What’s the best way to cross the ocean?

Hello, world long time no see 😊since January 2021, when I paused blogging, it feels like I lived another life. On the road I met an amazing girl who became my wife. We moved from place to place and eventually landed in Stockholm, Sweden, where routine and daily challenges took over. We divorced about half a year ago for for the same reason many couples divorce, the usual mix of personality, feelings, and mindset. In the same time, I got deep into tracking and improving my health, and the wave of new AI tools surprised us all with what they can do. The pace of change is crazy. In these four years my awareness grew a lot, and since June 2025 I’m back on my path, exploring new places.

What’s best for whom when crossing the ocean

    

        Today I’m in Canada. I didn’t take the “usual” way I would’ve liked I took the plane. As a curious note, flying pumps out far more CO₂ than a sailboat would, and it adds a bit of extra radiation to the body. My route (Stockholm → Paris → Montréal) gives roughly the kind of exposure people compare to about half a chest X-ray and more than a simple dental X-ray not huge, but not zero. So even if you don’t care about climate debates, flying isn’t exactly a health upgrade.

        Then there’s the circadian hit. When you jump time zones, your body clock complains. For me it took close to a week to feel normal again and sleep at the right hours. That’s the price of speed. I actually considered taking an ocean liner to the U.S. and then going by road to Canada. That would’ve been the best of two worlds: your sleep shifts gently because the ship moves the clock about an hour a day, and you stay under the thick atmosphere instead of sitting closer to space. Sounds beautiful 😊 but not always the healthiest or simplest choice either 😒. The downsides are real: emissions that can be higher per passenger than flying, expensive (and not-great) internet, and tickets that often cost several times more than a flight.

        And then sailboats. My favorite way to move. Emissions are tiny under sail, it can be very cheap (sometimes even free if you hitchhike a ride), and your body clock barely notices the time change. You also get something money can’t buy: wind, sea, friendship, sun, and stars. 💫

But sailing has its own caveats. Internet may be none or very limited, arrival dates depend on weather, and you need patience think two to four weeks across. Staying in shape takes intention because daily steps are not guaranteed; I aim for at least 10,000 and it’s not easy on a boat. Sun exposure is real, too UPF clothes help, and so do good sunscreens (ideally ones kinder to the ocean).

        So for now, I’ll try to avoid planes unless they’re truly necessary to cross the ocean especially when I’ve got work, deadlines, and meetings. That means I’m limited by how long I can be off-grid or without reliable internet, so long sailboat voyages are on pause for now. A cruise or ocean liner might be a better fit even if it’s pricier as long as the Wi-Fi is solid for remote work. With options like Starlink, that’s fixable. Let’s keep that in mind for the next crossing. That’s where I’m at: choosing between speed, cost, health, emissions, and experience. No perfect option just different kinds of trade-offs. For now, I flew. Next time, maybe I’ll take the long way and let the clocks change slowly while I watch the horizon.

Factor	✈️ Flight (Economy)	🚢 Ocean Liner (QM2)	⛵ Sailboat (Private or Crew)
Health	Sudden 5–7h jet lag; cramped seating; dehydration & DVT risk; cosmic radiation exposure, no gym	Smooth circadian shift (~1h/day westbound); space to move; better sleep; gym; minor ship-pollution exposure	Excellent circadian adaptation (natural light, gradual shift); daily physical activity; but risk of seasickness, fatigue, accidents,
Economy (Cost)	€350–600 one way	€1,100–2,500 one way (food & cabin included)	Highly variable: €0 if crewing on someone’s yacht, €1,000–3,000 if joining passage, €20k+ if owning/renting your own vessel
Time	7–8h flight + airport time = ~10–12h	6–7 days crossing	2–4 weeks (average cruising speed 5–8 knots, depending on weather/boat size)
Comfort/ Experience	Practical, fast, but stressful & cramped	Leisurely, social, luxurious; unique classic travel	Adventurous, minimalist, close to nature; requires endurance & teamwork
Emissions (CO₂ per pax)	~500 kg CO₂ (long-haul economy); ~2× higher if including non-CO₂ effects like NO2, contrail & cirrus clouds	~950–1,400 kg CO₂ (≈2–3× flight CO₂)	~0–10 kg CO₂ (wind-powered, near zero except for backup engine/food)

✅ Summary:

• Health: Sailboat or ocean liner = smoother body adjustment, possibility for exercise
• Economy: Flight cheapest; sailboat can be cheapest (if you crew) or most expensive (if you own).
• Time: Flight overwhelmingly faster; liner moderate; sailboat slowest.
• Environment: Sailboat is the clear winner, essentially carbon neutral.