Sailing East from the U.S.: Islands You’ll Meet Before Reaching Europe or Africa

Set a due-east course from the U.S. Atlantic coast and you won’t hit a continent right away. Instead, you’ll thread through a necklace of island groups—each a world of its own.

The Island Gauntlet (North to South)

1. Bermuda (UK)

~1,135 km northeast of Cape Hatteras. Famous for pink-sand beaches, shipwreck diving, and the mysterious “Bermuda Triangle” lore.

2. The Bahamas

Just ~80 km east of Florida. Over 700 islands and cays—turquoise waters, bonefishing flats, and a vibrant cruise-tourism hub.

3. The Azores (Portugal)

Mid-Atlantic, ~1,500 km west of Lisbon. Nine volcanic islands with crater lakes, hot springs, and a maritime climate that feels like eternal spring.

4. Madeira (Portugal)

~1,000 km west of Lisbon. A lush, mountainous archipelago known for levada walks, fortified wine, and spectacular New Year’s fireworks.

5. Canary Islands (Spain)

Off northwest Africa. Seven main islands with dramatic volcanic landscapes, subtropical beaches, and Teide National Park (Spain’s highest peak).

6. Cabo Verde

~570 km west of Senegal. Ten volcanic islands blending African and Portuguese cultures, famous for morna music and wind-swept scenery.

Then the Continents

After these archipelagos, your eastward line finally meets:

• Europe (Portugal, Spain, Morocco’s coast) if you’re north of ~30°N.
• Africa (Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal) if you’re farther south.

Practical Note

Real sailors rarely hold a perfect rhumb line; they ride prevailing winds and currents (the Azores High, trade winds, Canary Current). But the island sequence above is the geographic reality of an eastward great-circle route.