Atlantic crossing West Indies to Brittany

Atlantic crossing West Indies to Brittany as a crew member from West to East. Known as Transatlantic or Transat, crossing the Atlantic Ocean under sail remains an adventure even if it has become more democratic in recent years. The voyage goes from Pointe à Pitre in Guadalupe to Lorient in France. In total, about 3,500 nautical miles separate the two lands.

Transatlantic crew, a real adventure

We offer you the opportunity to be a “hired” crew member on board Whirlwind, one of our crewed Challenge 67s. These are 21m monohulls built for round the world voyage. The passage lasts approximately 28 days. This is a transatlantic, not a cruise.

Of course you will be going from hot to cold, but those who have done both the outward and return transatlantics agree that the return transatlantic is the most interesting. Why is that? Because the sailing requires more manoeuvring. Also, the weather conditions are more interesting when you stay on the edge of the lows. The fauna present during this navigation in the North Atlantic is also more attractive (whales, dolphins…).

Over and above sailing, crossing the Atlantic requires self-sacrifice. It’s a chance “to let go” of the pace of life on land. Therefore, you can reconnect with yourself and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. A real breath of fresh air!

Stopover in the Azores on the island of Faial

For this navigation to France, a stopover is made in Horta on the island of Faial for the needs of the boat. This break can be for a freshening up, a technical intervention, or simply to discover Horta and its surroundings. It depends on the duration of the stopover.

This stopover allows us to observe the weather forecast for the second leg. You may possibly have a few days of “stand by” if necessary. Don’t forget to stop off at the famous Peter Cafe Sport for a drink, to catch up on old times and to prepare your footprint on the quay!
Depending on the weather conditions and crossing time, only the skipper, your professional skipper, will be able to decide on the length of the stopover.

A committed Atlantic crossing West Indies to Brittany

You will embark as a crew member, supervised by 2 professional sailors, qualified as Captain 200 Sailors and first mate. Thus, you will be subjected to navigation watches, approximately 8 hours per 24 hours. You will also be assigned to watches, cooking, washing up, etc.

Our ships voluntarily do not use pilot. This is one of the best ways to discover offshore sailing. You may have to put up with bad weather, hot weather at the beginning, and cold weather later on in the North Atlantic. Sometimes you may encounter “trouble”. As a transatlantic crew member, you must be psychologically prepared to participate in a transatlantic race.

The means of communication on board are almost non-existent (except for the security of the boat and crew), and communication by satellite phone (Iridium) or email is not offered on board. However, as you approach the coast, you will use your mobile phone to reassure your loved ones. Before you leave, tell them that you will only be reachable after your crossing.

Boarding: Pointe à Pitre in Guadalupe
Landing: Lorient La Base in Brittany
Duration: 28 days
Yacht: Albatros – Challenge 67
Price: 5800 euros per crewmate, full board  included (meals, drinks, petrol, consumables)
License: FFVoile and medical certificat (obligatoire).
You can subscribe your sailing license to Club CHALLENGE OCEAN.

It is also possible to board in mid-March from the Azores, in Horta on the island of Faial, if the boat is not full when it leaves the West Indies. To find out more about the schedule and details of this ocean sailing trip from the Azores to Brittany, contact us.

For any information request or to book, please send us a message: