Climate and landfalls shaped early Atlantic routes

Were early transoceanic voyages effectively a form of long-distance coastal trade?

To an extent: practical range and climate encouraged routes broken into shorter legs, such as Viking voyages through Iceland and Greenland.

Fresh-water endurance changed with climate: hot-weather crews drank more, while colder routes had to protect supplies from freezing. The Viking route through Iceland and Greenland divided the Atlantic into manageable legs instead of one unsupported ocean crossing. The watch point links environment, geography, and practical range.