Transatlantic Window
A transatlantic window is the seasonal weather period when an Atlantic crossing can be made with acceptable risk, bounded on one side by hurricane season and on the other by high-latitude winter lows.
TL;DR, There are four transatlantic delivery windows: eastbound May to July (Caribbean to Europe via the high latitudes), westbound November to early December (Europe to Caribbean via the trade winds), northbound April to May (Caribbean to US East Coast), and southbound October to November (US East Coast to Caribbean).
What "window" means in delivery context
Yacht insurance and most professional skippers refuse to make Atlantic crossings outside specific seasonal periods. Outside the window, the combination of hurricanes (in the tropics) and intense lows (in the high latitudes) makes the passage statistically unsafe regardless of the boat's capability.
The four practical windows
- Eastbound, Caribbean to Europe: depart late April to early July, route via Bermuda or directly to the Azores, exploit the prevailing westerlies in the high latitudes. Outside this window, hurricane season closes the Caribbean and high-latitude lows close the Atlantic.
- Westbound, Europe to Caribbean: depart mid-November to early December, route south to the Canaries then west on the trade winds. The ARC times itself to this window.
- Northbound, Caribbean to US East Coast: depart April to May before hurricane season starts. After June 1 most insurers refuse the route.
- Southbound, US East Coast to Caribbean: depart October to early November after hurricane season ends but before the worst North-Atlantic lows form.
Why windows are non-negotiable
Hull insurance policies on most cruising yachts explicitly prohibit Atlantic passages outside these windows. An uninsured crossing makes the owner personally liable for the full value of the boat if something goes wrong, which usually means six figures or more.
Related reading
Related terms
Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is the annual transatlantic yacht rally that departs Gran Canaria for Saint Lucia in late November, the largest organised crossing in cruising sailing.
Yachtmaster Ocean
RYA Yachtmaster Ocean is the highest RYA sailing qualification, certifying a skipper to plan and execute ocean passages of unlimited length, including transatlantic deliveries.
Read further
Crossing the Atlantic: best windows for delivery captains
The seasonal windows for transatlantic yacht deliveries: when to leave the Med, when to leave the Caribbean, and how the weather actually behaves.
Yacht delivery insurance and contracts: what owners actually need before handing over the keys
A plain-English guide for yacht owners: what your hull insurance requires during a paid delivery, what a sensible delivery contract looks like, and the five questions to ask your captain before slipping lines.
Skip the homework
A captain who actually sails your route will explain the licence angle better than any glossary entry. Post your delivery