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Atlantic crossing under sail.
From December to February.
In December, one of our ships will cross the Atlantic, setting sail from Castellón, bound for the island of Martinique, in the Caribbean.
Once there, during the winter and spring (2019-2020) you will visit the Caribbean islands, their wonderful beaches, coves, and anchorages, getting to know almost every area.
You have multiple options: from accompanying us on the crossing from Castellón to the Canary Islands, to crossing the Atlantic, or coming to enjoy the different crossings that we already do in the Caribbean.
Do not miss this adventure... the dream of every sailor is to cross the pond at some time in his life!!!
Every sailor's dream.
Every year's end, around November or December, coinciding with the arrival of the trade winds, a multitude of sailboats cross the Atlantic under sail, setting sail from different ports in Spain. As we did in its day, its shipowners and skippers conscientiously prepare their boats, equipping them with everything necessary. His final destination is the Caribbean. In between, the typical stages include Gibraltar-Algeciras, Canary Islands and Cape Verde, with final destination the small Antilles in the south-eastern Caribbean (St Lucia, Martinique, Barbados, etc).
All these ships are looking for seasoned crew members who are eager to share a unique experience: "The Atlantic crossing under sail"
At EL BARCO INGLÉS we help you find your sailboat or catamaran to cross the pond!!!
Typical stages of the Atlantic crossing by sailboat.
General plan to cross the Atlantic.
The first stage of the Atlantic crossing is between the end of October and the beginning of December, and the crossing is made from the port of origin to one of the Canary Islands, typically Gran Canaria or Tenerife. This crossing is usually divided into 2 stages, before and after crossing the Strait, given the special conditions that this area meets, which sometimes force us to wait even more than 1 week for the ideal moment to cross it. After passing the Strait, the Canary Islands will be reached, in a journey of about 5-6 days. There the boat usually waits a few weeks, to prepare well for the big jump, and cross the pond with the best guarantees.
Boarding from the base port of the sailboat, (Valencia, Malaga, Barcelona), from where we will set sail after dinner heading for a stopover prior to the crossing of the strait, typically, La Línea de La Concepción (Marina La Alcaidesa), next to Gibraltar.
The sailboats that are going to cross the Atlantic under sail, and that are looking for a crew to cross, usually tend to be more than 42 feet, more than 12 meters, although the typical case is usually a boat of even greater length, about 50 feet / 15 meters, with 4 or 5 cabins. It is taken into account that some space is necessary to accommodate a crew of between 5 and 8 people, comfortably for 3 weeks without seeing land. Whatever the ship, in any case, the sailboats that cross the Atlantic are equipped with all mobile radio communications, including satellite telephone, as well as EPIRB beacons. The security element is also taken care of to the maximum, since the Atlantic is a desert of water of almost 3000 nautical miles. In general, to face the adventure of the Atlantic crossing with the greatest guarantees, all the skippers and owners invest a large amount of money in their boat, because this really is an adventure, with all the letters, and thus they try to minimize or alleviate the risks, being impossible to eliminate them.
As for the skipper, we recommend that he has already crossed the Atlantic before, either on his own boat or on another's. If the skipper is the owner at the same time, better, because he will know the boat like the back of his hand, something really important. when it comes to solving problems, which we already mentioned, there will always be problems.
If you want to see a 3D virtual tour of our ship, which has already crossed the Atlantic, click on: www.360pano.es/ingles
Perhaps before starting the crossing of the Atlantic, it is very positive to embark on the other stages, for example, the crossing from the port of origin to the Canary Islands. Or once you get there, take a tour of these spectacular islands, which may include some or all of the following islands: La Graciosa, Lanzarote, Isla Lobos, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife. Even if there is time available and the weather is good, some more like El Hierro, Gomera, etc.
If you cannot board at the port of origin, you can also choose which part of the crossing itinerary you do with us, so that you can board both at the beginning, and at some intermediate point to Algeciras, in one of the Canary Islands, and even in Cape Verde, where, although not always, a stopover is usually made to cross the Atlantic under sail.
