Vanishing Point

Crossing the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean can in many respects be viewed as the easy part of the trip – the downhill run if you will. Getting to this jumping off point in the first place is often far more challenging.

This article explores both getting to the jumping off point and also routes across the Atlantic and has been drawn my personal experience of seven trade wind passages on four different boats. The first passage in 1956, last passage in 2005 plus more than sixty years of reading about and discussing with sailors trade wind passages to the Caribbean.

As a first golden rule, all boats should try and get across the Bay of Biscay by mid September when the fall strong gales are likely to start.

The Irish Sea route

Boats from Scandinavia should leave from the Skagerrak, sail approximately 250 miles to Scotland to Inverness, then 90 miles across Scotland, combining loch sailing and Caledonian Canal. Through the Scottish Lochs Ness, Oich then Caledonian canal, exiting at Corrah near Ft William. This is an interesting trip, 38 miles of sailing through the Scottish