Yachts can cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans on a sailing or motor yacht, with a tank large enough to hold the fuel needed. However, not all yachts are capable of crossing these oceans. When planning a Pacific Ocean crossing, it is important to consider the following steps:
1. Plan your route: Determine your starting and ending points and choose a specific route based on your preferences and time.
2. Choose a sailboat that is stem to stern ready and have a crew in tip-top shape and mentally prepared for the long passage ahead.
3. Choose a specific route based on your preferences and the time of the journey.
4. Make the longest leg of a Pacific crossing from Galapagos Islands to The Marquesas: 2.5 to 4 weeks. Most cruisers take 3 to 6 months, or even up to 12 months, to complete.
5. Have the right boat for the job: A mega yacht and superyacht with massive fuel capacity can cross the Pacific Ocean. In 2017, a Nordhavn 120 was delivered from China to China.
6. Sailing or motor yachts can travel between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
7. Sailing across the Pacific from East to West: This passage can take anywhere from 23 to 40 days in a sailboat. Sailing superyachts typically take longer and the speed depends solely on wind and weather conditions throughout the journey.
8. If the fuel is sufficient, any sailboat model ever made can sail across any northern hemisphere or equatorial ocean as long as the weather is right.
In conclusion, sailing across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is a challenging but achievable journey for anyone who is prepared and has the right boat.
📹 19 year old crossing the Pacific alone
I’m Garrett. I’m 19 years old, and for the last year and a half I’ve been learning to solo sail the Hawaiian Islands and prepping my …
Can a regular yacht cross the ocean?
A yacht designed for maximum space is the opposite of what makes an excellent blue-water, ocean-going yacht. Compare a Beneteau or Jeanneau to one of Rubicon 3’s Clipper 60s; you will immediately know which is the right boat on which to make the crossing. Properly shaped hulls make for a far safer and more comfortable sail with a gentle entry and exit and buoyant overhangs that soak up the impacts. Cockpits are narrower to reduce water intake, and cabins have handholds and no wide open spaces, meaning crew are safe and secure below. So yes, of course, you can make a transatlantic crossing in a standard cruising yacht, and many do each year. However, if and when it gets mucky out there, and you’re facing genuine bad weather, you will be delighted if you are in a bigger, more robust, purpose-designed yacht.
The Safety Equipment Needed. You will find that properly equipped, commercially coded Cat 0 yachts such as those operated by Rubicon 3, have a comprehensive array of safety gear that most leisure or cruising yachts will not have.
- Life Raft:A certified, appropriately sized life raft for the crew, stored in an easily accessible location. Commercially operated Cat 0 yachts will carry 2-3 ocean-spec life rafts with Hydrostatic Release Units.
- Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs):Enough high-quality life jackets for each crew member, equipped with lights, whistles, spray hoods, and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)
- Harnesses and Tethers:Safety harnesses and tethers for each crew member to wear while on deck, especially in rough weather or at night.
- EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon): An EPIRB is crucial for signalling your location in case of an emergency and should be attached by an HRU
- Satellite Phone or SSB Radio: Once you’re out of VHF range (about 30 miles offshore), you rely on the sat comms or SSB radio if you need weather or help.
- Radar:Essential for sailing into fog and seeing squalls at night.
- Enhanced First Aid Kit:An ocean-spec first aid kit will be far beyond an everyday yachting kit and require the crew to receive specific, more advanced medical training.
- Flares and Visual Distress Signals:Various flares (handheld, parachute, smoke) and other visual distress signals.
- Fire Extinguishers:Adequately sized and rated fire extinguishers strategically placed around the vessel.
- Bilge Pumps:Both manual and electric bilge pumps in case of water ingress.
- Emergency Steering:A backup tiller or emergency steering system in case of main steering failure.
- Emergency Rations and Water:Extra provisions include non-perishable food and potable water in case of extended rescue times.
- Drogue or Sea Anchor:To stabilize the boat in heavy weather conditions.
- Tool Kit and Repair Materials:Basic tools and materials for emergency repairs, including spare parts for essential equipment.
- Survival Suits:In cold weather sailing, survival suits can be life-saving in case of immersion. Rubicon 3 yachts are equipped with Fladen suits.
- Fog Horn and Bell:For signaling in low visibility conditions.
- Grab Bag:A waterproof bag containing essential items like a handheld VHF, spare batteries, first aid supplies, emergency food and water, and personal documents.
- Lifelines and Jacklines:Installed on deck to provide secure movement around the yacht.
- Thermal Protective Aids:In case of hypothermia risk during cold weather sailing.
How far can you travel with a yacht?
