Atlantic crossing.

[Allan]

We plan to cross from UK late March via The Canary islands. We need to end up in Fort Lauderdale. Right now we are debating on the route. Most people crossing seem to head much further south but, given our destination, what is the best route? We have been looking at The Virgin islands and The Turks and Caicos. Does anyone have any recommendations?
I'm also looking for somewhere to buy some used charts of the area.
Allan

 

[Ariadne]

Get your self a set of routing charts, or a copy of Virtual Passage Planner (possibly cheaper). VPP will give you great circles, multiple options on routing for wind and current and as you cross you can update the info on the way to keep your best route. You can also input your own boat parameters, size, wind angle, etc top give a better picture.

Its a good bit of kit and not too expensive.

Feb'/Mar time I would think heading to Antigua BVI;s may work, you'll still have NE wind and set.

 

[BurnitBlue]

USA charts can be downloaded for free. All of them plus navy pilot books.

 

[Xcinquemila]

I suggest you browse the http://blog.mailasail.com , lots of yachties show their routes and comment there.

 

[Conachair]

Plus 10 year wind averages here...

http://cioss.coas.oregonstate.edu/cogow/index.html

Or a bit easier with same data..
http://www.pitufa.at/map/

 

[alant]

We plan to cross from UK late March via The Canary islands. We need to end up in Fort Lauderdale. Right now we are debating on the route. Most people crossing seem to head much further south but, given our destination, what is the best route? We have been looking at The Virgin islands and The Turks and Caicos. Does anyone have any recommendations?
I'm also looking for somewhere to buy some used charts of the area.
Allan

have a look at Jimmy Cornell's Books, ref time/route.

 

[KellysEye]

If you go direct you will usually get headwinds. The normal route is to head south until you reach the trade winds, stop and reprovision in the BVI's, then up to Fort Lauderale. It should be downwind/offwind most if not all of the way.

 

[Blueboatman]

Just watch out for 'northers' on the other side. Wind over current not v nice, a strong Norther sweeping down from Canada will ge as far as the Virgins. But well forecasted. Think gale not storm, but for the opposing gulf streams...

 

[AndrewB]

We plan to cross from UK late March via The Canary islands. We need to end up in Fort Lauderdale. Right now we are debating on the route. Most people crossing seem to head much further south but, given our destination, what is the best route? We have been looking at The Virgin islands and The Turks and Caicos. Does anyone have any recommendations?

The reason most people head south is to take full advantage of the trade winds, which blow steadily from east to west across the Atlantic during the winter months. But you need to be well into the tropics, really not above 20degN, to take full advantage. So the usual route to Fort Lauderdale is SW from the Canaries until the trade winds are found, straight across the Atlantic, then as you say if necessary turning north to the Virgin Islands towards the end. Then its up the line of Turks & Caicos and the Bahamas, through the Providence Channel and across to Ft Lauderdale.

If you do decide to go further north in a more direct line it is certainly possible in April and May, when the trade winds are further north, if you are lucky up to 25degN. But there is a real risk of running into prolongued very light head winds. You must be across by mid-June when the first tropical storms appear in this area.

 

[Boo2]

Get your self ... a copy of Virtual Passage Planner

Should that be Visual Passage Planner ? Here : http://www.digwave.com/

Boo2

 

[Ariadne]

Should that be Visual Passage Planner ? Here : http://www.digwave.com/

Boo2

Yep, that's the kiddy!

 

[Allan]

Many thanks for the answers, I'll start looking for some suitable charts for that part of the Caribbean.
Allan