Atlantic weather . . .

[webcraft]

Any chance of it calming down over the next few weeks so we can come home without having kittens en route?

I see the AZAB are currently beating into 25 knots, there are severe weather warnngs out for S. Ireland and later this week another deep low with a central pressure of 885mb and associated winds up to gale force sweeps across brushing here and heading for Ireland and the W. approaches.

Is it just a rubbish year to be out in the Atlantic in a small boat, or will it get better? Thinking of heading for Portugal and coast hopping North if there are no signs of improvement in the next couple of weeks, as most of the very strong winds seem to stay N. of Finisterre.

Nick
Horta, Azores

 

[starboard]

I have been sending daily weather updates to yacht "Angelique" in AZAB. Looks like by late Monday wind will start to drop as it veers W and then SW by Friday and once again picks up with approaching deepening low. Hopefully by then most of the boats will be tucked up in Falmouth. On the run out and during the lay over in the Azores a low pressure system hovered around the Azores, really unusual for this time of the year.

As for me, now on 2 weeks leave but looks like I will not get much time out from Troon looking at what may be coming!!!!!

Paul.

 

[starboard]

Sorry in previous for "veer" read "back"!!!!

Paul.

 

[douglas_family]

this is good for weather overview. you have to register then down load software. Just follow the instructions takes about 10 mins and is free!!

http://www.grib.us/

You can highlight anywhere on the planet and get 5 or 7 day forecasts.

 

[starboard]

I still prefer to study the following 5 days of synoptic charts and make up my own mind!!

Paul.

 

[douglas_family]

That is essentially whats available where suggested but a bit more interactive so provides weather at any location predicted wind speed as well as isobars. allows you vary time interval between charts etc.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Nick, be careful about going to Portugal then coast hopping back up. The Portuguese trades are North to South, and conventional wisdom says the best way of heading North is to sail offshore towards the Azores first !!

3 weeks ago we were lucky enough to have no wind for 4 days and motored all the way from Cascais to La Coruna.

It may be a better option to head for Bayona or La Coruna in the first place.

Good luck and Fair winds, whatever your decision.

 

[webcraft]

Thanks everyone,

We use UGRIB - that is why I know there is another big low coming just when the current one buggers off. . .

These seem to be bigger and deeper than normal for this time of year, and liable to suddenly slow down at awkward moments.

BigNick, you are right . . . . heading for La Coruna looks like a good option if the weather pattern stays the same. We plan to leave in ten days to two weeks, so plenty of time to watch the weather and fret. Having said that, last year we were held up for weeks by SWesterlies coming down the Portuguese coast . . .

 

[BlueSkyNick]

We will be back in LaCoruna on 7th July, preparing to cross the bay ASAP thereafter - maybe see you for a beer ... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[AndrewB]

Looks like there will be a window on 1st July.

But if you return across the Atlantic north of about 38º, even in summer there is a pretty good chance you'll encounter winds up to 35kt somewhere. Force 8 in open ocean with the wind behind really is no sweat. Just shorten sail and let the wind vane take the strain. Rather than, than risk being stuck for a week in the dead calm Azores High if you go southeast.

 

[WoodyP]

Hi Webcraft, I wanted to have a chat in Ponta Delgarda, as PH-B told me you were about, but never managed to find you.

Our man Starboard knows about the Atlantic weather patterns. Heed him well. I was an AZBO with his mate Terry (Azores and buggered off). It was a great comfort to know how someone else saw the situation. Terry returns with another crew member.

Sitting comfortably at home and looking at the weather patterns it is easy to decide that no action is the best, however for what it is worth, my limited experience of the weather patterns was that they are are constantly changing so that what blows up a big sea moves, the wind changes, and knocks the sea flat before building another pattern. There is plenty of sea out there to just let it go by and then set off again.

25 knots was a good breeze on the way down. We soon got used to the movement and light winds just stopped you going any where. I know your boat is not very big, and the smallest boat on the way down, Late Arrival, so aptly named had a pretty hard time, and has delayed setting off back.

Speaking to one of the ARC Rally Europe boats who were setting off for Lagos, it was over 700 miles for them, against 1220 to Falmouth, so you wont be saving much distance going to Portugal.

If you are well prepared then provided the weather doesn't do anything drastic it will just be a long hard sail back.

My take on well prepared resulted from experiences on the way down. A tale to tell on another occasion.
By the way, we were so well looked after by Club Naval and the local people, The Azores really are a fantastic place.
Regards and fair winds.

 

[webcraft]

Hi Woody,

Sorry we missed you in Ponta Delgada.

Just had a look at the GRIBs tonight and the next depression is petering out as it goes North - so yes, things change all the time.

Our boat is pretty tough and we have been out in 40 knots (hove to) and 35 knots behind and sailing a few times - wind is not the problem really so long as we don't have to make to windward in more than 25 knots, but with a little boat the possibility of a knockdown or worse in big seas is much greater, and the last two depressions to go through have been pushing swells of up to 25ft at some times and places according to the swell charts. Hopefully that is exactly that - swell - with a long period, and the wind waves are of more manageable dimensions.

I am just getting the impression at the moment that this is not a typical year in terms of frequency of winds of F7 or more, duration of same and average wave heights. Certainly everyone we talk to in the Azores says June has been abnormal.

As I see it, the advantage of shaping a course for La Coruna or Bayona is that it gives you more options if conditions get bad, with safe havens and calmer seas to the S if necessary. Heading direct for Crosshaven - which is our preferred option - is pretty committing as the whole route is a long way from any alternatives.

Horta is wonderful though - a pity we can't stay longer.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

If you have time before you depart, please do drop a line on here to let us know your final decision.