How far can a yacht travel when it must rely on its fuel tank? As a general rule, the larger the motor yacht, the larger the fuel tank, and the more impressive the range. For example, a 35-foot (10.5-metre) motor yacht with a 100-litre tank can cover about 400 nautical miles. A 75-foot (23-metre) vessel that can accommodate an 11,000-litre tank, on the other hand, will usually reach 1,500 nautical miles. The most accurate way to determine a yacht’s performance and general seaworthiness is a series of tests called “Sea Trials”. These trials assess a vessel’s speed, maneuverability, equipment, and safety features.
Yacht Size and Hull Shape. Irrespective of the theoretical range, how far a yacht can travel also depends on the size and shape of its hull, as not all vessels are designed to withstand the same cruising conditions.
When the height of a wave reaches a certain percentage of a boat’s length (which depends on various elements, such as the type of hull), the vessel is at risk of being knocked down or rolled. In other words, size matters. Smaller yachts, for instance, cannot sustain waves higher than 4 feet and may be best suited for protected harbors, intercoastal waterways and day trips.
What is the minimum size yacht for the ocean?
How big of a yacht can you cross the Atlantic Ocean in?. For comfort and safety, yachts crossing the ocean should be a minimum of 30ft. This size boat allows you to travel securely across the Atlantic Ocean. When yachts cross the ocean, it’s important to have enough fuel, supplies and food for those on board, which means that the larger the boat, the better your journey.
How far can yachts travel?. The distance a yacht can travel varies on many things, including its fuel efficiency, engine size, and power. Sailing yachts that are equipped with both sail power and motor power can often travel vast distances. Modern boats with rechargeable engine power, such as S/Y BLACK PEARL built by Oceanco can power themselves without needing to stop and refuel.
When choosing to cross the Atlantic or the Pacific with your yacht, you’ll want to take notice of the yacht’s range and the size of the yacht to make sure not only that your mega yacht can cross the ocean, but you’ll be able to do so comfortably and safely.
How long does it take for a yacht to cross the Pacific?
How long does it take to cross the Atlantic?. It can take from 10 days to three weeks to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. Many yachts make this journey between the Mediterranean and Caribbean during the Spring and Autumn breaks in the yachting charter season.Depending on the size of the yacht you’re taking, you may spend just over a week onboard, or the better part of a few weeks crossing the ocean. Be sure your fuel tanks are full, and your vessel is large enough to handle the rough open waters that you can come across.
Many luxury mega yachts and superyachts can cross the ocean but not all vessels are equipped or built to do so. It is a distance of around 3,000 nautical miles. If the yacht does not have this range, there are other options for shipping the yacht across the ocean on a cargo boat or large container ship. Aside from the size and build of your yacht, you will need to be able to store extra fuel in your fuel tanks since there will be no place to refuel on the go. When many ask, can mega yachts cross the ocean? The answer will be yes, but not all choose to make the journey either. Aside from the length of time, there’s wear and tear on the yacht and mileage on the engines, etc.
Can mega yachts cross the Ocean?. Yes, mega yachts and superyachts can cross the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean. We know it would take a superyacht around 10 days to cross, but the Pacific Ocean is a larger body of water for superyachts to cross but it is possible to do so. When yachts are traveling from the US to areas such as Fiji or the Islands of Tahiti, the boats will sail across the Pacific Ocean.So you can cross the ocean in a motor yacht, but as stated above, you’ll need to ensure you have the right vessel for the job.
Can you cross the Pacific in a yacht?
Can superyachts cross the Pacific Ocean?. If you have the right boat for the job, then you can most certainly cross the Pacific in a superyacht. Crossing the Pacific Ocean requires time and planning as well as a crew that has experience in ocean crossings to ensure that the safest possible trip is conducted. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth so it is no small undertaking, but it can be done.
Can superyachts cross the Atlantic Ocean?. The Atlantic Ocean has long been a favourite destination for superyacht owners. The close proximity to any number of European countries makes for an interesting journey where stops can be made along the way to refuel, stock up on supplies and explore on land as well as at sea. Superyachts are designed to hold large amounts of fuel and supplies, but the stops you can make when you cross the Atlantic Ocean also make for a more eventful journey if you don’t particularly want to spend weeks on end at sea.
What supplies are required for a journey across the ocean?. If you are planning on crossing the ocean on a big journey, there are many supplies that you will need to sustain your crew and passengers for the weeks you will be spending at sea. Superyachts will typically have staff and crew to take care of a lot of the planning, but there are certain supplies that many could not live without.
How far can a 100 ft yacht travel?
How Far Can Different Yachts TravelYacht TypeTypical Size RangeApproximate Travel RangeSmall Motor Yacht30-50 feet200-400 nautical milesMid-Size Motor Yacht50-80 feet500-1000 nautical milesSuperyacht80-200+ feet1000- 3000+ nautical milesExpedition/Explorer Yacht70-250+ feet3000-6000+ nautical miles.
