Crossing BVI to Azores in april?

[VictorII]

I'm planning a transatlantic cruise in 2010-11 and am considering the return crossing. I've read a lot of different opinions regarding crossing from BVI to Bermuda and then on to Azores.

As far as I can see, the chance of having to motor a lot of both legs is quite considerable. So I thought of doing it in one leg, from Tortola to Faial starting April 2nd.

Any ideas on this? Anybody done the same thing and wishes to share? Any advice why not to do it?

 

[tcm]

That early in April is seen as a bit early (cos there can be gales) but it can be fine in april and not so great in May frinstance like last year. Have a look at longer range sites like wetterzentrale.de Bout 2500 nm direct, and if there isn't any wind (and there'll be times when there isn't) it can be a load of motoring. I take bout 1400litres. Head north till the wind dies, keep going north to Bermuda if something breaks in the first few days. Don't try booking a berth in Horta cos they don't take reservations. If rafted up on main jetty you can save hours of queing at the fuel berth by getting the crew to fill tanks for onward journey taking jerrycans to the fuel berth, but praps it won't be that busy when you get there.

Er, you're planning the return trip in 2011 - now? Forward thinking i spose, or daydreaming. No harm in that.

 

[VictorII]

Do the gales extend that far South or is it possible to stay to the South of them with a good SSB forecast? Or would you get headwinds that far South?

And, yes, planning in advance because I want to spend plenty of time in the Azores. If I were to have to wait until May, I'd have to plan my work obligations to restart later.

 

[rivonia]

a good time to cross as long as NO hurricanes are around anywhere. they can and do quite often follow the gulf stream.
fair winds
peter

 

[SimonJ]

BVI to Azores

I have done the trip twice in my 34ft boat. First time from St Martin via Bermuda and second time (this year) Antigua to Azores (direct). Both voyages started in May. May 1st is often considered optimal date (rightly so in my opinion) to leave to go to Bermuda. By May the Trades should (!) have a more southerly component and be reduced in average strength. A little later would appear correct for making the direct trip. This year - for us 28 days with lots of motoring on a direct route (well, curving north of track). Took 65 gall fuel for my 20hp motor and should have had more! Problem was when winds reduced seas stayed sloppy. In 2002 when I went via Bermuda (where incidentally you inevitably have to wait for a window to leave once you get there, as area affected by depressions coming off USA which are avoided on a more direct & more south easterly route) when the wind dropped (as it always does) the seas did too so sailing was always possible albeit slowly. Bermuda is a great stop (provided you do not have to store up there) but has the effect of lengthening the overall voyage time - this may or may not fit in with your plans.
This year we had hoped for reasonable weather but the unexpected El Nino (water heating in Eastern Pacific) screwed things up a bit. Next year is likely to be a La Nina (normallly following an El Nino, Pacific cooling a bit) which will also have an influence on the jet stream route and once more upset the weather patterns in the Atlantic & worldwide.
A lot boats suffer rigging failure en route to the Azores (I had a lower shroud start to go) & many lose their mast so a good rigging check is essential and suitable repair materials/ replacements should be carried.
Many DO leave in April and probably get on fine (mostly) but most guides suggest that is too early.
If you get your forecast and routing from Herb just make sure he understands your likely speeds when sailing and motoring - they make not be as fast as his usual customers (mostly but not all) from N America, who tend to have plenty of fuel & be in big boats prepared/able to maintain high speeds. Apart from Herb other forecasts are pretty coarse in their area coverage & GRIB weather forecasting is notoriously unreliable until you get well north in the Atlantic.
Good luck.

 

[estarzinger]

We have done it both ways (direct and via Bermuda) in both April and may.

April is fine.

When you depart you may need to watch the weather for a week or 10 days so you can leave with an E or hopefully SE wind (after a tropical wave). Leaving with a NE wind is painful.

When you get up into the 30's you need to keep an eye out for both lows - you will probably get a garden variety gale somewhere along the way and not, and for the Azores high, which may or may not be formed that early. If you can stay a few mb away from the center of the high you should have wind and not need to motor. You can usually make routing adjustments on-route to stay away from the high but the gales usually move too fast and just roll over you no matter what you try.

 

[dk]

I've done Antigua-Horta in one hit, 40ft yacht, 15 days, left end May and never turned the prop once! Only ran the engine to charge the batts. Maybe I was lucky. No gales, but a few 40kn squalls that were over in 20mins. Managed to skirt a few by watching the radar. First few days were hard as close-hauled into the NE trades, but as soon as we turned more easterly it was great sailing.
Arrived in Horta 0100 exhausted, thinking we'd done well, when an old steel DIY rustbucket turned up on the quay with a Frenchman singlehanding. Tied up in a jiff, rolled a fag, opened a bottle of red in the cockpit and called us aboard. We proudly mentioned we'd come over from Antigua in 15 days. Unimpressed he said, 'I left Capetown a few weeks ago. Thought the trip would be fun, but 'mon ami' didn't fancy it, so I went alone'. We shut up then and gave him the last of our Antiguan rum!