• Wave icon Trip Type: Offshore
  • Speech bubble icon Instructors: 2
  • People icon Crew Size: Max 9 (10 for ocean)
  • Cake icon Ages: 18-70 ish
  • Pin icon Region: Caribbean & The Americas
High

Adventure Rating:
High

Low to some

Experience Required:
Low to some

36 Days from £5,599

Dates, Prices & Travel

Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean Using Celestial Navigation

Take part in a genuine ocean-going adventure as we sail across the Atlantic Ocean, from the Caribbean to Scotland, using just a sextant to navigate!

Join the crew in the Caribbean (the start location changes each year, so check the ‘Dates and Prices’ tab, where an expert instructor will give you a two-day crash course on how to navigate using just the sun, moon stars and planet. You don’t need any prior celestial knowledge, as we’ll teach you from scratch,

After training is complete, our sail across the Atlantic begins with a passage north to climb above the Azores high pressure system, roughly aiming for Bermuda. This is around 1000 nautical miles (nm) north. If the weather allows, we may stop there for a day of R&R. From Bermuda, we curve eastward and sail the 2000 miles to the volcanic archipelago of the Azores. Again, we hope to stop for some R&R if we have made good speed and then it is on for the final 1300 miles to the UK. This is a HUGE adventure, combing nearly 4500 miles of open ocean sailing across the North Atlantic and the wonderful art of celestial navigation.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime with the offshore sailing experts?

Rubicon 3 are renowned as the offshore sailing experts, renowned in the sailing world for our extensive experience, comprehensive training, and a dedication to adventure and discovery. Our expert team, highly experienced sailors in ocean passage making, offer hands-on instruction in all aspects of offshore sailing, catering to both those new to offshore sailing and more seasoned sailors.

What sets us apart is our selection of unique, bucket list and less-traveled routes, ensuring offshore and ocean sailing that’s both exhilarating and full of discovery, sailing on the right boat rated to the highest safety levels and packed with all the required safety equipment. At the core of our ethos is an unwavering commitment to safety and environmental sustainability, ensuring every voyage respects both the sailors and the sea. Additionally, we are as focused on individual skill-building as a sailing school, so that everyone is fully involved in every aspect of the passage. This holistic approach built Rubicon 3’s reputation as the go-to experts for anyone seeking the highest level of offshore sailing.

Want to join?

Go to the Dates & Prices button to see the dates this trip runs. It will also give you information on connecting travel, including where to fly and when and where to join the boat.

 

Sailing Area

atlantic sailing route map
The Yachts

Can't see the video? You may need to adjust your cookie preferences here.

Key Information
What’s included
  • All food and accommodation on board

  • All fuel & berthing fees

  • Your own bunk and storage area

  • Use of oilskins

  • Use of lifejacket with PLB

  • All sailing tuition

  • RYA Competent Crew (supplementary fee)

What’s Not included
  • Your connecting travel to & from boat

  • Sailing & travel insurance

  • Meals you choose to eat ashore

  • Alcohol

  • Visas (where required)

  • Discretionary crew tip

Interested in dates & availability?

To see when this trip runs, its start and end locations, price to join the crew and availability, click on the ‘Dates, Prices & Travel’ button up top.

Discretionary tipping of the Rubicon 3 crew

We’ve priced this trip 5-10% lower than we otherwise would to allow you the option, at the end of your adventure, to offer a discretionary tip to the Rubicon 3 skipper and mate if you feel they’ve provided exceptional service. A combined tip of 5-10% is suggested but is entirely at your discretion and based on your satisfaction with their performance. See our FAQs here.

Got Questions? We’re Here to Help!

We get it – joining a major sailing adventure is a big decision, and it’s natural to have lots of questions before you book. Wondering who else will be onboard? What the experience will be like? These and many more questions are completely normal. While our homepage and FAQs provide loads of info, we know sometimes it’s best to talk it through. Don’t hesitate to contact us by phone, email, or live chat (at the bottom of the screen). Better yet, we’d suggest you schedule a call. Most crew who join do and find it really useful. We can discuss your options, answer every question, and make sure you’re booking on the perfect trip for you.