The following factors can affect how far a yacht can travel:
- Fuel capacity and efficiency
- Engine type and power
- Yacht size and weight
- Weather Conditions
Fuel Capacity and Efficiency. The bigger the fuel tank, the farther you can go on a single fill-up. But, just like cars, some yachts are more fuel-efficient than others. A well-designed, well-maintained yacht will squeeze more miles out of each gallon of fuel, even if it has a smaller fuel tank than another, less efficient vessel. For example, when you are looking to rent a yacht in Dubai, it is important to consider fuel efficiency, especially if you are planning a long voyage.
How big of a yacht to cross the Pacific?
How big should my boat be to cross the pacific?. Size is important when it comes to an ocean crossing. The bigger the boat, the more comfortable the ride. However, sea-worthiness is crucial. A small boat may be better-built and safer than a big yacht. It all depends on how sturdy it is and what gear you install on board. That said, for a comfortable ride, you’ll want to cross on a boat around 40ft long.
If you’d like to find out more about what makes a blue water sailboat, have a look at this article.
Is the Pacific Ocean rough for cruise ships?
The Pacific Ocean. Like the Atlantic Ocean, any crossing over a large body of water with minimal land surrounding it is subject to encountering some rough seas. The Pacific Ocean, however, is larger than the Atlantic, so it’s not uncommon to hear about swells impacting sailings from North America to Hawaii, Australia to Hawaii, etc.
Avoid sailing during February, March, and April to miss the roughest waters.
The North Sea. Sailing through the North Sea is often accompanied by rough waters and thick fogs, as it is susceptive to high winds and waves. If you’re cruising to North Europe (i.e., Norway), the British Isles, or even Iceland, you’ll likely have to voyage through the North Sea.
While trip interruptions are a risk all cruisers take, you don’t want to be left with the disappointment of missed ports.
How far out to sea can a yacht go?
The general rule is the bigger the vessel, the larger the fuel tank. For instance, a 75-foot motorized vessel that can carry 11,000 litres of fuel can travel about 1500 nautical miles, depending on conditions, whereas a 35-45 foot motorized yacht with a 100-litre tank can travel about 400 nautical miles.
However, a larger fuel tank doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get that much further, since a larger boat would typically weigh more, have a larger crew, have more items contained inside and have more equipment—just to name a few variables.
Follow These Steps to Determine How Far Your Yacht Will be Able to Travel on A Single Tank of Fuel:
How far can a yacht sail in 1 day?
Sailing Yacht. A sailing yacht will take you anywhere you want to go. With a capable skipper, a seaworthy, well-maintained yacht and the right sailing conditions, you can see the whole world. A fully stocked, seaworthy 30-foot sailing yacht will sail about 100 nautical miles in a day, and she can continue up to 90 days without needing to stop. Given the right wind conditions, a sailing yacht in good shape can sail around the clock at a steady pace of about 5 knots per hour. A longer yacht with a larger hull will have a faster average speed and cover more distance than a smaller vessel.
Motorized Yacht. It gets more complicated with motorized yachts since they rely heavily on a fuel source. If your parameters are how far a motorized yacht can go on a single tank of gas, this depends on the size of the boat and the fuel tank.
The general rule is the bigger the vessel, the larger the fuel tank. For instance, a 75-foot motorized vessel that can carry 11,000 litres of fuel can travel about 1500 nautical miles, depending on conditions, whereas a 35-45 foot motorized yacht with a 100-litre tank can travel about 400 nautical miles.
📹 Crossing The Atlantic On A Superyacht | Part 1
In this video, we start our Atlantic crossing from Croatia to West Palm Beach, Florida. This is part 1 of a mini-series of the crossing.
Too cool!! Thanks, Blair, for the great work! Feel like I’m there without having to do the work. I had no clue about the sanding of the teak but it makes sense!! Can’t wait to see the next article—the crossing will be so exciting to see!! Woohoo!! Nina’s meal looked delicious and I wish I was there for the fries!! Just incredible!!
Blair! Great content. Have been following you guys around the last season and it is special to see what vibe your yachtlife content brings the viewers. Keep it up! For the next season, I really really liked it when captain Paul kind of gave other big yachts their moments with some good shots and some information about them. As a yachtfan I thought that distinguished you guys from other yachtcontent. Looking forward to the next one!
I get goose bumps every time I watch this. Such a lovely boat and such great crew. I wonder how long it takes to find a crew who all get on so well, I’m sure it would usually take a long time though as many of you are all from the same place its a bit easier. I would love a 1 on 1 with all crew to know them all a bit better (maybe too personal for some), would love to know who is with who and stuff. Cant wait for more footage of a long trip with sea all around with no land in sight. Take care everyone.
