provide plenty of performance. However, when the cruising necessities are stored onboard, it is very hard. It’s important to remember this.

The cockpit is also located as centrally as possible to free up as much room as possible. The interior is simple and functional. Based on the style, there are two or three sleeping cabins. The sleeping cabins are usually regarded as adequate at best. It’s the standard to use a cruiser for circumnavigation. This is the sailboat to which you can compare everything!


Length Overall	12.99 m
Beam	3.99 m
Draft Min.	1.80 m
Draft Max.	2.10 m
Water Capacity	360 L
Fuel Capacity	210 – 230 L
Cabins	3
Power	55 hp

$50,000.00 to $402,517.00

In a pleasant and family-friendly way, this is a really nice-looking cruise. It is a large double and could also be conveniently split into two large single berths. It has a high freeboard and a solid appearance, with a big beam and a lovely finish.

10. Tayana Vancouver 42

Ta Yang, the designer of Tayana sailboats, seems to have been designing capable cruising boats for a long time. Since its debut in 1979, the Robert Harris-designed Tayana Vancouver 42 has been a mainstay of the serious cruising fleet, and it is still in demand today. The company produced 200 boats, most of which were constructed in the 1980s and early 1990s, though a few V42s were produced into the 2000s. You could find boats for less than $100,000 with a little searching and haggling, but they’ll almost certainly be older models. As of this writing, yachtworld.com has eight V42s for sale, three of which are priced under $100,000.

The hull form, which is double-ended and has a fin-skeg underbody, is stiff and seaworthy, if not particularly fast. Nobody has ever accused Ta Yang of going light on its warships, given the robust construction, which includes a sturdy fiberglass hull and a balsa-cored deck. Internal iron ballast is a large single casting weighing 11,800 pounds. Later versions featured enhancements such as vinyl ester resin and larger Yanmar diesel, demonstrating Ta Yang’s progression as a builder.

The V42 is a real cutter with a double-spreader rig and heavy stays. To shed water, the seagoing deck is cambered. Teak decks were common, with all of their benefits and drawbacks. The V42, like the Corbin 39, was available with a center or aft cockpit, but most boats were aft-cockpit versions. Because of the volume sacrificed by the canoe stern, the aft cockpit is deep and secure, if a little cramped. While interior arrangements differ due to Ta Yang’s encouragement of owner input, this is a welcoming boat for living on. The aft-cockpit model includes one head and a conventional layout with excellent light and ventilation. A big owner’s stateroom is located aft on the center-cockpit model.


Hull Type	Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type	Cutter
LOA	41.75 ft. / 12.73 m
LWL	33.00 ft. / 10.06 m
Beam	12.50 ft. / 3.81 m
S.A. (reported)	833.00 ft2 / 77.39 m2
Draft (max)	5.80 ft. / 1.77 m
Displacement	29,157 lb. / 13,225 kg
Ballast	11,800 lb. / 5,352 kg
S.A./Disp	14.13
Bal./Disp	40.47
Disp./Len.	362.2

$80,516.00 to $119,000.00

She’s a sturdy vessel that could withstand bad weather, withstand 30-knot winds, and make good progress. Although the center cockpit is small, it provides excellent visibility. The interior is beautiful, with fine Taiwanese joinery.

Here are some important sailing things every mariner should have.

The crucial aspect is to ensure that you have enough fuel. You can carry at least 33 percent more fuel than you will need for the trip.

It is also easy to use more fuel than you realize, particularly if the winds are light and you need to keep your engine running to keep the batteries charged. You’ll want to know that you’ll have enough fuel to run the engine whenever you need it, so you can be sure you’ll be able to use your craft and equipment to their full potential during the trip.

2. Sailing clothing

It is necessary to pick the right sailing clothes for the conditions and the activities you will do while spending time on the water. The demands on your clothes will be determined by the weather conditions and the length of time you sail. If you’re going to be on a small boat, including a dinghy, on a cold day, wearing a wetsuit to keep your heart warm is a brilliant idea.

Waterproof clothing and also a jacket that blocks the wind would be needed in most other conditions. The combination of lightweight, waterproof and respirable characteristics favors the spray top of many sailors. It’s a great idea to have quick-drying clothing under your waterproof clothing because sitting in cold, damp fabric could be uncomfortable.

3. Navigation equipment for sailing

It’s smart to bring manual navigation equipment in addition to state-of-the-art navigation with a GPS and a map plotter in case they malfunction. If all else fails, you could rely on printed maps and a manual compass to guide you. A flashlight is often useful for several purposes, and you never know when you’ll need one. In addition, most sailing boats have a log in which you can record your itinerary and any maintenance performed.

4. Supplies

You do need supplies that could really add up with long trips. However, for one-day trips, you won’t need to think about anything other than the water because there will most likely be restaurants and stores nearby. You never know: a simple trip across the lake might end up with you staying the night. Since mechanical failures are common, you should bring some food and extra water with you.

Enough water for your survival is a key element. Dehydration could be incredibly detrimental to you and could even result in fatigue and other symptoms causing sailing blunders. If you go out in the exposed sun, you have a higher dehydration risk than you would otherwise drink, so you would need more water daily.

