Yachts in the Ocean

Can Yachts Cross the Ocean? A Comprehensive Guide

October 18, 20243 min read

yacht in the ocean

Can Yachts Cross the Ocean? A Comprehensive Guide

Owning a yacht is more than highlighting your high social status. Yachts are crafted for open-water traveling, and it’s a true challenge to straight off the marina to explore the unbelievable beauty of oceans.

Yet, is it real to travel overseas on your yacht, and how far can yachts travel? Let’s explore more about these questions in the 365Yachts blog.

A Couple of Words About Yacht Crossing

Experienced yachtsmen know what is a yacht crossing. It’s a process when a vessel or a boat crosses the ocean to travel to another part of the world. For example, seasonal yacht crossing allows owners or yacht lenders to spend all year round on the big water. That is, you can spend the summer season in the Mediterranean to enjoy warm waters and sunny days and when autumn falls, you travel to the Caribbean or even to the Pacific to prolong summer on your yacht.

One more reason for yacht crossing is the adventurous spirit which makes yacht owners cross the Pacific to explore its islands.

What About Lengths and Time to Cross the Ocean on Your Yacht?

yacht life

Although the distances remain the same, the time for ocean crossing on a yacht may vary. For example, how long does it take to cross the Atlantic? The average time is 10 days but it fully depends on the following factors:

  • The type of vessels such as motor yachts and catamarans can cope with such travel much faster than a sailing vessel.

  • The size of a yacht and its technical equipment also matter! The bigger and more technically advanced your boat is, the faster you cross the ocean.

In any case, for the Atlantic, you should expect to spend from a week to a fortnight to cross it onboard. For the Pacific, the timelines are more considerable, as it takes 3 to 6 months to cross it on a yacht depending on the route and the number of stops you intend to make.

Which Yachts Can Cross the Ocean?

Yachts are diverse in their types and sizes. Thus, let’s take a look-see of some of them to decide on how big of a yacht can you cross the Atlantic Ocean in.

If you wonder, if can luxury yachts cross the ocean, the answer is unsure. It depends on the size and equipment as not all luxury yachts are intended for overseas sails. That’s why it is better to ask the yacht’s designer and constructor about its capabilities to cross the ocean and the maximum distance it can sail before chartering or buying it.

mega yacht in the ocean

One more popular question is “Can mega yachts cross the Ocean?” 

Possibly, most of them can cope with such a task, especially if you want to cross the Atlantic. If you have a megayacht or a superyacht of a motor type, you can try to start your journey across the ocean on it, yet, it is better to consult the shipyard it was built on about its overseas capabilities. The same thing we can say about the question “Can superyachts handle rough seas?” Typically, superyachts are designed to handle rough weather and stormy seas. In any case, it is better to hire a captain who knows the area you decide to cross to ensure that in stormy weather, he can change the course for the sake of your safety.


Let’s summarize it. You can cross the ocean on your yacht if it is at least 30 ft long and belongs to the type of superyacht or mega yacht. Not all luxury yachts are designed to cross the ocean. In any case, you need a professional to steer the yacht safely and specify if your yacht fits your cross-ocean goals. If not, it is better to provide a yacht crossing with the help of a cargo ship to deliver it to another part of the ocean.


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