Cape Verdes heading North

[gibbon]

We're just about to arrive in the Cape Verdes having crossed from the Caribbean. We've been pushed WAY South by the weather.

Anyone out there got experience of sailing North from the Cape Verdes? Or any suggestions to make what looks like a dog of a 800nm bash North more palatable?

Looking forward to some positive responses!!

Gibbon

 

[Sybarite]

We're just about to arrive in the Cape Verdes having crossed from the Caribbean. We've been pushed WAY South by the weather.

Anyone out there got experience of sailing North from the Cape Verdes? Or any suggestions to make what looks like a dog of a 800nm bash North more palatable?

Looking forward to some positive responses!!

Gibbon

Welcome to the forum. The traditional wisdom of boats returning N. from say the Med is not to hug the coast as you risk having winds and currents against you. My instinct would be to head for the Azores before turning East, but there are others on here who have more experience of this than me.

 

[Roberto]

I met a fellow boater who keeps his boat in Dakar, which for going north shows the same drawbacks as the CV. He went to the Canaries once every two years, it's all beating, staying further away from the African coast may help having a somehow lighter wind.


May I ask what kind of route you followed from the Caribbean to the CV ?

 

[gibbon]

I met a fellow boater who keeps his boat in Dakar, which for going north shows the same drawbacks as the CV. He went to the Canaries once every two years, it's all beating, staying further away from the African coast may help having a somehow lighter wind.


May I ask what kind of route you followed from the Caribbean to the CV ?

We left from Antigua and set off for the usual northerly route. But, as they say, was where we started. Gradually got pushed south by some unseasonal lows. I've spoken on the radio to a couple of boats who've stayed north and enjoyed 50 knot winds and associated seas.

Having looked I think we'll follow the advice and head out from the coast before tacking back once we've passed the worst of the head winds and currents.

Thanks for the help folk.

Gibbon