Steeler Yachts proudly announces a historic milestone: for the first time in our shipyard’s history, a Steeler yacht has crossed the Atlantic Ocean on her own keel. The Steeler Ocean Explorer 72 Two Bubbles, captained by her owner, completed the 2,000-mile crossing from Cabo Verde to Barbados after a voyage that began in the Netherlands.
The passage marks a significant achievement for both owner and builder and is proof of concept for the Ocean Explorer philosophy: long-range capability, exceptional stability, and efficient performance in real-world ocean conditions. During the crossing, Two Bubbles demonstrated remarkable seaworthiness, encountering 4–5 meter waves and averaging 7.35 knots with a fuel consumption of 31 liters per hour, reaffirming the engineering behind Steeler’s steel-hulled expedition line. Under normal sea states, Two Bubbles achieves her typical cruising speed of 8–8.5 knots at corresponding consumption levels.
Two Bubbles – My Atlantic Crossing
A Captain’s Story
I’ve crossed every ocean on this planet—most of them more than once. Always under sail, always with the familiar rhythm of wind and canvas. But this year marked something entirely new: my first ocean crossing in a motoryacht. And not just any motoryacht—my Steeler Ocean Explorer 72 Two Bubbles, freshly delivered and ready to prove herself. Our voyage began in the Netherlands, slipping quietly out into the North Sea with that unmistakable feeling of anticipation every long crossing brings. The route south felt like a farewell tour of familiar waters: down the Portuguese coast, onward to the Canary Islands, and finally Cabo Verde—the last stepping stone before the open Atlantic. From Cabo Verde to Barbados is a clean 2,000 miles. Normally it’s a sailor’s paradise, a tradewind highway. This time, though, the winds were stronger than forecast—a steady 30 to 35 knots, pushing up 4–5 meter waves. The kind that test a yacht’s design, her balance, and the nerves of her captain.
Two Bubbles never flinched. Her stability was extraordinary, the kind you normally associate with much larger exploration vessels. Even in the harsher stretches, she kept her shoulders square to the sea and moved with a quiet confidence that surprised even me—someone not easily surprised by ocean behavior. This was exactly why I made the transition from sail to motor: relaxation, stability, and comfort while still doing what I love most—exploring the world.
Throughout the crossing, she maintained an average speed of 7.35 knots with a fuel consumption of 31 liters per hour, even in the 4–5 meter seas. For a steel yacht of her size, that performance speaks volumes about her efficiency and capability. The crossing took 11 days, each one reinforcing the feeling that Two Bubbles was built for exactly this purpose. She felt safe, deliberate, and immensely capable—traits every captain values above all. And so, with the Barbados coastline rising from the horizon, a quiet realization hit me: Two Bubbles had just become the first Steeler ever to cross the Atlantic. A personal milestone for me, yes—but also a historic one for the shipyard whose team poured their hearts and craftsmanship into this vessel. I couldn’t be prouder to have been the one at her helm for this chapter in Steeler’s story. For me, this crossing was something more than a passage. It was proof that my shift from sail to motor had been the right one. I didn’t lose the spirit of exploration—I gained the comfort and serenity to enjoy it even more deeply. And this is just the beginning. Two Bubbles and I have a whole world left to explore.
— Owner & Captain, Two Bubbles, Steeler Ocean Explorer 72