Learn celestial navigation in the Caribbean.

Before we can set sail across the Atlantic using just a sextant, we need to learn how. Your first two days will, therefore, be in the classroom rather than out at sea, getting intensive tuition in celestial navigation, its need for precise time, finding the right celestial body, local noon, using the almanac and sight reduction tables, the north star and more. You don’t need to have done any celestial before – we will teach you from the start. The Rubicon 3 course is famous for its plain English and straightforward approach, and thousands have learned to navigate on it. After class, there is some lovely R&R to be had on the island, and final preparations will be made on the yacht before the crossing.

studying celestial navigation with rubicon 3

Sailing and training to get familiar with the yacht and brush up on skills

We will then have a day of sailing and training around the islands. This will give us time to get up to speed with the yacht individually and as a crew. A sail across the Atlantic takes proper training and preparation. It is a serious business, and we must maximize our crew performance. We will also be practicing our celestial navigation out on the water and checking that we can locate ourselves with a reasonable degree of accuracy! We are right in the warm trade winds here, so we can expect great sailing and training near perfect conditions and, with sunset at about 1630 each day, a fun, friendly evening afterward.

crew sailing in the caribbean

Sailing 1000nm north to Bermuda

Sailing west to east requires careful checks on the weather. Still, before we know it, the forecast will give us the weather conditions to set off on our transatlantic voyage from our start location and head northeast out into the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. As we sail across the Atlantic, our route will be shaped by the position of the various weather systems and the Azores High, a vast clockwise rotating high-pressure system mid-ocean. This sits above the NE flows called trade winds that we use to head east to west on our southern passage. We hope to be in the more westerly air flows here on our northern passage. This usually means not aiming in a straight line for England but setting a course north toward Bermuda. If we are lucky, we will pick up the Gulf Stream as we head up the east coast of the States, which can give us a good knot or so of extra speed.

atlantic ocean sailing

You will soon get into the rhythm of being out on the open sea. You will be in a watch system, so you will sometimes be helming and trimming sails and keeping the boat going at the best speed and course. Other times, you will be navigating, fixing our position with your newfound celestial skills (which will improve by the day), and advising the skipper and helm on the route. You will also have time below to cook up lovely hot food with your fellow crew members and prepare any fish caught that day. There’s also plenty of time to rest, sleep, or sit up on deck gazing out at the vast horizons or spectacular starscapes at night. Whether we go via Bermuda or curve east earlier will depend on the weather. But we will be near there, with this first stretch taking about 6-7 days at sea. Even when we encounter heavy weather, you will find that the fantastic Clipper 60 is a remarkably comfortable ride!

arriving into Bermudaarriving into Bermuda

 

Sail from Bermuda to the Azores

The focus now is on sailing east, and we have around 2000nm to sail to the volcanic archipelago that is the Azores. This is the Atlantic Ocean in all its glory, and you will soon be more than 1000 miles from the nearest land. It is transatlantic sailing at its most authentic. You’ll often have a whale for company as they migrate across the oceans and the occasional cargo ship speeding by on the horizon. Mostly, however, it will just be you, the crew, and the incredible expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. We are self-sufficient, and as we sail east through sunrise, warm days, chillier days, calm days, rough days, and nights, and stars to remember for a lifetime, you will truly be living a memorable few weeks of your life.

atlantic ocean sailing under spinnaker

Landfall in the Azores

It will be around 14 days from leaving Bermuda until you see the cliffs of the Azores rise over the horizon, and it is always an exciting and welcome sight – and a marker for so many sailors on their Atlantic journies. We are only a few hundred miles north of the Canary Islands, the same location where we set off sailing west many months before on the World Cruising Club’s ARC, but it is a world away. How long we can stay here will depend on the speed we have made and the weather windows. At the very least, depending on how much fuel we have used, we can bunker and stock up on fresh food (which will seem a true luxury by now) to ensure we have enough supplies to get to the UK). By this stage, you will be familiar with measuring the Sun’s altitude, using a familiar constellation, and finding your position with the sextant.

