Every year from early November onwards, the superyacht industry enters one of its biggest transitions, as hundreds of yachts begin their migration from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean. Some vessels have already arrived in Antigua, while many more are still mid-Atlantic, preparing to enter a new season, a new climate, and most importantly, a completely new time zone.

It’s an exciting time for crew, but it’s also one of the hardest periods for the body. You might not feel it straight away because life onboard doesn’t change much day to day, but the time zones do. Sunrise gets later, sunset comes later, and before you know it your body clock is completely out of sync with the environment around you.

This circadian shift - your internal clock trying to keep up with the yacht’s position - is something we talk about a lot when working with yachts preparing for long passages. Lighting plays a much bigger role in that adjustment than most people realise.

Why light matters more during a crossing

Crew spaces often rely on artificial light for most of the day. Cabin portholes might let in daylight, but not enough to keep your circadian rhythm steady, especially when you’re crossing multiple time zones. Add night shifts, irregular sleep, and the pressure of getting everything ready for the Caribbean season, and it’s no surprise that fatigue creeps in.

Human-centric lighting helps because it mirrors natural daylight patterns - cooler, brighter tones when you need to feel alert, and warmer, softer light when your body should be winding down. The best setups onboard use:

• Full-spectrum light

• CRI 98+

• Flicker-free LED
  

These aren’t just technical specs, they directly affect how your body interprets “day” and “night.”

For crew already arriving into the Caribbean  (or arriving soon)

If you’ve just arrived in the Caribbean timezone, you’re probably feeling slightly wired, slightly exhausted, and not entirely sure what time it is. And if you’re still halfway through the crossing, this is the perfect moment to help your body adjust before the season ramps up.

Here are a few tips that actually help in real onboard conditions:

Simple, realistic circadian tips for crew

1. Get bright light early

Even ten minutes outside as soon after waking as possible helps your body “wake up” properly. It’s one of the quickest ways to sync to a new timezone.

2. Warm things down in the evening

Switch off cool-white overheads where you can. Use warmer, softer light after dinner. Your body reads those cues much faster than you’d think.

3. Shift your sleep gradually

If you know your ETA, try moving your bedtime 30-45 minutes earlier or later each day. Small steps make the landing smoother.

4. Reduce screen glare before bed

Stimulation from Phones and tablets at night make it harder to fall asleep. Even using the warm screen mode helps. We also have a handy Apple Shortcut for red light - get in touch to find out more.

5. Make your cabin as dark as possible

Eye masks, blackout blinds, covering standby LEDs… it all makes a difference on long passages.

A Smoother Start to the Season

Most yachts aim to be Caribbean-ready for New Year’s Eve. For crew, arriving well-rested and adjusted to the new timezone makes a huge difference to how the first few weeks feel, especially when charters start rolling in.

Lighting is one of the simplest, most reliable tools for supporting crew during this transition, and it’s usually overlooked. A well-planned circadian lighting system doesn’t just make cabins and crew messes look better, it helps people feel better. And during a crossing, that matters more than ever.

If you’d like to explore how we design lighting systems that support crew welfare during long passages, we’re always happy to talk through options.