Atlantic Crossing Essentials

Preparing for Your First Atlantic Passage

There’s a moment in every sailor’s life when the Atlantic starts calling—not as a distant idea, but a route you’re plotting in earnest. Whether you’re prepping for ARC 2025, joining a delivery crew, or finally ticking off a bucket-list passage, preparation is more than half the passage. Here are three things every smart skipper keeps in mind before slipping lines for the tradewinds.

Chart Your Route: Imray 100 vs Admiralty 4012

You’ll need a clear view of the ocean ahead—preferably on paper, not just pixels. The two top contenders?

• Imray 100 – North Atlantic Passage Chart: A conical projection (1:7,620,000) makes this one ideal for plotting great-circle routes. Colour-coded zones, ice limits, and popular sailing tracks add real-world context.
• Admiralty 4012 – North Atlantic (Southern Part): At 1:10,000,000, it offers a wider view and is SOLAS-compliant and is still the gold standard.

Our take? Unless you are on a super yacht, use Imray 100 on the chart table and Admiralty 4012 for planning and to take along on the trip as backup.

Weather & Passage Planning Advise

No book can tame the trades or predict squalls weeks in advance—but a few can get you pretty close.

• Atlantic Islands Pilot by Anne Hammick & RCCPF gives superb landfall detail from the Canaries to the Azores.
• Atlantic Pilot Atlas by James Clarke is a weather-routing essential, full of wind roses and seasonal patterns that help you choose when—not just where—to go.

Pair them and you’ve got the foresight of a thousand logbooks.

The Underrated Power of a Logbook

It’s not just a record—it’s your proof, your memory, and often your sanity. A waterproof, lay-flat logbook helps track position, engine hours, weather observations, and repairs. More than once, a smart entry has saved a sailor’s bacon mid-passage.

Looking to add polish? Choose one with latitude/longitude tables, tide notes, and VHF quick-reference. And don’t forget pencil and backup headtorch.

Ready to Cross?

Confidence at sea comes from what’s in your head and your hands. These five tools have helped thousands of sailors cross with clarity—and get invited back.