Azores sailing

Sail from the Azores to England

The final stretch of the Atlantic crossing is the 1300nm sail to England, a section imbued with history and iconic names and sights and a well-worn route for those returning to England after some long-distance cruising. To our north is Ireland, and to the south is mainland Europe and the Bay of Biscay. Our final destination is Portsmouth in England, so we may sail there or stop en route for weather or supplies. Finally, we will start to be in soundings as we arrive at the western approaches, and all the landmarks so familiar to sailors over the centuries will come into view before we berth for the final time. We will have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in time for the start of the northern hemisphere summer and navigating all the way using the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets!

celestial navigation at sea

*Commercial regulations state we must still have full GPS capability on board, which will be used if safety is compromised.

 

The difference between Rubicon 3 and a yacht charter

This is not a luxury yacht charter vacation on a private yacht but a proper sailing adventure. 

  1. Tailored Experience: Unlike many yacht charters, the Rubicon 3 team works daily to tailor the experience to your interests and skill level. Whether you’re interested in learning advanced sailing techniques, exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations, or focusing on particular activities like snorkeling or fishing, we look to help you achieve it.
  2. Expert Knowledge: Yacht charter companies will send you off with minimal instruction. Rubicon 3 has extensive local knowledge and expertise. We can find hidden gems, secluded anchorages, and the best spots that might be off the radar of the charter companies. This insider knowledge significantly enhances the sailing adventure. 
  3. Learning Opportunities: Sailing this route with Rubicon 3, you don’t need any previous sailing experience. If you’re interested in learning about sailing, navigation, or seamanship, the expert Rubicon 3 instructors ensure a hands-on, educational experience. This is ideal if you see your sailing trip as a vacation and a learning opportunity.

 

Dates, Prices & Travel

Start Date & Location

April 4, 2025
Antigua

End Date & Location

May 9, 2025
Scotland

Price

£5,599

Deposit

£2,749

Availability

Join Waitlist

Trip Information

Start Date: April 4, 2025

Start Time: 09:00

Start Country: Antigua

Start Port: Falmouth Harbour, Antigua

Start Marina: Falmouth Harbour, Antigua

End Date: May 9, 2025

End Time: 10:00

End Country: Scotland

End Port: Largs

End Marina: Largs Yacht Haven

Find Flights For This Trip
Fly Into: Antigua (IATA Code: ANU)
Fly Out of: Glasgow (IATA Code: GLA)

* Flights are not included in the trip price.

Important Notes
Joining the boat
  • You will join the boat in Antigua.
  • It is scheduled to be in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua.
  • The trip starts at 9:00 AM on April 04 2025, so you will need to be in Antigua by April 03, 2025.
  • You have two options for accommodation on the night before the start date:
    • Stay in a hotel or AirBnB in Antigua.
    • Alternatively, you can stay onboard the boat from 6:00 PM on a bed & breakfast basis. Select this option during your booking process.
Leaving the boat
  • You will leave the boat in Largs, Scotland
  • The boat is scheduled to arrive into Largs on May 08, 2025, and you will need to disembark by 12:00 on May 09, 2025
General Notes
  • We have a very strong track record of meeting the scheduled end date, with only a few exceptions over a decade of sailing and across hundreds of thousands of miles of sailing. However, given the nature and distance of ocean crossings, we can’t guarantee it and recommend booking flexible onward travel from Scotland or at least allowing an extra day in your itinerary as a precaution.
  • You cannot stay on the boat after the trip end date.
  • Once you have booked, we will connect you up with other crew so you can liaise regarding connecting travel, meet up in advance etc.
  • If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
5-Point Pre-Booking Checklist

Before you finalize your booking, we suggest you run through our pre-booking checklist:

  1. Check Flights: Make sure you have found the right flights for your trip. Book them as soon as you have booked your Rubicon 3 trip.
  2. Travel Insurance: Once you’ve booked your trip with us, buy some sailing travel insurance. Read our full guide here.
  3. Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Some countries require this for entry, so it’s crucial to check and renew your passport if necessary.
  4. Visas: Most sailors will not require any visas for this trip. However, if you are concerned, check any visa requirements for both your destination and any transit countries. If you do need a visa, processing times can vary, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance of your trip.
  5. Vaccinations and Health Checks: There are no vaccinations required for this trip. Make sure you have an acceptable level of fitness and agility. You can read our guide here. This is for the safety of all on board.

