Short answer: the right month matters more than almost anything else on a yacht delivery. In short: move yachts within the Baltic, North Sea and Bay of Biscay from May to September; deliver Scandinavia → Mediterranean from late spring to early autumn; cross the Atlantic westbound from late November to January after the hurricane season; return eastbound in May or June; and move yachts within the Mediterranean most of the year, avoiding winter gales and the strongest summer winds in the Aegean. The calendar below shows every main route month by month.
Owners often ask: “When is the best time to move my yacht?” The answer depends on the route. This calendar is our planning guide — the same one our captains use when they propose dates to clients. Feel free to share it or link to it.
The calendar
✅ = good season · ⚠️ = possible with careful weather planning · ❌ = avoid
| Route | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic & Scandinavia | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| North Sea & English Channel | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bay of Biscay | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Portugal & Gibraltar | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| Western Mediterranean | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| Aegean & eastern Med | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| Med → Canaries | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Canaries → Caribbean | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Caribbean → Europe (via Azores) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
This is a general guide. Every delivery is planned on the actual forecast — a good window can appear in a “⚠️” month, and a bad one in a “✅” month.
Why the seasons look like this
Northern Europe: summer only
Autumn and winter bring a steady stream of Atlantic lows across the North Sea, the Channel and the Baltic, with gales, cold and short days. The northern Baltic can freeze. From May to September the weather is calmer and the days are long. See our Baltic guide and North Sea and Channel guide.
The Bay of Biscay: summer, with a good window
Biscay is best from May to September, when lows are weaker and further north. Outside that period, deliveries are possible only with a reliable two- to three-day window. Read crossing the Bay of Biscay. Along the Iberian coast, check the latest orca reports — interactions have been concentrated in spring and summer.
The Mediterranean: most of the year
The Med can be crossed in every month, but winter brings frequent gales — the Mistral, Tramontana and Bora are strongest then — and summer brings the Meltemi in the Aegean, strongest in July and August. Spring and autumn are often ideal. Read our Mediterranean winds guide.
The Atlantic: driven by the hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November. Westbound crossings from the Canaries usually leave from late November, when the season ends and the trade winds settle. Eastbound crossings back to Europe usually leave in May or June, before the hurricane season builds and after the worst North Atlantic lows have moved north. See Mediterranean to Caribbean and Caribbean to Europe.
Typical year for a yacht moving between Scandinavia and the Caribbean
- June–August: Scandinavia → Mediterranean via the Kiel Canal, the Channel and Biscay.
- September–October: Mediterranean → Gibraltar → Canaries.
- November–January: Canaries → Caribbean.
- May–June: Caribbean → Azores → Europe.
Book early for the busy months
The best windows are also the busiest: crews and berths are booked early for the autumn Atlantic season and the spring return. Contact us as early as possible with your preferred dates — see how pricing works and request a free quote.
Related guides
- Weather routing for yacht deliveries
- Yacht delivery in Europe
- Mediterranean to Caribbean yacht delivery
- Yacht delivery in winter
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month for a yacht delivery in Northern Europe?
May to September. Outside this period, Atlantic lows bring frequent gales to the North Sea, the Channel and the Baltic, and the northern Baltic can freeze in winter.
When should a yacht cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean?
Usually from late November to January, after the Atlantic hurricane season ends on 30 November and once the trade winds are established.
When should a yacht return from the Caribbean to Europe?
Most yachts leave in May or June, before the hurricane season builds and after the worst North Atlantic lows have moved further north.
Can you deliver a yacht in the Mediterranean in winter?
Yes, with careful weather planning. Winter brings more frequent gales such as the Mistral and Tramontana, so deliveries wait for settled windows between systems.