BAHAMAS → BERMUDA → AZORES

Bahamas – Bermuda – Azores

 

 

Crossing from The Bahamas to Bermuda to the Azores in May is a classic transatlantic route favored by many bluewater cruisers heading to Europe. Here’s a breakdown of the route, conditions, and considerations for each leg:

🟦 1. Bahamas to Bermuda

Distance: ~780 NM from Eleuthera/Abaco to St. George’s
Typical Duration: 5–7 days
Best Time: Late April to mid-May

⛵ Conditions:

  • Prevailing Winds: East to southeast trades, 10–20 knots.

  • Weather systems: Watch for cold fronts exiting the U.S. East Coast. These can bring squalls and NW winds.

  • Currents: You’ll skirt the Gulf Stream, but don’t aim directly through its strongest parts; stay on its eastern edge.

  • Routing  : Wait for a weather window with SE-SW winds ahead of a front, then ride the shift N-NE to Bermuda

  • Average wave height: 1–2.5 meters (3–8 ft)

  • Sea pattern: Generally moderate trade swell mixed with wind-driven chop.

  • Gulf Stream Influence: If you get close to the stream, expect steep, confused seas especially if wind opposes current (e.g., NE wind against northbound current = square waves and breaking crests).

  • Best Strategy: Route east of the Stream and time departure before or after a frontal passage for cleaner following or beam seas

🔄 1. Bahamas to Bermuda – Currents

✅ Main Concern: The Gulf Stream

  • Flow: ~2–4 knots northward

  • Location: From Florida Straits eastward to ~73°W

  • Effect: If you cross it perpendicularly, you’ll get through quickly. If you sail along it, it can speed you up—or severely slow and toss you if wind opposes it.

  • Best Practice:

    • Route east of the main core of the Stream when possible.

    • Watch for eddies—they spin off and may carry NE or SW flow.

    • Get real-time data via NOAA Gulf Stream Analysis or PassageWeather.

🌀 Eddies (spin-offs from the Gulf Stream)

  • May assist or hinder depending on position.

  • Can be up to 1 knot and last days/weeks.

SWELL AND WAVES 

Tides and Currents

The tidal currents from the Bahamas to Bermuda

🟦 2. Bermuda to Azores

Distance: ~1,900 NM
Typical Duration: 12–18 days
Best Time: Mid-May to early June

⛵ Conditions:

  • Winds: Variable — expect anything from SE trades to light airs, with possible gales from mid-latitude depressions.

  • High Pressure: The Azores High often expands NE this time of year, creating large calm zones. Engines may be needed.

  • Lows: North Atlantic depressions track above 35°N, but can dip south. Routing slightly south (~32°–35°N) may avoid worst of these.

  • Routing  :  Some cruisers head ENE at first, then curve east or southeast depending on GRIBs.

  • Average wave height: 1.5–3.5 meters (5–12 ft), but can spike to 4–5 m (12–16 ft) in passing lows.

  • Wave period: Often 8–12 seconds, but can shorten drastically in rougher conditions.

  • Cross seas: Common — leftover swell from previous systems (NW to W) combined with current wind-driven sea (E to SE) can result in confused, lumpy motion.

  • Calm Zones: If trapped in the middle of the Azores High, expect long rolling swells and glassy calm with some leftover chop.

  • Worst case: A passing low can bring sustained 25–35 knots and seas building to 4+ meters if you’re too far north.

🔄 2. Bermuda to Azores – Currents

🌊 North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre

  • Dominated by the Azores Current and North Atlantic Drift

  • Average flow: 0.5 knots or less, generally eastward or southeastward

  • More benign than Gulf Stream — but slow currents can help or hinder over long durations

✅ General Strategy

  • Below 35°N: Currents tend to be weak and variable; routing focuses more on avoiding lows than riding currents.

  • Above 35–37°N: You may tap into light westerly-setting flows, but you also risk getting closer to stronger systems and rougher seas.

Preparation & Planning

  • Fuel: Ensure ample diesel for motorsailing (especially Bermuda–Azores).

  • Weather Tools: Use PredictWind, Saildocs, NOAA OPC, and get forecasts via Starlink – Iridium GO, Starlink, or SSB.

  • Safety: This is an offshore ocean passage — have liferaft, EPIRB, AIS, storm sails, and proper watch routines.

 

Notes from Cruisers

  • May offers one of the better weather windows before hurricane season and before the North Atlantic becomes too unsettled.

  • Boats often gather in St. George’s, Bermuda for final prep and wait for a good window.

  • The Azores (usually Faial/Horta) are a welcoming and essential landfall, with fuel, repairs, and a strong cruiser community.

Tides and Currents

The tidal currents from the Bahamas to Bermuda

PILOT CHARTS – APRIL AND MAY

PILOT CHARTS APRIL & MAY