Jimmy Cornell Guide: planning a long-distance cruise and a voyage around the world

Jimmy Cornell Guides are a major reference for sailors preparing a long-distance cruise, an ocean crossing or a sailing circumnavigation. Based on several decades of offshore sailing experience, these books address ocean route planning, departure timing, prevailing winds, currents, weather conditions and the main cruising destinations.

The Jimmy Cornell collection is aimed at sailors who want to go beyond the preparation of a simple coastal passage. It provides a way to approach a voyage on the scale of an entire ocean or a circumnavigation, taking seasonal, meteorological, geographical and logistical constraints into account.

Key reference titles include World Cruising Routes, World Cruising Destinations, World Voyage Planner, World Cruising Voyages and Ocean Atlas. These publications complement one another and allow sailors to build an offshore sailing project progressively, from choosing a route to planning stopovers.

What is a Jimmy Cornell Guide used for?

A Jimmy Cornell Guide is above all a strategic planning tool for long-distance sailing.

Unlike a traditional harbour guide, it does not simply describe a destination or a sequence of stopovers. It helps sailors consider the overall logic of a voyage: when to leave, which direction to sail, what weather conditions to seek, which areas to avoid and how to organise the different stages.

The information covered may include:

• prevailing winds;

• ocean currents;

• weather patterns;

• favourable sailing seasons;

• cyclone seasons;

• transoceanic routes;

• important stopovers;

• high-latitude sailing constraints;

• risks of fog, storms or ice;

• refuelling and service facilities;

• formalities and destination requirements.

This approach allows the navigator to build a coherent itinerary rather than simply connecting two ports on a chart.

World Cruising Routes: a reference for ocean routes

World Cruising Routes is one of Jimmy Cornell’s most iconic publications. The ninth edition, published in 2022, analyses more than 1,000 sailing routes across the world’s oceans and includes more than 6,000 waypoints.

The book covers routes from tropical regions to the Arctic and Antarctic high latitudes. It examines winds, currents, regional and seasonal weather conditions and the most favourable periods for undertaking different passages.

It can therefore be used to study very different projects:

• Atlantic crossings;

• Pacific crossings;

• Indian Ocean passages;

• Mediterranean – Red Sea – Indian Ocean routes;

• Panama – Pacific passages;

• routes towards Polynesia;

• voyages to Australia;

• high-latitude sailing;

• sailing circumnavigations.

The objective is not to replace operational weather routing, but to provide a solid basis for choosing a route and departure period.

Atlantic Ocean: Europe, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Caribbean

The Atlantic Ocean is one of the main cruising areas covered in Jimmy Cornell’s publications.

For a European sailor, a long-distance cruise may begin in the Mediterranean or on the French Atlantic coast before heading towards the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Caribbean.

Ports and areas involved may include:

• Gibraltar;

• Lisbon;

• Madeira;

• the Canary Islands;

• the Cape Verde Islands;

• the French Caribbean;

• the Caribbean;

• Bermuda;

• the American coast.

Transatlantic routes must take prevailing trade winds, hurricane seasons and changing weather patterns in the North Atlantic into account.

The Jimmy Cornell Guide helps place these different factors within a broader voyage strategy.

Caribbean and the West Indies

The Caribbean is a major destination for long-distance cruising.

After an Atlantic crossing, a crew may explore the Caribbean from the Windward Islands to the Leeward Islands, before continuing towards the Bahamas, Central America or the United States.

Ports such as Fort-de-France, Le Marin, Pointe-à-Pitre, Saint Martin, Antigua, Saint Barthélemy, Grenada or Nassau may form important stages depending on the itinerary.

Planning navigation in the Caribbean requires particular attention to:

• hurricane seasons;

• trade-wind patterns;

• crossing periods;

• distances between islands;

• refuelling opportunities;

• nautical infrastructure;

• repair and wintering facilities.

Jimmy Cornell’s books make it possible to integrate these factors into a broader navigation strategy.

Panama and the passage to the Pacific

The Panama Canal is a strategic point for many circumnavigations.

After crossing the Atlantic and Caribbean, sailors can reach the Pacific and continue towards the Galápagos, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia or Australia.

Pacific route planning depends heavily on seasonal conditions and prevailing wind patterns.

A Panama – Galápagos – Polynesia passage is a typical example of a voyage where choosing the departure period is as important as choosing the route.

The wind, current and seasonal data presented in Jimmy Cornell’s books help sailors analyse this planning process across several thousand nautical miles.

Pacific Ocean: Polynesia, Melanesia and Australia

The Pacific Ocean is an immense cruising area in which route planning becomes particularly important.

Distances between archipelagos can be considerable, while refuelling and provisioning opportunities may be much more limited than in European waters.

