Ocean crossings
Atlantic crossing: Canaries to the Caribbean
Las Palmas to Saint Lucia, about 2,700 miles of steady trade-wind sailing, the most popular first ocean crossing for cruisers.
20 episodes on the chart
- Distance
- about 2,700 nautical miles (Las Palmas to Rodney Bay)
- Typical duration
- about 18-21 days for a cruising yacht; ARC course record (2016) 8 days 6 hours
- Season / best months
- November to January; ARC starts mid to late November
- Prevailing winds
- NE trade winds, then E to ENE; generally downwind
- Start / finish
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain to Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia
- Fleet size
- about 150 boats per ARC; more than 8,000 boats since 1986
The classic tradewind crossing runs from the Canary Islands (or Cape Verde) to the Eastern Caribbean. Its best-known form is the ARC rally, run by World Cruising Club since 1986. Around 150 boats leave Las Palmas de Gran Canaria each November for Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. The fleet ranges from 27 to over 100 feet and includes monohulls, catamarans and motor boats. The ARC course record (2016) is 8 days 6 hours, set by the maxi Rambler 88.
Most cruisers leave in November, after hurricane season ends and as the NE trades fill in. They sail south-west to pick up the trades, then run west on a long downwind leg. A typical cruising yacht takes roughly 18-21 days. Many boats stop at Mindelo in Cape Verde first, or start there to shorten the crossing.
It is the most popular ocean crossing for first-time bluewater sailors, and it is mostly steady, warm, downwind sailing. The challenges are sustained rolling in the swell, gear wear from weeks of downwind sailing, squalls, and the isolation of a fleet that spreads out over 2,700 nm.
Highlights
- Downwind trade-wind sailing for weeks
- Rally starts with a big fleet send-off in Las Palmas
- Optional Cape Verde stop at Mindelo
- Landfall and finish-line party at Rodney Bay
Watch out for
- Leave before November and you risk the tail end of hurricane season
- Constant rolling causes chafe and gear failure
- Squalls and calms near the Cape Verde region
- Fleet spreads out so help can be far away
Episodes on this route 20
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We CROSSED The ATLANTIC OCEAN! Heading into the Amazon Jungle by Sailboat... Ep 459
IT'S OFFICIAL! We have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean! Arriving to French Guiana and the Salvation Islands. Home to a notorious penal colony where the book Papillion was based.
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DODGING ROCKETS at SEA! Not your usual Navigational HAZARD | Sailing Brazil to French Guinea Ep 458
It is not every day you need to avoid Rocket launches at sea! but when there’s a chance of rocket debris falling...
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19 Year Old Crossing The Atlantic Alone | Ep. 17
Sal Barlavento Islands, Cape Verde
2,400 nautical miles of open Atlantic Ocean lay infront from the Canary Islands to the Cape Verdes and further to South America.
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Atlantic Crossing Begins | Sailing 1,000 Miles to Cape Verde
When we set off from the UK, we always had one goal in mind... To cross the Atlantic Ocean. Now we're actually doing it!
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TransAtlantic - Cooking at Sea in Foul Weather | Ep 277
This time on Distant Shores we make a 2-week passage across the Atlantic Ocean, a first-time experience for our crew members, Noel and Tracey.
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Sailing the Caribbean Nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Ep. 207
La Soufriere Saint Vincent, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
This second video in our series on the Caribbean Island groups covers the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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Three Day Jungle Adventure in Suriname | Sailing from Sweden to Brazil & Caribbean [3.24]
We leave the boat for three days to head out on a jungle adventure! We drive out to the outback, build our camp and shelter and explore the forest!
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Caribbean Bound! - Crossing The Atlantic By Sailboat | Ep. 204
In this episode we embark on an Atlantic odyssey. We sail our 44 foot sailboat across the Atlantic, from Las Palmas, Canaries to Grenada in the Caribbean, with a stop at the Cape Verde Islands.
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Crossing the Atlantic By Sailboat - How To Prepare | Ep. 203
In this episode we explain how to properly prepare your sailboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean. We join up with the ARC+ rally, giving us strength in numbers.
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1,100 Nautical Miles to San Blas Islands | 7 Days & 6 Nights at Sea ⛵(EP015)
San Blas Islands Guna Yala, Panama
After spending two and a half incredible weeks in the Grenadines, our journey continues.
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Atlantic Crossing to Brazil - Part One - Sailing from Sweden to Brazil [3.14]
Our Atlantic Crossing to Brazil is here! Follow along on the first eight days of our passage. We leave Tenerife and set sail south and settle in for life at sea.
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Atlantic Crossing Done✨! ARC Finish & Caribbean Life ⛵️(EP013)
In the last episode, we crossed the Atlantic Ocean and sailed 2,800 nautical miles from Las Palmas to Saint Lucia 🌊⛵️ This time, we will: 🔧 Give Mathilda some well-deserved care and get her back in shape after the crossing 🎉 T…
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Update: Debrief on 3rd TRANSATLANTIC Crossing on Orion 49, CARIBBEAN Cruising 2026 + Q&A
Join us for a Distant Shores update, live from Grenada in the Caribbean, where we discuss our 3rd transatlantic crossing aboard our Enksail Orion 49 aluminum sailboat and plans for Caribbean cruising in 2026.
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Preparing and Provisioning for our Atlantic Crossing - Sailing from Sweden to Brazil [3.13]
Madeira Portugal
Our Atlantic Crossing is approaching and it is time for us to prepare and provision for the ocean crossing. We also sail from Madeira to Tenerife, give the engine some service and do other boat jobs.
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Crossing the Atlantic: 2,800 NM Into the Unknown (EP012)⛵
🌊 Our Atlantic Crossing Begins! 🌊 In the last episode, we prepared everything for the great crossing — and now the moment has finally arrived.
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Getting Ready to Cross the Atlantic (EP011)
Las Palmas Canary Islands, Spain
In the last episode, we sailed all the way to Gran Canaria. There, two weeks of preparation await us as we get ready for our first truly big crossing to the Caribbean.
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Saliing from Gibraltar to the Canaries (EP010)
Gran Canaria Canary Islands, Spain
In the last episodes, we sailed all the way to Gibraltar ⛵️.
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Evaluating our Refit Projects after 50 Days of Cruising Life - Sailing from Sweden to Brazil [3.09]
We are alone for the first time since we started our sailing adventure! We are in Portugal and get going with some boat projects.
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Departure Day! Sailing from Sweden to Brazil & the Caribbean [3.01]
Departure day is finally here! Fast forward to October 2023, we took the plunge again and bought a Wasa 530, a sailboat that had been sitting idle for over 15 years.
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A summary for learning and dreaming, not for navigation. Rules, fees, seasons and security advice change: check current official sources before you go.