The Northern Passage
St. George's, Bermuda to Boston, MA
Estimated Departure: April 25th, 2024
700 nm / 5 Days
Sailing from Bermuda to Boston, MA is an exciting and challenging passage that offers a mix of unique experiences and varying conditions. Here's what you can expect during this offshore sailing journey:
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Bermuda Departure: As you depart Bermuda, you'll need to communicate with local authorities and follow their procedures for departure, which may include customs and immigration clearance.
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Diverse Weather Conditions: The weather on this passage can vary significantly depending on the time of year. Spring and fall are the preferred seasons for milder conditions, but you should still be prepared for a range of weather patterns. Expect everything from calm days with little wind to stronger winds and the possibility of squalls or storms. The Gulf Stream can also influence weather patterns and create its own set of challenges.
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Navigational Challenges: The Gulf Stream, a powerful ocean current, runs in close proximity to this route. It can impact your course and speed, so careful navigation is essential. You'll need to monitor your position relative to the Gulf Stream to optimize your passage.
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Watches and Crew Responsibilities: On an extended passage like this, a watch system is crucial to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the vessel. Expect to divide the crew into watch teams to maintain a continuous presence on deck, monitoring the sails, navigation, and lookout for other vessels. Be prepared for a rotating schedule, typically with watches lasting four hours each.
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Night Sailing: Sailing at night is an integral part of offshore passages. While it can be challenging due to reduced visibility, it can also be incredibly rewarding as you sail under a star-studded sky. Adequate lighting and careful navigation are vital during nighttime hours.
Wildlife Encounters: Keep an eye out for marine life. You may spot dolphins, whales, and various seabirds during your passage. These encounters can be awe-inspiring and provide a deeper connection to the open ocean.
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Self-Sufficiency: You'll need to be self-sufficient during the passage. This means having enough provisions, water, and fuel for the entire journey. Be prepared for some cooking challenges due to the boat's motion, and ensure you have suitable safety equipment and knowledge in case of emergencies.
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Physical and Mental Challenges: Sailing offshore can be physically demanding due to constant motion and the need to adjust sails and maintain the vessel. Mentally, you'll need to stay alert and focused on navigation, weather, and the well-being of the crew.
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Isolation and Connectivity: Once you're out at sea, you may be isolated from the outside world. While First Reef Sailing maintains several different methods of satellite communication to check in with shore staff and provide weather updates, expect limited connectivity.
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Sense of Accomplishment: Completing the passage from Bermuda to Boston is a significant accomplishment! The sense of achievement and the bonds forged with your crew can be incredibly rewarding.
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Remember that every sailing passage is unique, and conditions can change rapidly. Flexibility, preparation, and seamanship are key to a successful and enjoyable voyage from Bermuda to Boston.
Crew Requirements
ASA 104 Certification or Equivalent Experience
While we do not require any previous offshore sailing experience, we do require crew to have previous sailing certification up to the ASA 104 - Bareboat Cruising level or the equivalent experience. This shows that crew have spent the night aboard a sailboat before and have done a multi-day voyage. If you are unsure whether you have the prerequisite experience give us a call! We are happy to talk you through what we are looking for.
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Phone Call or Virtual Meeting with the Skipper
All crew are required to have a phone call or virtual meeting with the skipper of the boat prior to final confirmation of your berth. This allows us to explain logistics, what to expect, what to pack and most importantly allows us to get a feel for you as a human. Since we will be spending multiple days offshore with you and the rest of the crew it is important to make sure that we are cohesive as a crew!
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Fully Refundable 50% Deposit
We require a 50% deposit to reserve a berth. Each crew is typically guaranteed a private cabin, however we will ask students to "hot bunk" (think share a cabin when on opposite watches. One crew is up on deck while the other is sleeping) if we have surplus crew. This would be assigned in order of booking. Any shared cabin requests will be covered during your skippers meeting and pre-arranged weeks in advance, not when you arrive to the boat.
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Upon receiving your 50% deposit, you will begin receiving emails from us with updates, packing lists, logistics and flight info, what to expect and more!
General Mobility and Fitness
While you do not have to be an athlete to join us, there is a required level of mobility and fitness required for life aboard. The boat will be moving around while we are underway and you will need to be able to climb stairs, keep your balance and do some light lifting throughout the voyage. All of our boats have power winches, furling sails, autopilot, etc. so the fitness requirement is not extreme.
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Estimated Bermuda to Boston Route
Gulf Stream Ocean Current Chart