Cape Town to Freetown - Feb/Mar. Conditions en route?

[Goldie]

A friend has been offered the chance to crew from Cape Town to Freetown (Sierra Leone) in February/March 07. I don't have pilot charts for that far south - any chance someone could have a look at what conditions might be anticipated on that route at that time of year please?

 

[bilbobaggins]

Here are some extracts i.r.o. the South Atlantic Summer:

Pressure: The SA High c.p. remains around 1020HPa, with the centre moving from ~32S 8W towards 30S 2W.

Winds: The South East Trades - typically around 20kts - extend from about 35S, with some westerly tendency further south towards the Western Cape area, and run right up to towards the Equatorial region. Although frequency of gales increasing with south latitude, in this season there is around 1% chance. However westerly strong winds can be encountered close to the Cape Town/Namaqualand coast, so a good, early offing is indicated.

These Trades become lighter and back SW'ly towards the Ivory Coast and the Gulf of Guinea. Expect northerly breezes as one closes the coast in the vicinity of Freetown.

Temperature: Temps away from the coastal upwelling vary between ~16C-18C , increasing with northing to 26C-28C.

Visibility: The Southern African coast is cooled by the Benguela Current, bringing dense coastal fog. Elsewhere, little or no fog. In the Doldrums - wider to the east - vigorous tropical rainstorms will reduce visibility to a few yards, as will flying spray in violent downdraughts.

Does that help?



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[rogerthebodger]

Tony Herrick form Durban does a "CAPE TO CARIBBEAN CRUISING NOTES" which incorporate the west coast of Africa
look here

 

[Goldie]

Thank you both, your contributions very much appreciated - oh that I was going too!