Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean
From CruisersWiki
| Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean
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| Route from Gibraltar to Martinique |
Description
Probably the most popular ocean crossing. The majority of it is in the trade wind belt.
There is the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) which takes this route every year. It is well organized, and offers a lot of information and help for cruisers taking this passage. For first timers it is widely suggested to go with ARC. ARC starts every November, and arrives to the Caribbean mostly in December.
Also there is a longer route with more stops.
Charts
- BA
- 92 - Cabo de Sao Vicente to Strait of Gibraltar
- 94 - Southern Martinique
- 142 - Strait of Gibraltar
- 144 - Gibraltar
- 366 - Arquipélago de Cabo Verde
- 956 - Guadeloupe to Trinidad
- 1448 - Gibraltar Bay
- 1831 - Arquipélago de Madeira
- 1869 - Gran Canaria to Hierro
- 3578 - Eastern Approaches to Gibraltar
- Imray-Iolaire
- A4 - Guadeloupe to St. Lucia
- B2 - Barbados
- Chart 100 - (conical projection) North Atlantic Passage Chart
- C19 - Cabo Finisterre To Gibraltar
- C20 - Gibraltar to Arquipelago dos Azores and Islas Canaries
- E2 - Canary Islands
- E3 - Madeira and Porto Santo
- E4 - Cape Verde
- NIMA
- 2521 - St. Lucia
- 51017 - Ra's Beddouza to Cap Juby including the Arquipelago Da Madeira and Islas Canarias
- 51022 - Cap Juby to Baie du Levrier including the Canary Islands
- 51260 - Islas Canarias (Western Group)
- 51261 - Arquipelago Da Madeira
- 51262 - Baia de Porto santo
- 51263 - Baia Dp Finchal and Praia Formosa
- 51342 - Ilheus Selvagen
- 51500 - Cape Verde (Northern Part)
- 51540 - Cape Verde (Southern Part)
- 52031 - Strait Of Gibraltar To Balearic Isl
- 52039 - Strait of Gibraltar
- 25485 - Approaches to Barbados
- 2554 - Martinique
Weather
Expected climatic & weather conditions for this passage
Sources of weather forecast information for this passage.
- http://www.passageweather.com/ Nort Atlantic/Mediterranean to caribbean
- Imarsat-C – High Seas weather text forecast and warnings which come automatically to the unit for the entire North Atlantic (whole world actually)
- Navtex – Also automatic text weather forecasts and warnings for the entire North Atlantic.
- Radio Weather Fax Charts, received automatically
- SSB – weather routing advice from “South Bound II” which provides detailed analysis and recommendations to individual vessels by SSB schedule on frequency 12359.0, log on at 1900 UTC, transmit and receive beginning at 2000 UTC
- Daily copies of NOAA’s “Atlantic Briefing” sent by iridium e-mail to the ship. This consists of 12, 24, 48 and 96-hour maps and forecasts of the above maps.
- Herb Hilgen provides a daily ship-routing/weather forecasting service as a hobby, on marine HF/SSB frequency12359.0 starting at 2000 UTC until completion of traffic.
Weather Windows
The passage is generally undertaken in early November after Hurricane season and before the Christmas winds set in.
Hurricane season is officially June through November.
Christmas winds are the northerlies in the winter, growing to severe Northers in February. These are usually dangerous only near land, when they become "rage seas" (in the Bahamas, particularly) and breaking waves in most north-facing anchorages in the Caribbean.
Weather can also be nasty in winter in the Med, but from the western Med, starting the passage in end of February is realistic.
Trade winds are stronger in the winter than in the summer, and stronger when the Atlantic Oscillation is warm.
Communication
Also see World Cruiser's Nets
- Herb's website - Just two words needed:- "Got Herb?" I can't recommend him highly enough. Alan Teed 10:56, 14 December 2007 (MST) Yacht Moonstruck
Possible Departure Points
-
Gibraltar [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Gibraltar|Gibraltar]] 36°07.870'N, 005°20.929'W
Note: The ARC departs from 
Las Palmas, Canaries [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Las Palmas, Canaries|Las Palmas, Canaries]] 28°07.655'N, 015°25.413'W
Route/Suggested Stopovers
- Starting from Gibraltar [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Gibraltar|Gibraltar]] 36°07.870'N, 005°20.929'W
- 575 nM to
Porto Santo, Madeira [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Porto Santo, Madeira|Porto Santo, Madeira]] 33°03.577'N, 016°19.139'W
- 300 nM to Las Palmas, Canaries [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Las Palmas, Canaries|Las Palmas, Canaries]] 28°07.655'N, 015°25.413'W
- 870 nM to Mindelo in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Mindelo in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde|Mindelo in Sao Vicente, Cape Verde]] 28°07.655'N, 015°25.413'W
- 2097 nM to
Carlisle Bay, Barbados [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Carlisle Bay, Barbados|Carlisle Bay, Barbados]] 13°05.285'N, 059°36.775'W
- 115 nM to
Soufriere, St Lucia [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Soufriere, St Lucia|Soufriere, St Lucia]] 13°51.2′N, 61°03.8′W - here you can see the famous Pitons and the Volcano park.
- 20 nM to Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia|Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia]] 14°04.499'N, 060°56.980'W - This where the ARC terminates.
- Finally after 28 nM you arrive at Cul-de-Sac du Marin, Martinique [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Cul-de-Sac du Marin, Martinique|Cul-de-Sac du Marin, Martinique]] 14°27.6′N, 60°52.5′W
Possible Arrival Points
- Carlisle Bay, Barbados [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Carlisle Bay, Barbados|Carlisle Bay, Barbados]] 13°05.285'N, 059°36.775'W
- Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia|Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia]] 14°04.499'N, 060°56.980'W
- Cul-de-Sac du Marin, Martinique [[Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean#Cul-de-Sac du Marin, Martinique|Cul-de-Sac du Marin, Martinique]] 14°27.6′N, 60°52.5′W
Distance & Duration
- Distance = approx 4000 nM
- Duration = 3 - 5 weeks
Forum
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
List links external to the wiki such as in Wikipedia & Wikivoyage.
For Wikipedia you can use the Wikipedia template & for the Wikivoyage the Wikivoyage template.
References
See North Atlantic.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- I have sailed this passage. --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean and this page's details validated:
- 2005 --Istioploos
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Names: Lighthouse, Magwas, Darkhelm, Istioploos |
