Saga47swan Sailingvideo
The Northern Route to Europe - Atlantic Crossing via Nova Scotia & Newfoundland
23 January 2025 · 11 min · 27K views
What this video covers
Planning a northern Atlantic crossing from North America to Europe requires navigating the Gulf Stream, managing persistent sea fog, and avoiding extensive lobster pot fields. Skippers should avoid crossing the Gulf Stream during wind-against-tide conditions to prevent dangerous sea states. Radar is essential for navigating the fog common in Maine, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, as well as for dodging fishing fleets on the Newfoundland banks. When entering Canada, sailors must use the ArriveCAN app for CBSA declarations and report via telephone or at designated ports like Yarmouth, Shelburne, Lunenburg, or Halifax. Cruising Nova Scotia and Newfoundland involves unique logistics, such as fueling via jerrycan or tanker and navigating fjords like Francois. For the final Atlantic transit, routes include a 1,200-nautical-mile passage to the Azores or an 1,800-nautical-mile crossing to Ireland. Successful passages rely on timing departures after passing depressions and utilizing weather windows to manage mid-ocean low-pressure systems.
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