5. Seasick Medications

For any offshore travel, bring some seasickness prevention. In rough weather, more than 66% of all sailors experience some degree of seasickness (mild to severe). Even if you aren’t feeling well, you should be able to stand watch, assist with sail changes or reefing, and work with the sailing crew.

Use the mildest seasick remedy that has the greatest impact. Begin with normal, non-medication methods of seasickness prevention (ginger, EFT, wrist-pressure bands, etc.). Next, think of over-the-counter medications. Use prescription drugs if possible.

Before taking some seasickness medication, even natural ones, consult your doctor. You want to be safe because everyone’s body chemistry is different. Start taking your medicine at least 24 hours before you leave the pier so it can get into your bloodstream. To avoid being seasick, stay hydrated at all times.

It is not easy to sail across the ocean. Novice sailors must take precautions because mistakes on this voyage can be fatal. It is possible that the journey would not only be difficult but also nerve-wracking. Confidence in your abilities should help you relax, but you should consider how easily you are with your journey, tools, and sailing skills.

Avoiding travel during hurricane season is one of the most important precautions to take. This usually occurs between June and November. It’s best to travel before or after hurricane season.

Even if it’s not hurricane season, you must ensure you’re ready in case of a storm. Waves in the open ocean could be even bigger than those closer to shore. Many boats can withstand any weather threat if they have an experienced sailor on board.

Conclusion – S ailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

There are several fantastic sailboats for crossing the Atlantic on the market; the ones listed above are just an excellent to start. You will not be disappointed if you take the time to find the best boat for you. Purchasing a sailing sailboat is a significant financial investment; thus, you must go forward with your decision before proceeding.

Bottom up – S ailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean

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Dear Deidre

‘Dream come true’ – Dublin man returns to Ireland after five decades away by crossing Atlantic in unique homemade boat

Jodie McCormack
Published : 20:14, 21 Aug 2024
Updated : 20:14, 21 Aug 2024

A DUBLIN-born sailor has returned to Ireland after being away for five decades by crossing the Atlantic in a homemade boat.

Alan Mulholland sailed into Baltimore in West Cork on a 21-foot home-built and designed boat after spending 39 days at sea.

Alan Mulholland spent 39 days at sea sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to Ireland

Alan's 21-foot junk-rigged sailboat, Wave Rover II, arrived on the Irish coast on July 16, after setting sail from Prince Edward Island on Canada's East Coast.

After setting sail from Canada he travelled down the Eastern Seaboard of the USA and through ports such as Halifax, New York City, Baltimore, and Virginia Beach before crossing the Atlantic to the Azores.

His homemade rig was uniquely designed for solo voyages and was inspired by the classic Chinese junk sail, which is uncommon in modern day sailing.

Kevin Cardiff, chair of the Junk Rig Association noted the design offers a range of benefits for a solo sailor like Alan including easy handling and adaptability to shifting winds.

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Alan's arrival on the Irish coast last month marks the Canadian man's first time back on Irish soil in 51 years, after leaving in 1973.

The sailor said the voyage was a "dream come true" for him.

He said the excursion was: "definitely something that has been on my radar for decades, having left Ireland by ship in 1973 and now to return 51 years later on a boat that I have built myself has been a dream come true.

"I've always believed that challenge, something that we have to reach for…something that we can barely reach with maximum effort is what brings us the greatest satisfaction in life.

Most read in Irish News

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"This is what solo sailing, on a simple, small, home built boat continues to be for me, something where success is not automatically guaranteed."

During parts of the 39 day journey the sailor braved 83kph winds and 10- to 15-foot seas.

The Irish-born man documents his sailing expeditions on his YouTube channel @Roversadventures .

The popular channel has nearly 45,000 subscribers following along on Alan's adventures at sea.

In a series titled 'Solo Atlantic Crossing: Sailing the Atlantic Ocean Alone in a 21ft Home Built Sailboat' he documented the journey to Ireland.

The avid sailor shared a range of videos preparing for the voyage including designing and building the boat and adding the finishing touches just days before his departure.

Previous gruelling journeys

Prior to crossing the Atlantic to reach his birthplace, Alan had already set sail on some gruelling journeys.

He previously completed four solo ocean journeys, three across the Atlantic and one across the Pacific.

Now that he has touched down on Irish soil, he plans to spend some time exploring Ireland.

He will take part in the Cruising Association of Ireland’s Three Bridges Rally in Dublin .

St. Petersburg Sailing Association

Welcome to SPSA!

The St. Petersburg Sailing Association is a dedicated group of sailors who race and cruise throughout the year on Tampa Bay. We are a relaxed, sailing-focused, volunteer-run club with one core mission: to encourage participation in the noble art of sailing . Let’s go sailing!

Photo of a classic Bristol 32, Desiderata, sailing hard on a close reach.

We always love to welcome new members. Whether or not you own a sailboat, joining SPSA is a fun, easy way to get involved in the sailing community and get on the water.

New to racing? No problem! Not only do we host cruising events and casual sailing opportunities, we also host regular racing seminars and would love to show you the ropes.

All of our 36 scheduled regattas, cruises, and educational seminars are included in the annual membership fee of just $55. That’s only $1.50 per event!

Still have questions? Send us an email to learn more: [email protected]

IMAGES

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Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean
Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean
Top 10 Sailboats for Crossing the Atlantic Ocean
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COMMENTS

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