Typical Atlantic crossing times

[JOHNMARDALL]

I suggest reading the RCC Atlantic Crossing Guide. Will you have a full racing crew, will you be heaving to at night, will you stop at Bermuda and the Azores, from where will you depart and at where do you hope to arrive, etc. Sailboats and schedules don't really go together, especially if you want to have fun.
Good luck
John Mardall
Vetus Maxwell Group

[jmpapon]

Interestingly nobody even asked which crossing direction was considered: East to West or the reverse route?
Not to mention at which latitude.

[Foozinator]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Foozinator, which way are you thinking of crossing the Atlantic? E-W or W-E?

Initially W-E, though we'd eventually want to come back, as well.

22-25 days travel time is definitely on the longer side. I see in the 2014 rally, a BroadBlue 42 took 23-ish days and a pair of Lagoon 400s took 19-ish days.

Sounds like a sabbatical is necessary, then.

[Foozinator]

Originally Posted by JOHNMARDALL

I suggest reading Jimmy Cornell's Atlantic Crossing Guide. Will you have a full racing crew, will you be heaving to at night, will you stop at Bermuda and the Azores, from where will you depart and at where do you hope to arrive, etc. Sailboats and schedules don't really go together, especially if you want to have fun.

Thanks for the book reference.

Unless something changes, it'll be just the two of us (so a pair of single-handers, really). We'll want to be safe, so we'll be sailing conservatively.

[Tanzer4124]

3 friends and myself did Newport RI to Crosshaven IR in 21 days in a Rival 34 during June in 1988! Becalmed for 2 days and little diesel!

[hamburking]

I crossed in 2010 on a swan 48. We went in November/December, the trades were not well established at that time (too early in the season).

We crossed from Almerimar Spain to Grand Canaria in 6 days.
Gran Canaria to Antigua in 20 days.

My rule of thumb is 100 miles a day, or 1000 miles a week.

If you put a time deadline on your crossing you are setting yourself up for disaster. Its a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time, be safe. The waves are big and the wind blows strong. Relax and enjoy the ride.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Foozinator

Initially W-E, though we'd eventually want to come back, as well.

22-25 days travel time is definitely on the longer side. I see in the 2014 rally, a BroadBlue 42 took 23-ish days and a pair of Lagoon 400s took 19-ish days.

LOL everyone thought you meant the other way.

R u looking at the right ARC?
Is the 19 days from Bermuda to Azores?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Foozinator

I know that there can be a big variation between Atlantic crossings, especially with variable weather. I just want to see what a typical crossing could be with your typical 40-43 foot cat.

The main reason I'm interested is that I'm planning on working from the boat, and satellite internet isn't really practical (yet).

I've seen crossings in the 18-21 day range, which would mean a leave of absence. That said, am I reading these 2011 ARC results correctly? Down in the multihull section is a pair of Lagoon 420s that made the crossing in 9 1/2 days.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong or maybe the winds were crazy in 2011. My question is: is a sub 2-week crossing possible, assuming you pick a good time of the season (and the winds are in your favor)?

I have been following the 2016 ARC+. 9 and 1/2 days would seem very optimistic even for a cat. Those that went north and got out of the horse lat's seemed to do better SOG but the added distance made it a draw?

[Foozinator]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

LOL everyone thought you meant the other way.

R u looking at the right ARC?
Is the 19 days from Bermuda to Azores?

Good point. Not sure if I'm looking at the right results for our initial crossing or for the return trip.

The main point, for me, is time between Internet connections. Once we have Internet (cell / WiFi), it doesn't matter as much.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Foozinator

Good point. Not sure if I'm looking at the right results for our initial crossing or for the return trip.

The main point, for me, is time between Internet connections. Once we have Internet (cell / WiFi), it doesn't matter as much.

Have you considered getting a sat phone? Not that expensive anymore, has other valuable uses too, and may get you through your time crunch. No it won't do internet, but you can txt and call anywhere in the world.

[Mrfish]

I just came back from a charter in La Paz Mexico.

We chartered a Lagoon 420, it's a dog, a condo not built for speed.

A Lagoon 420 much less two of them crossing in the time reported would be impossible IMO.

They told me my Privilige 14.7 did the crossing from La Sable d'Orlon to Guadeloupe FWI in 13 days. She never had any problem doing 12 knots in a good breeze.

I agree do not attempt a crossing with a time schedule, you are only asking for trouble, especially with a small crew.

[Eder]

Originally Posted by Mrfish

I just came back from a charter in La Paz Mexico.

We chartered a Lagoon 420, it's a dog, a condo not built for speed.
.

Hmmm..did you buddy with another Lagoon?...I think I saw you at Isla San Fransisco & at Ensanada Grande

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Good grief, thats 87 hours to do 2800 miles your talking QE2 speeds.

Foozinator, which way are you thinking of crossing the Atlantic? E-W or W-E?

Pete

Don't know what route those figures are for, but the Arc+ figures above are for a stated Distance of 2090 (Cape Verdes - Mindelo to Rodney Bay) (presumably NM)

[Elie]

Hum... Many numbers, but like your last presidential election, it may means different things, depending of who read it. A 42 ft cruising catamaran will certainly do an average of 8 knots with the wind from N.E. But, if the departure is in Canary Islands, the first thing that may cost some time is to reach the trade winds belt. Then an 8 knts average(lest say 190 miles per day, not counting the current push). If the trades are already around the Canary Islands, a fast passage may be in the making. I think that 3 weeks just to cross to the Lewards is a good prognostic. But at sea, things often don't play the way we hope, so lets say 4 week is a safer bet...
So 2 weeks across... I have serious reservations...

[StuM]

Originally Posted by StuM

Don't know what route those figures are for, but the Arc+ figures above are for a stated Distance of 2090 (Cape Verdes - Mindelo to Rodney Bay) (presumably NM)

Correction!

I was cross-reading two different ARC result sets (ARC 2011 and ARC + 2016). The 23-25 days for the Lagoon 420s above was for Las Palmas to St. Lucia (2680 NM).

That has them averaging somewhere around 110 NM per day or quite a bit less than 5 knots.