An Atlantic Circle Cruise is one that explores the major sailing areas that border the North Atlantic Ocean:
  • The Mediterranean Sea,
  • The Caribbean Sea
  • The East Coast of the USA
  • The Coastal Waters of Europe

Enroute to an Atlantic Circle, a vessel must make two trans-Atlantic passages.  These passages are normally made during the time of year that offers the least risk of severe weather (e.g., Hurricanes) and the most favorable winds.

For my Atlantic Circle voyage I left from the east coast of Florida in the spring of 2005, crossing the Atlantic to the Iberian Peninsula.  Starting in April, 2006, after wintering in Cascais, PT, I cruised the Atlantic coasts of Portugal and Spain to the Mediterranean Sea.  After a summer in the Mediterranean and wintering in Lagos, PT I re-crossed the Atlantic Ocean by way of Madeira and Bermuda to the Chesapeake Bay in 2007. 

Click on chart to view at full resolutionThe initial leg of the cruise across the ocean to Portugal began in late spring, 2005.  Late enough in the year to avoid any winter storms, but early enough to avoid tropical storms.  This leg included stops in the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Azores.  My final destination was the Portuguese resort town of Cascais.

 
In 2006 I departed Cascais for a cruise of the Mediterranean Sea.  I had originally planned to spend several years cruising to the eastern Mediterranean, but I terminated the cruise in the Balearic Islands and returned to Lagos, Pt for the following winter.

Click on chart to view at full resolutionRather than a winter passage to the Caribbean Sea and a island hopping cruise back to the USA I decided to make a spring sail directly from Portugal to the Chesapeake Bay.  The return passage back to the Chesapeake Bay began in early May with stops in Madeira and Bermuda.
For pictures and descriptions of legs of this cruise click on the menu items on the left.