Key takeaways
- ✓The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November (NOAA).
- ✓Westbound Atlantic crossings mostly leave from late November, when the trade winds settle — the ARC 2026 starts from Las Palmas on 22 November.
- ✓Eastbound crossings back to Europe usually happen in spring, before the hurricane season.
- ✓Spring and autumn are the busiest times for delivery crew in Europe.
The year at a glance
| Months | What moves | For crew | For owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| January – March | Caribbean winter season; boats are used locally | Short deliveries between islands; plan the spring | Book a skipper now for spring moves |
| April – May | Eastbound crossings back to Europe; boats move into the Mediterranean | Busy: transatlantic and Mediterranean deliveries | Leave the Caribbean before the hurricane season starts |
| June – August | Mediterranean and northern Europe summer season | Charter and season crew; short repositioning trips | Avoid the Caribbean and US East Coast without a hurricane plan |
| September – October | Boats leave the Med and northern Europe; head south to the Canaries | Busy: autumn repositioning and Biscay crossings | Book early — autumn crews fill up fast |
| November – December | Westbound Atlantic crossings from the Canaries and Cape Verde | Atlantic crossing crew wanted | Arrive in the Caribbean as the season starts |
The hurricane season
In the Atlantic, the official hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. NOAA notes that these dates were chosen to cover the vast majority of tropical storm activity — storms outside the season are rare, but they happen.
This is why boats leave the Caribbean in spring and only come back after November. Many insurance policies also have restrictions for the hurricane area during the season — check your policy before planning a summer move.
Crossing the Atlantic westbound
Westbound crossings from Europe to the Caribbean usually leave the Canary Islands or Cape Verde from late November, when the trade winds have settled and the hurricane season is over. The best-known rally, the ARC, starts from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; in 2026 the start is on 22 November, bound for Saint Lucia.
Coming back east
Eastbound crossings back to Europe usually happen in April and May, often via Bermuda or the Azores. It is a longer and more demanding passage than the westbound route, and owners often look for experienced delivery crew for it.
How to use the calendar
- •Crew: set your availability for the busy months early and keep your certificates up to date before spring and autumn
- •Owners: book a skipper 1–2 months before the busy windows
- •Everyone: plan around the weather window, not a fixed date
On Maritime Delivery crew can mark the dates they are free in their availability calendar, and owners can filter crew by those dates when they plan a move.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to cross the Atlantic by sailboat?+
Westbound (Europe to the Caribbean) crossings usually leave the Canary Islands from late November, after the hurricane season and when the trade winds are settled. Eastbound crossings back to Europe usually happen in April and May.
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?+
The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November each year, according to NOAA.
When does the ARC 2026 start?+
The ARC 2026 starts from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 22 November 2026, bound for Saint Lucia, according to the organiser World Cruising Club.
When are yacht delivery skippers busiest?+
Spring (boats moving into the Mediterranean and back from the Caribbean) and autumn (boats leaving the Mediterranean and heading for the Atlantic) are the busiest times for delivery crew.
Sources
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