The Tradewinds Passage
St. Thomas, USVI to St. Georges, Bermuda
Estimated Departure: April 16th, 2025
850 nm / 7 Days
Sailing from St. Thomas, USVI to Bermuda offers a captivating journey through the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Here's what you can expect during this sailing passage:
​
Tropical Bliss: The St. Thomas to Bermuda route takes you through the heart of the Caribbean, promising warm tropical weather and crystal-clear waters. Expect to experience a significant change in climate as you sail from St. Thomas to Bermuda.
​
Trade Winds: Traditionally, this passage benefits from the steady easterly trade winds. These consistent winds, usually blowing from the east-northeast, can make for pleasant and predictable sailing conditions. They'll be your faithful companions throughout much of the journey.
​
Navigation: Careful navigation is still crucial in these waters. The Caribbean is known for its intricate reef systems and coral formations, so you'll need to pay close attention to charts and navigational aids. The route typically involves a mix of open water sailing and navigating through island channels.
Watchkeeping: Maintain a watch system, particularly during overnight passages or when transiting busy channels. Nighttime navigation requires extra vigilance due to potentially reduced visibility and increased traffic.
​
Clearing Customs: When arriving in Bermuda, you'll need to clear customs and immigration, as it's a foreign country. Ensure all necessary documentation, such as passports and vessel papers, is in order before arrival.
Marine Life: The Caribbean Sea is teeming with marine life. You may encounter dolphins, turtles, and vibrant coral reefs during your passage. Keep an eye out for opportunities to snorkel or dive in these pristine waters.
​
Trade Wind Swells: While the trade winds are generally favorable, they can also create consistent trade wind swells. Be prepared for a bit of rolling and pitching on your journey.
​
Provisions and Resupply: Plan your provisioning carefully as you will be sailing far offshore. Stock up on essentials like food, water, and fuel before setting sail from St. Thomas.
Cultural Experiences: As you visit each island, take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture, cuisine, and traditions. Each island has its unique charm and offerings.
​
Cruising Community: The Caribbean is a popular destination for cruisers, and you'll likely encounter a vibrant cruising community. This can provide opportunities for socializing, sharing information, and making new friends along the way.
​
Sailing from St. Thomas to Bermuda offers a delightful blend of adventure, exploration, and relaxation. With proper preparation, navigation, and a sense of adventure, you can enjoy a memorable sailing passage through the Caribbean paradise.
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.
​
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!
​
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.
​
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.
​
Estimated Bermuda to St. Thomas, USVI