How to Sail the Atlantic Crossing

It used to be that sailing the Atlantic was an arduous adventure with much uncertainty. Now with the advent of GPS, weather routing systems, and the experience of past sailors, this journey is an enjoyable challenge for recreational sailors. It will take anywhere from 16 - 25 days to complete, depending on the route. Preparations are essential for success.

Things You'll Need

  • Blue water sailboat
  • Water
  • Food
  • Fuel
  • Watermaker
  • Single side band radio
  • Life raft
  • Nav lights
  • Paper charts
  • GPS
  • Radar
  • Radio scheds
  • Autopilot
  • Fridge
  • Freezer
  • Computer
  • Fans
  • Diesel generator or alternative
  • Tool kit
  • First aid kit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a sturdy blue water sailboat to withstand 50 foot waves. It is important that this boat will be able to withstand perfect storm conditions. It should have the basic equipment such as ssb radio, generator and water maker, otherwise these must be bought.

    • 2

      Prepare the blue water boat for the journey by outfitting it with the following equipment: computer, ssb radio, radar, radio schedules, autopilot, navigation lights, water maker, refrigerator and freezer, generator, paper charts, GPS, tool kit and first aid kit.

    • 3

      Purchase and store enough water, food and supplies to last three weeks past your landing date. Overestimate the amount of fuel you will need for the trip in case of detours or problems at sea.

    • 4

      Choose your crew carefully. Always interview your crew to ensure that their experience level and personalities will work well together. It's important to fill the primary positions and then hire additional crew to deal with unpredictable events that might happen at sea.

    • 5

      Choose the appropriate course by following the trade winds and the ocean currents. There are weather routing services and software available to assist with this process but the basic needs are a paper chart and a GPS. Beware that the hurricane season in the Carribean lasts from June to November, so this area should be avoided. For those traveling east to west a well known route is 20°N, 30°W. This will take you into the trade winds quickly and the seas are generally calmer there.