from cape town to cape verde

janaluma

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I intend to deliver a Leopard 394 catamaran from Cape Town S.A. to Cape Verde Islands leaving Cape Town in the first week of March 2014. I'll be happy to get any info and advise from anyone who did this route. thanks a lot, Yaniv
 
PM tcm of this parish as he did a similar trip last year. Stingo also did the same but several years ago.

Tony Herrick of cruising connection Durban has published a book giving some info on the trip

As is said the normal route is either via St Helena to Brazil or straight to Ascension on onwards.
 
I came north from the s atlantic this year at around the time you are planning your passage.

I can see two things you should think about: you will want to keep close to the African coast but the doldrums tend to be wider the further east you go. Take plenty of diesel.
Also, at that time of the NE trades will be quite strong, sort of F6 or more. You will probably end up beating into them to get to CV. Be prepared for quite a rough ride.
The trip from Cape Town to the equator should be an easy run ( according to a friend who recently did it in a cat)
 
I intend to deliver a Leopard 394 catamaran from Cape Town S.A. to Cape Verde Islands leaving Cape Town in the first week of March 2014. I'll be happy to get any info and advise from anyone who did this route. thanks a lot, Yaniv

Last time I did it, we sailed to St Helena, left under sail & motored across the High Pressure areas to get to the Cape Verde's. Not a lot of wind, might be worth looking up Jimmy Cornell's book on Ocean Routes http://www.cornellsailing.com/.

I've lent my copy, but from memory, seem to think you sail to the Caribbean, past 'St Pauls Rocks' & turn right to get back to Europe, if that's where your eventually heading.
 
Last time I did it, we sailed to St Helena, left under sail & motored across the High Pressure areas to get to the Cape Verde's. Not a lot of wind

That was lucky. If the NE trades are blowing it can be a real flog from the equator to CV. I was heading for Europe but at times, when abeam the CV and 400 miles to the west, I could only make NW in v strong N/NE trades and big seas.
 
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