A route may connect:

• the Galápagos;

• the Marquesas;

• French Polynesia;

• the Tuamotus;

• Tahiti;

• the Cook Islands;

• Tonga;

• Fiji;

• Vanuatu;

• New Caledonia;

• Australia.

Jimmy Cornell’s publications allow sailors to study different options and place each stage within its regional weather context.

Charts from Shom, Admiralty, NGA or national hydrographic offices remain essential for actual navigation.

Indian Ocean and the route towards the Red Sea

The Indian Ocean is another major cruising region covered in Jimmy Cornell’s sailing literature.

Depending on the voyage plan, sailors may enter the Indian Ocean from southern Africa, the Red Sea, South Asia or Australia.

Routes may include Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Maldives, the Chagos, Mauritius, Réunion or the coasts of India and Southeast Asia.

The monsoon is a decisive factor in this region. Choosing the sailing period must therefore be considered from the earliest stages of voyage planning.

The routes described by Jimmy Cornell help sailors understand the seasonal logic behind these major passages.

Mediterranean and long-distance voyage planning

The Mediterranean can be the starting point for a major world cruise.

A sailor may, for example, depart from France, cross the western Mediterranean, reach Gibraltar and then continue towards the Canary Islands and the Atlantic.

The main areas concerned may include:

• the western Mediterranean;

• the Balearic Islands;

• the Tyrrhenian Sea;

• Sicily;

• the Ionian Sea;

• the Aegean Sea;

• the Adriatic Sea;

• the Strait of Gibraltar.

Ports such as Marseille, Toulon, Palma, Barcelona, Gibraltar, Valletta, Palermo or Athens may serve as stopovers or departure points depending on the voyage plan.

Shom, Admiralty, Imray or NV Charts can be used according to the area concerned, alongside the general information provided by long-distance cruising publications.

World Cruising Destinations: planning stopovers

World Cruising Destinations complements the approach of World Cruising Routes.

While the routes publication mainly focuses on planning passages between major world regions, this book focuses more closely on the destinations themselves.

It provides information on:

• destination history and culture;

• climate;

• seasons;

• hurricanes;

• ports of entry;

• formalities;

• marinas;

• nautical services;

• provisioning;

• repairs;

• characteristics of individual regions.

This combination is particularly useful when preparing a circumnavigation or a long-term voyage with a crew.

World Voyage Planner: building a voyage strategy

World Voyage Planner takes an even broader approach.

It helps sailors determine a voyage strategy based on the time of year, weather, winds and currents.

The book addresses topics including:

• planning in tropical regions;

• high-latitude sailing;

• global weather systems;

• winds and currents in different oceans;

• major cruising routes;

• round-the-world voyages;

• sailing circuits;

• major yachting centres;

• wintering opportunities.

It therefore helps answer a fundamental long-distance cruising question: how can a global voyage be organised to make the best possible use of prevailing natural conditions?

Jimmy Cornell and nautical charting

Jimmy Cornell’s books never replace nautical charts.

They provide a strategic view of navigation, while charts allow sailors to work precisely with the vessel’s position, depths, hazards, landfalls, channels and harbour approaches.

For a circumnavigation, several publishers and hydrographic services may be relevant depending on the region:

• Shom for many French and international areas;

• Admiralty for extensive worldwide coverage;

• NGA for many international areas;

• NV Charts for selected recreational cruising regions;

• Imray for numerous cruising areas;

• national hydrographic offices for waters under their jurisdiction.

Sailors must therefore combine the long-term perspective provided by Jimmy Cornell with appropriate and up-to-date charting for each stage.

Who are Jimmy Cornell Guides for?

Jimmy Cornell Guides are primarily intended for sailors planning voyages beyond the scope of a conventional coastal cruise.

They are particularly suitable for:

• sailors planning a circumnavigation;

• sailors preparing an Atlantic crossing;

• crews preparing a Pacific crossing;

• boaters planning a voyage to the Caribbean;

• sailors preparing a route to Polynesia;

• boats undertaking a multi-ocean voyage;

• owners planning a voyage lasting several years;

• sailors wishing to compare different route strategies.

They can also be useful to experienced sailors who want to study a new cruising area before committing to it.

How should a Jimmy Cornell Guide be used?

A good approach is to use the books at several levels.

First, determine the broad area of the project: Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean or circumnavigation.

Then compare the possible routes according to seasons, winds, currents and weather constraints.

Next, identify the stopovers and infrastructure required by the crew and boat.

Finally, move on to the detailed preparation of each passage using nautical charts, weather information, sailing directions and relevant regulatory information.

The Jimmy Cornell Guide thus becomes a strategic planning tool, while operational nautical documentation turns that strategy into practical navigation.

Conclusion

Jimmy Cornell Guides are reference publications for long-distance cruising and ocean sailing. Their main strength is to place each passage within its meteorological, seasonal, geographical and logistical context.