1st stage: port of origin - Algeciras.
From €300 per person.
Normally, the departure is scheduled at night, after dinner, in order to more gently marinate the less accustomed crew. Depending on the weather conditions and the port of origin, normally in the Mediterranean, we have from one day to 4 days of navigation to arrive in Gibraltar, where we will refuel. A good port is the Marina La Alcaidesa, in the Linea de la Concepción, which is something like the boxes of the race to cross the Atlantic, with which you can talk with other crazy people and exchange impressions.
Keep in mind that, in order to synchronize with the passage window of the strait, the time and day of departure may vary slightly...
If you want to cross the sea in a sailing boat, where you can enjoy the transatlantic adventure of crossing, this will be your best option!
2nd stage: Wait in Algeciras at the narrow passage window.
Once in the Bay of Algeciras, you usually have to wait a while for a window of acceptable weather conditions to cross the Strait and continue towards the Canary Islands. Depending on the forecast weather, we will quickly continue towards the Canary Islands or we will wait for it to improve, with a standard forecast of having to expect a wait of between 1 to 2 weeks. In any case, at best, it could only be a few days.
If you have to wait for this window, a good option is to visit Gibraltar, which can be reached directly on foot, 5 minutes from the Marina la Alcaidesa mooring.
In case of waiting, those who for work reasons do not have time to get to the Canary Islands, may disembark to return from Algeciras to their homes.
3rd stage: La Concepción Line - Canary Islands.
From €400 per person.
Departure from the Bay of Algeciras, according to the passage window of the Strait of Gibraltar. It will be a crossing of 600 NM, 100 hours (5 days), so the arrival in the Canary Islands, normally reaching Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria or Tenerife, will be around 5 days after departure.
Depending on time and arriving early, you can make a brief stopover anchoring on an island near the destination, be it La Graciosa to the north of Lanzarote or Lobos in Fuerteventura.
If there is no time, due to a delay in the passage window of the strait, you can also go directly from the peninsula to the final marina where the ship and all the crew will rest, before crossing the Atlantic.
In any case, the final destination in the Canary Islands will be completely fixed long before the trip so that all the crew members who do not follow the Atlantic crossing can take their respective trips back to the peninsula.
4th stage: Tour of the Canary Islands.
Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Iron.
The Canary Islands are made up of 7 islands, El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Landscapes and corners, that you have to see sometime in your life, it is a paradise that is worth knowing. But it will depend on the skipper of the ship if this part of the trip is carried out, as well as the minimum quorum of people is reached.
During those days you can take the opportunity to move between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, stopping at Marina Rubicón, which is located just south of Lanzarote, just 5 NM from Corralejo, in the north of Fuerteventura. Therefore, it serves as a strategic point to visit both the South of Lanzarote and the North of Fuerteventura, the paradisiacal beaches of Corralejo, and the beautiful Isla de Lobos. Thus, we would have all these points just 1 hour by boat from the same point.
Fuerteventura is an island that will give us the best moments of relaxation and the most spectacular sunsets. It has hundreds of charming corners in which to immerse yourself and forget about everything else. To the south of Fuerteventura, from the port of Gran Tarajal, you can visit the spectacular beaches of the Jandía Peninsula. You can also leave the boat in Morro Jable. If we leave before the strait, the stay in this 4th part can be lengthened in the same way.
Sometimes the Atlantic crossing and the end of the tour of the Canary Islands is left for after the end of the year. In that case, normally the boat is usually left alone in the Canary Islands for a few days to resume the crossings in January. Be that as it may, the next destination could be Gran Canaria, where a good plan is to go to the capital of the island, where we will find sun, beaches, festivals, tradition, landscapes, relaxation, gastronomy, culture and, above all, lots of fun. If there were not, we would choose another marina as close to this one, as decided.
There, we will begin to enter the "transworld atmosphere" or "cruisers", as we will coincide with hundreds of ships that are preparing the Atlantic jump, coming from all over Europe, but also from the world. It is also very likely to coincide with the prelude to the ARC, the most important regatta to cross the Atlantic, which departs for the Caribbean every year at the end of the year.