This is awesome! It is really amazing what a professional crew is like compared to a regular boat owner. Of course the scale is much different, but testing safety equipment is something I should do more regularly too! Thanks! I would like to see a little more about the navigation. The straights look challenging but I would be very interested in how the navigation equipment helps with currents and heading. Thanks again!
My wife and I enjoy these articles sooooo much ! As a young fella I was the one who did all the maintenance and repairs on our lake houseboat and runabouts. I have a request : Would y’all consider doing a short 10 minute or so article exclusively showing us about the engine room ? Would love to see and hear from the chief engineer all about the mechanical guts of the ship. Thank you !!
Love all these things, would love to see what each department does exactly for a crossing, also would absolutely love to start seeing a lot more on navigation and what all you do with that actually showing us on the Nav screen? More on traffic separation you talked about and showing us more in depth pleas? Thank you again!
Great episode I realized you are actually 5 weeks and a bit behind . I departed Croatia Sept 13th returned Sept 28th and you were most likely in Florida within my 1st week in Croatia. Looking forward to next article this week I think you said really enjoying it. You never got to mention what Capt Paul is doing on his holidays. Most likely lown out to the mid Pacific to join up with SV Parlay with Colin and Jamie. Well you never know could happen lol. Enjoy Florida
Damn..Never thought about that..Man Overboard, Abandon Ship, Damage Control Drills…Wow…That brings back memories…Spent 6 years in the US Navy back in late 80’s and early 90’s…As an Operations Specialists, Asst Damage Control Locker Team Leader, Radar Control Officer, Bridge Coms, Petty Officer of the Watch, and other various Titles…Never thought about Super Yacht Crew’s needing to do these kinds of Drills…!!!… Think I would enjoy being a ‘Crew Member’…lol… Good Times…(USS Nassau LHA 4)
I wish I knew about working on yachts for a career, I would’ve done that..being able to travel to other countries while earning money and saving most of it would have set me up nicely for life..I chose the medical field in which it took years to get to where I wanted to be but at least I got there..lol..it would have been so much fun to live the yachting life..❤
Crossed Ft Lauderdale to Puerto Banus back in 1980. Sat Nav was very new and our Decca set went down, but fortunately I brought my sextant..as the sextant had been state of the art until 1979 with the advent of sat nav. Of course today it’s all push button nav…until it isn’t. All Master Mariners now who wouldn’t know which end of a sextant is up.
Looks a great time will be had over the next fortnight! Sanding down team looks a bit job, do you oil the deck afterwards? If you do, what do you use? I follow a website called “Ship Happens” where they are restoring a WW2 motor launch with real decking. It’s fun to see you doing the same job in 2023 as in 1943!! Nothing changes!
Enjoyed the article, but we want to see what Nina makes you each day for either lunch or dinner. Then what are your shifts when doing the crossing? I was on one boat that gave us 10 hours of rest and then you got up and had 30 minutes for either morning tea or breakfast, then you went on to your shift for 3 hours, had lunch, then worked for 5 hours, had dinner. Worked 2 more hours, had a snack or movie night, crew dance party, game night, whatever and then staggered bed times. Always an interior person on, and a deck person on and they had to check in with each other every hour for 3 hours and each had to gather a code word the captain came up with for that hour and you had to have all 3.
That 20 minutes went quickly. This is completely new to me. Do the owners not go along for crossings? Do the crew get days off during regular season, when the owner/guest is on board, what do they do with their free time? Who has final say, owner or captain? And lastly, how do you get into a job like this? Oh, do only good looking people get these jobs?….lol
One of the things on my bucket list is to cross the Atlantic from Europe to USA. My ancestors did it in 1900’s on a small passenger ship and to Ellis Island. Was looking to do it on Queen Elizabeth but my wife is afraid to do the crossing so just waiting it out. LOL I am curious, when you guys are crossing, are you allowed to use the guest rooms to sleep or you are still confined to your bunk beds?
I’m curious from an aircraft pilot’s perspective, when we get hired for a new job that has us flying a different plane, we have to go and get training for that specific aircraft, and I was wondering if that is how it is for these super yacht captains? Or are the systems, navigational systems all pretty uniform among the super yachting world?
Idea for the chef: what’s the most embarrassed a guest has ever been to just beg you for a simple ham sandwich for lunch once in a while? Like, look, don’t tell anyone but I really just want Cheerios for breakfast once in a while. Maybe with blueberries or something if it absolutely has to be super fancy. Lol.
13:01 you are always botching that places name 😂 it is Beaulieu-sur-Mer, literally “nice/beautiful place at the sea” and you start by saying “bully ” and then mumbling along 😂😂😂 French is tricky, I know — I once did try to say ‘subsidiary’ and in reality said ‘over your dirty bum’ that did not go down well. 😢