Medeira to portugal

[purplerobbie]

I was reading in jimmy cornells world crusing routes that the best time to travel from medeira to portugal is march to may?
I know it it says that is the best times but can it be done later than that?
I would have thought it would have been better later in the year when the the portuguese trades have fallen off?.
the weather is getting better later too?
If your coming back to the uk from portugal they say do it later in the year to take advantage of the trades finishing?

 

[Richard10002]

I did Madeira to Baiona in June 2004, and Gibraltar to The Scillys in August 2010. Not too much difficulty with either trip.

 

[wizard]

I did it late July nothing higher than a seven. I find its the coastal shipping you have to watch out for, especially near Lisbon.

 

[jeanne]

I did it in July, and it was OK, but not a fun trip. It was all to windward, with winds up to 6, for a while.
Perhaps it may help to remember all the ships which have rounded either Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope, on their way to England. I bet that they did not worry too much about the bit between Madeira and UK.

 

[PuraVida]

Generally upwind, take your time to choose the best window. I tried end of last may, madeira to lagos and had to turn back after two days to Porto santo. End of June, no problem, of course still upwind.

 

[AndrewB]

I would have thought it would have been better later in the year when the the portuguese trades have fallen off?.
the weather is getting better later too?

You'd have to be lucky! I've done the crossing from Portugal to Maderia 3 times during autumn, and each time had a gale from the N or NE. It might be possible in June or early July if you aimed first for the Azores, watching the forecast for any sign of an early season hurricane (rare in that area). Was that perhaps Richard10002's route?

 

[Richard10002]

You'd have to be lucky! I've done the crossing from Portugal to Maderia 3 times during autumn, and each time had a gale from the N or NE. It might be possible in June or early July if you aimed first for the Azores, watching the forecast for any sign of an early season hurricane (rare in that area). Was that perhaps Richard10002's route?

No.... In 2004 it was an upwind trip, but not too unpleasant.