After a few days, we could set sail for Tenerife, at about 50 NM, 8 hours. The 2 most important possibilities in Tenerife are Marina San Miguel and Marina Santa Cruz. In Tenerife there are many things to see, but the one that stands out the most is the ascent to the Teide National Park and the final ascent to the peak of the same name, the roof of Spain, with 3,718 meters above sea level, where to see, on a clear day, the entire archipelago, as if from a plane. Being in Tenerife, but if the weather is good, we can visit El Hierro (this small island was declared a Biosphere Reserve in the year 2000), and spend a day or 2 in La Restinga, in the extreme south of the island, a a small fishing village that will delight fans of the world of water and diving, as it is a privileged spot for scuba diving.
It is even possible to visit La Gomera (both islands are less than half a day away by boat). There is the Garajonay National Park, where unique species of laurel forest grow. It has the best viewpoints of the islands, from which we can touch the clouds while we contemplate the sea, such as the César Manrique Viewpoint, the Los Roques Viewpoint, the Igualero Viewpoint and the La Punta Viewpoint.
Finally, regardless of the island, a fixed port of departure and a fixed date will be determined, so that it is a reference for the crew members, both those who will end their adventure here, as well as those more adventurous who are about to arrive for the next stage: the Atlantic crossing under sail!!!
5th stage: Atlantic Sailing Crossing
Canary Islands - Cape Verde - Caribbean
From €2,990 per person.
"Almost 30 days of adventure in the sea, of sun, ocean, stars and finding yourself... sailing and sailing, days and days only with the wind... it is the desire of every sailor."
In addition, it is not necessary to have experience, but it is recommended to have sailed before. If you have never sailed before, we recommend trying to sail a day before, because once the ship sets sail there is no going back, it is impossible to get off.
The departure to cross the Atlantic will be set well in advance, typically in December or January from a Canary Island, usually Tenerife or Gran Canaria, and in the most likely case of making the stopover in Cape Verde, it will be approximately 6 or 7 days after setting sail from the Canary Islands (820 NM, 6-7 days).
Reception of the crew between 2 and 3 days before the scheduled day. During these 3 days we will dedicate ourselves to regain strength, to do the shopping, to put the boat to the sound of the sea. Finally, we would depart from the base port to Cape Verde, although some skippers go further and make the direct jump. If we choose the Cape Verde option, about 6-7 days later we should arrive in Mindelo, San Vicente Island (Cape Verde), to make a small stopover before crossing the pond, which is usually the usual destination for the stopover, Although there are more options.
Arrival in the Canary Islands
Crew reception and boarding
Purchase of groceries.
Presentations and accommodation of crew members.
Safety regulations, distribution guards, etc.
departure day
We set sail from the Canary Islands to Cape Verde (820 NM, 6-7 days).
They usually spend a few days, it does not reach a week, and replenish groceries or solve small... or serious unforeseen events.
Possibility of making a short excursion to other Cape Verdean islands.
Departure from Cape Verde, crossing the Atlantic
We set sail from Cape Verde heading for the South Eastern Caribbean. The place of destination will also be predetermined in advance.
Distance and estimated time of the crossing: 2100 NM, 16 days.
The final destination of the Atlantic crossing will be conveniently set by the organization many months in advance to allow the crew members to book their flights and return "triumphant" to their home.
It is also expected to arrive at that destination in advance, to allow us to recover from the crossing of the pond, do a bit of tourism in the island or islands that can be visited and have enough time to take the plane back home. In any case, the destination island is usually coordinated with the crew according to the availability of air connections to return home. During the waiting time, a navigation can be planned on any of the following days to visit one of the nearby islands, since they are usually all less than 1 day away by navigation. In any case, this must be agreed between the crew and the skipper.
Do not miss this adventure... the dream of every sailor is to cross the pond at some time in his life, so do not hesitate and come to live the adventure of your life!
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