From the Atlantic to the Caribbean, from the Panama Canal to Polynesia, and from the Indian Ocean to Australia, the books make it possible to study major ocean routes and progressively build a coherent itinerary.

World Cruising Routes provides detailed analysis of ocean routes, World Cruising Destinations complements this approach with destination information, while World Voyage Planner helps build an overall voyage strategy. Ocean Atlas further complements this documentation with a representation of winds and currents on an ocean-wide scale.

For planning a circumnavigation, an Atlantic crossing, a voyage to the Caribbean or a major Pacific cruise, Jimmy Cornell Guides therefore provide particularly valuable reference material.

They should nevertheless be used together with appropriate nautical charts, official nautical publications and up-to-date weather information. This combination makes it possible to move from a voyage concept to a genuine long-distance sailing strategy.

FAQ – Jimmy Cornell Guide

What is a Jimmy Cornell Guide used for?

A Jimmy Cornell Guide is primarily used to prepare long-distance sailing voyages, ocean crossings and circumnavigations. It provides information about routes, winds, currents, seasons and weather conditions.

Which is Jimmy Cornell’s main book for ocean routes?

World Cruising Routes is the reference publication dedicated to long-distance cruising routes. Its ninth edition analyses more than 1,000 routes around the world and provides more than 6,000 waypoints.

Which oceans are covered by Jimmy Cornell Guides?

The books cover the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, as well as Mediterranean, tropical and high-latitude cruising regions.

Are Jimmy Cornell Guides suitable for a circumnavigation?

Yes. They are particularly suitable for planning a circumnavigation because they allow sailors to compare routes according to seasons, winds, currents and weather conditions.

Which Jimmy Cornell book should be chosen for an Atlantic crossing?

World Cruising Routes is particularly suitable for studying transatlantic routes, prevailing winds, currents and favourable sailing periods. World Cruising Destinations then provides additional information about destinations and stopovers.

Are Jimmy Cornell Guides useful for sailing to the Caribbean?

Yes. They can be used to study routes between Europe, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Caribbean, as well as different route options depending on the sailing season.

Do Jimmy Cornell Guides cover Polynesia?

Yes. The Pacific routes and long-distance cruising destinations covered by the publications can be used to prepare voyages to French Polynesia, the Marquesas, the Tuamotus and other Pacific archipelagos.

Does Jimmy Cornell provide information about winds and currents?

Yes. Prevailing winds, ocean currents, weather patterns and their seasonal evolution are essential elements of his route-planning publications.

Does a Jimmy Cornell Guide replace a nautical chart?

No. It provides a strategic view of navigation but does not replace a nautical chart. Shom, Admiralty, NGA, NV Charts, Imray or national hydrographic charts remain necessary for actual navigation.

What is the purpose of World Cruising Destinations?

World Cruising Destinations provides detailed information about cruising destinations, including climate, seasons, ports of entry, formalities, marinas, nautical services, provisioning and local characteristics.

What is World Voyage Planner used for?

World Voyage Planner helps build a global voyage strategy by taking seasons, winds, currents, weather systems and navigation opportunities in different oceans into account.

Are Jimmy Cornell Guides suitable for beginners?

They are primarily intended for long-distance cruising projects. They can nevertheless be very useful to beginners preparing their first major ocean passage, provided they are complemented by appropriate training in offshore navigation and weather.

Can Jimmy Cornell Guides be used to plan Mediterranean sailing?

Yes. The Mediterranean can be a cruising destination in its own right or the starting point for a major voyage towards the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Which ports can be associated with long-distance cruising planning using Jimmy Cornell?

Depending on the itinerary, stopovers may include Marseille, Gibraltar, Las Palmas, Mindelo, Fort-de-France, Panama, the Galápagos, Papeete, Suva, Nouméa or Port Louis.

Why are seasons so important in Jimmy Cornell’s books?

The same route can offer very different conditions depending on the time of year. Seasons influence trade winds, monsoons, cyclones, depressions, storms and navigation opportunities in particular regions.

Do Jimmy Cornell Guides cover high-latitude sailing?

Yes. World Cruising Routes covers routes ranging from tropical regions to Arctic and Antarctic high latitudes, with particular attention to weather conditions and specific risks.

How should Jimmy Cornell publications be used with a nautical chart?

Jimmy Cornell should first be used to understand and select the overall route strategy. Nautical charts are then used to prepare each passage, landfall, harbour approach and navigation area in detail.

Which Jimmy Cornell books complement one another?

World Cruising Routes, World Cruising Destinations, World Voyage Planner, World Cruising Voyages and Ocean Atlas complement one another. Together, they cover route strategy, destinations, voyage planning and the meteorological and oceanographic information required for long-distance cruising.