Sub total: £2,749

Join the waitlist to be emailed when this product becomes available

Start Date & Location

April 3, 2026
Antigua

End Date & Location

May 8, 2026
Scotland

Price

£5,999

Deposit

£999

Availability

Available

Trip Information

Start Date: April 3, 2026

Start Time: 09:00

Start Country: Antigua

Start Port: English Harbour

Start Marina: Marina TBC

End Date: May 8, 2026

End Time: 09:00

End Country: Scotland

End Port: Largs Yacht Haven

End Marina: Marina TBC

Find Flights For This Trip
Fly Into: Antigua (IATA Code: ANU:
Fly Out of: Glasgow (IATA Code: GLA)

* Flights are not included in the trip price.

Important Notes
Joining the boat
  • You will join the boat in Antigua.
  • It is scheduled to be in English Harbour, Antigua.
  • The trip starts at 9:00 AM on April 03 2026, so you will need to be in Antigua by April 02, 2026.
  • You have two options for accommodation on the night before the start date:
    • Stay in a hotel or AirBnB in Antigua.
    • Alternatively, you can stay onboard the boat from 6:00 PM on a bed & breakfast basis. Select this option during your booking process.
Leaving the boat
  • You will leave the boat in Largs, Scotland
  • The boat is scheduled to arrive into Largs on May 07, 2026, and you will need to disembark by 12:00 on May 08, 2026
General Notes
  • We have a very strong track record of meeting the scheduled end date, with only a few exceptions over a decade of sailing and across hundreds of thousands of miles of sailing. However, given the nature and distance of ocean crossings, we can’t guarantee it and recommend booking flexible onward travel from Scotland or at least allowing an extra day in your itinerary as a precaution.
  • You cannot stay on the boat after the trip end date.
  • Once you have booked, we will connect you up with other crew so you can liaise regarding connecting travel, meet up in advance etc.
  • If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
5-Point Pre-Booking Checklist

Before you finalize your booking, we suggest you run through our pre-booking checklist:

  1. Check Flights: Make sure you have found the right flights for your trip. Book them as soon as you have booked your Rubicon 3 trip.
  2. Travel Insurance: Once you’ve booked your trip with us, buy some sailing travel insurance. Read our full guide here.
  3. Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Some countries require this for entry, so it’s crucial to check and renew your passport if necessary.
  4. Visas: Most sailors will not require any visas for this trip. However, if you are concerned, check any visa requirements for both your destination and any transit countries. If you do need a visa, processing times can vary, so it’s advisable to apply well in advance of your trip.
  5. Vaccinations and Health Checks: There are no vaccinations required for this trip. Make sure you have an acceptable level of fitness and agility. You can read our guide here. This is for the safety of all on board.
Add Trip Extras

Sub total: £999

You May Also Like

  • Faroes
    Coastal

    Trolls, Giants & Elves: Scotland & the Faroe Islands

    12 Days from £2,499

    True adventure sailing between the west coast of Scotland the Faroe Islands. An unforgettable journey through breathtaking landscapes.

    Quick Buy This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page View
  • Hummingbird at sea
    Offshore

    Across the Arctic Circle: Faroe Islands to Norway

    12 Days from £2,499

    Sail 600 miles across the Norwegian Sea from the mystical Faroe Islands to Arctic Norway. Crossing the Arctic Circle en route, the voyage culminates in the awe-inspiring fjords of Arctic Norway, a UNESCO World Heritage region

    Quick Buy This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page View
  • Grenada Sailing Week
    Coastal

    Grenada Sailing Week

    9 Days from £1,999

    Join this exhilarating, week-long regatta, mixing none-too-serious but competitive yacht racing with wonderful Caribbean culture and events ashore.

    Quick Buy This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page View