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npf1
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
Give me some details of your boat and I'll run it through my copy of Visual Passage Planner (a route optimatization program discussed on forum a couple of days ago). Should be able to give you a set of waypoints. Or give me a call on 07767 472733. Nigel
Give me some details of your boat and I'll run it through my copy of Visual Passage Planner (a route optimatization program discussed on forum a couple of days ago). Should be able to give you a set of waypoints. Or give me a call on 07767 472733. Nigel
npf1
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
using my boat's speed profile, the program estimates 13.3 days if you leave out Bermuda (the package reckons the optimal route is well north of Bermuda) and 14.3 days if you put Bermuda as a waypoint. That's based on the March planning chart, great circle routeing, and running the maximum number of iterations (50*100 = 5000!!!) with the object of minimizing passage time. Hope all that makes sense.
using my boat's speed profile, the program estimates 13.3 days if you leave out Bermuda (the package reckons the optimal route is well north of Bermuda) and 14.3 days if you put Bermuda as a waypoint. That's based on the March planning chart, great circle routeing, and running the maximum number of iterations (50*100 = 5000!!!) with the object of minimizing passage time. Hope all that makes sense.
npf1
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
about the same chance of gales on either route (8% ish), stronger wind on the route direct route, plus you'll be in the Gulf Strema for much longer on the direct route. Could be 'orrible if you get wind over tide (but a reach is statistically more likely). From what I've read, May is much better than March if you can wait.
about the same chance of gales on either route (8% ish), stronger wind on the route direct route, plus you'll be in the Gulf Strema for much longer on the direct route. Could be 'orrible if you get wind over tide (but a reach is statistically more likely). From what I've read, May is much better than March if you can wait.
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
common advice from the vicinity of bermuda is to sail northeast to the latitude of the azores, then due east.
a minority advocate reversing the process by staying on the latitude of bermuda until SW of the azores before putting in any northing. i've done the trip twice and both times found this advice worked better. there is a tendency for a front to form E-W around the latitude of bermuda with SW winds below and NE above. (our crossings were a couple of months later in the year than yours).
common advice from the vicinity of bermuda is to sail northeast to the latitude of the azores, then due east.
a minority advocate reversing the process by staying on the latitude of bermuda until SW of the azores before putting in any northing. i've done the trip twice and both times found this advice worked better. there is a tendency for a front to form E-W around the latitude of bermuda with SW winds below and NE above. (our crossings were a couple of months later in the year than yours).
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npf1
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Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
OK, I've just run the same as the above using your boat's data and the program calculates 18.6 days taking in Bermuda and 17.2 days avoiding Bermuda. Again the track is north of Bermuda in the latter case. I had you starting from Ft Laugherdale
If you do buy VPP, they can arrange a download rather than wait for the package to arrive. That's what I did. Took them about a day to organise.
Use the LOC icon on the toolbar to show place names.
Hope that helps. Call me if you need more info.
Thanks
OK, I've just run the same as the above using your boat's data and the program calculates 18.6 days taking in Bermuda and 17.2 days avoiding Bermuda. Again the track is north of Bermuda in the latter case. I had you starting from Ft Laugherdale
If you do buy VPP, they can arrange a download rather than wait for the package to arrive. That's what I did. Took them about a day to organise.
Use the LOC icon on the toolbar to show place names.
Hope that helps. Call me if you need more info.
Thanks
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
i have no experience of the gulf stream so can't speak for the benefits of going that way. its reputation would suggest it's not a place to be in rough weather, esp. northerlies. my main point is that if going that way again i would stay below 35N for most of the way.
i have no experience of the gulf stream so can't speak for the benefits of going that way. its reputation would suggest it's not a place to be in rough weather, esp. northerlies. my main point is that if going that way again i would stay below 35N for most of the way.
davidbains
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
Fatipa, do you have SSB radio?
If so you should follows Herb's advice once you actually set off.
Just listening on 12.359Mhz gives you the advice other boats are receiving.
I've heard it said you should just go on port tack in northerly winds and
starboard tack in southerly winds!!!!!!!!!!
However much planning you do, the weather is what it is on the day.
Fatipa, do you have SSB radio?
If so you should follows Herb's advice once you actually set off.
Just listening on 12.359Mhz gives you the advice other boats are receiving.
I've heard it said you should just go on port tack in northerly winds and
starboard tack in southerly winds!!!!!!!!!!
However much planning you do, the weather is what it is on the day.
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snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
[ QUOTE ]
We used a "casual" one in 2002 which was set up by 20 or so cruisers setting out from Bermuda at round and about the same time and which was good fun.
[/ QUOTE ]
so you were on the 'boomerang net' that year? didn't remember the boat name.
at that time of year there won't be too many going your way so you'll probably need to sign up with herb rather than just listen in (how old is herb anyway? he seems to have been doing it forever). i don't know if caribwx are still doing routing since david jones died but i do know herb gets cross if you use other weather nets as well as his.
[ QUOTE ]
We used a "casual" one in 2002 which was set up by 20 or so cruisers setting out from Bermuda at round and about the same time and which was good fun.
[/ QUOTE ]
so you were on the 'boomerang net' that year? didn't remember the boat name.
at that time of year there won't be too many going your way so you'll probably need to sign up with herb rather than just listen in (how old is herb anyway? he seems to have been doing it forever). i don't know if caribwx are still doing routing since david jones died but i do know herb gets cross if you use other weather nets as well as his.
AndrewB
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
[ QUOTE ]
what I'm trying to determine are the pro's and cons of staying in the Gulf Stream for the entire distance north from (say) Miami up to Lat 38/40N or wherever I meet the Westerly trades at which point, I'll head East or whatever the course is to the Azores.
[/ QUOTE ] I'm quite certain this is best strategy. Get into the Gulf Stream ASAP and stick with it, unless absolutely forced south by bad weather. This means heading up towards 38N almost immediately on leaving the US.
The problem is that the Gulf Stream is surprisingly narrow on the eastern side of the Atlantic and its position varies. Moreover outside it, enormous back-eddies develop which can run at up to 2kts the wronq way. There is no "planning software" that can possibly cope with this one. The traditional way to tell if you are in the stream is by water temperature, though comparing GPS and log is easier. But this doesn't tell you which way to turn! However some US weather stations, and Herb if asked, provide daily information on the current Gulf Stream position.
[ QUOTE ]
what I'm trying to determine are the pro's and cons of staying in the Gulf Stream for the entire distance north from (say) Miami up to Lat 38/40N or wherever I meet the Westerly trades at which point, I'll head East or whatever the course is to the Azores.
[/ QUOTE ] I'm quite certain this is best strategy. Get into the Gulf Stream ASAP and stick with it, unless absolutely forced south by bad weather. This means heading up towards 38N almost immediately on leaving the US.
The problem is that the Gulf Stream is surprisingly narrow on the eastern side of the Atlantic and its position varies. Moreover outside it, enormous back-eddies develop which can run at up to 2kts the wronq way. There is no "planning software" that can possibly cope with this one. The traditional way to tell if you are in the stream is by water temperature, though comparing GPS and log is easier. But this doesn't tell you which way to turn! However some US weather stations, and Herb if asked, provide daily information on the current Gulf Stream position.
npf1
Well-Known Member
Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
how about downloading the sea surface temperature charts?
how about downloading the sea surface temperature charts?
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snowleopard
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Re: Which way Home - strategy discussion needed.
Ah, now i remember you!
Ah, now i remember you!