Key takeaways
- ✓The classic route is Caribbean → Bermuda → Azores → Portugal/Spain, about 3,700 nautical miles in total.
- ✓Most yachts leave the Caribbean in May, before the Atlantic hurricane season starts on 1 June.
- ✓The longest leg is Bermuda to the Azores, about 1,800 nm.
- ✓Expect variable winds and calms between the trade winds and the westerlies — plan for extra fuel and weather routing.
- ✓Crew with ocean experience are in demand for spring deliveries; owners should book skippers early.
Legs and distances (ARC Europe route)
| Leg | Distance |
|---|---|
| Sint Maarten → Bermuda | 870 nm |
| Chesapeake Bay (USA) → Bermuda | 720 nm |
| Bermuda → Horta, Faial (Azores) | 1,800 nm |
| Faial → São Miguel (Azores) | 200 nm |
| São Miguel → Lagos (Portugal) | 875 nm |
When to go
The ARC Europe rally leaves the Caribbean in early May (9 May 2026 and 8 May 2027) and reaches Portugal in June. That timing is typical: it gets yachts north of the hurricane belt before the official Atlantic hurricane season starts on 1 June, and across to the Azores while the North Atlantic is settling into summer.
Leaving too early brings late-winter gales north of Bermuda; leaving too late means hurricane risk in the Caribbean and around Bermuda.
Planning the passage
- •Use professional weather routing: the Azores High decides where the wind is, and it moves
- •Carry enough fuel to motor through calms near the Azores High
- •Pack proper foul-weather gear — it gets cold north of 35°N even in May
- •Plan spares, watermaker back-up and a full offshore safety kit for 2–3 weeks without help
- •Check the orca guidance before the final leg to Portugal or Spain
- •Arrange crew flights home from the Azores or mainland Europe in advance
For owners hiring a delivery crew
- •Book skippers and crew early — spring is the busiest time for eastbound deliveries
- •Agree in writing how weather days, provisioning, fuel and flights are paid
- •Make sure insurance covers the route and dates, including the hurricane season clause
- •Prepare the yacht: rig check, sails, steering, autopilot, safety equipment and paperwork
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to sail from the Caribbean to Europe?+
For a typical cruising yacht the legs via Bermuda and the Azores add up to roughly three to four weeks at sea. With stops, a typical trip from early May reaches mainland Europe in June.
When should you sail from the Caribbean back to Europe?+
Most yachts leave in May, before the Atlantic hurricane season starts on 1 June. The ARC Europe rally leaves the Caribbean in early May.
Why do yachts go via Bermuda and the Azores?+
The trade winds blow from the east, so yachts head north to find westerly winds. Bermuda and the Azores give safe stops for fuel, repairs and weather.
How far is Bermuda to the Azores?+
About 1,800 nautical miles from Bermuda to Horta on Faial — the longest leg of the eastbound crossing.
Sources
- World Cruising Club — ARC Europe (route, legs and dates)
- NOAA National Hurricane Center
- Cruising Association — Orca safety information
- Crewing an Atlantic crossing (Maritime Delivery guide)
- Gibraltar to the Canary Islands by yacht (Maritime Delivery guide)
- Yacht delivery insurance guide (Maritime Delivery guide)
Put it to work