Routes across the Atlantic

[Hamma]

Assuming that my ultimate destination is the western side of the Atlantic - i.e. I have no specific ultimate destination - what are my choices in crossing the Atlantic under sail?

If we said that the ARC route was as far south as I wanted to go - what other routes would work?

Is it practical to set off from say the West coast of Ireland, head vaguely SW and end up in NYC?

By practical I mean without spending more than 150% of the time of a Trade Wind route?

 

[snowleopard]

Don't understand the last sentence but here are a few of the options - when heading for the area of New York or New England the biggest factor is the Westerlies. In the Admiralty publication Ocean Passages for the World, the direct route from the channel to New York is listed as 'seldom possible' though that is for square riggers.

You can take the Great circle course to a point south of Newfoundland but you are likely to hit a lot of headwinds and gales.

Further south you can go via the Azores and due west from there. The winds are likely to be less strong and more variable.

The tradewind route is long but by far the nicest. Go to the Caribbean then through the Bahamas to Florida and up the coast from there.

 

[LadyInBed]

Boats head South to cross E to W to get the prevailing wind behind them.
Conversely boats take a more Northern route coming back W to E.

You need to get a set of N Atlantic Pilot Charts
Download free from NGA Site
In the Menu Options at top of screen on the drop down select Atlas of Pilot Charts.
Then at bottom of screen select Pub. 106 and click view.
You can then download the charts for each month of the year
They look like this: Study them and all will become clear

Edit: The Sailing Directions are good downloads as well

 

[Fascadale]

I'm sure I read somewhere that if taking the northern route, east to west, it was possible to pick up an easterly air flow to the north of the westerlies. If this northerly route exists is there not an iceberg risk?

I have tried looking at the pilot charts but I don't think I have stared at them for long enough to make sense of them.

 

[snowleopard]

I'm sure I read somewhere that if taking the northern route, east to west, it was possible to pick up an easterly air flow to the north of the westerlies. If this northerly route exists is there not an iceberg risk?

It's a theory but I don't think it really works. IIRC Blondie Hasler tried it in the OSTAR but it didn't do him any good. Certainly it puts you well into the ice zone.

 

[Twister_Ken]

And going north there's a high risk of fog on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland.

 

[oldvarnish]

You need to browse a few books written by people who have done the OSTAR.
They all discuss the virtues of all the north Atlantic routes. Be warned, though, they come to no real conclusion.

 

[flipper]

Send a Pm to 'Glayva' He's done it on the Jester Challenge. I think he's just gone sailing for 5 weeks though so dont be surprised if you dont hear from him for a bit.

 

[snowleopard]

And going north there's a high risk of fog on the Grand Banks off Newfoundland.

Any of the direct routes takes you into that zone. The Labrador current meeting warmer Atlantic water produces very high frequencies of fog on the Grand Banks.

 

[Hamma]

Yes it was the OSTARs that made me wonder about the possibilities. I haven't read anything about the OSTAR specifically.

I guess the reason most people take the Southerly routes is because that is the best way to do it!

 

[Twister_Ken]

Tradition says turn left until the butter melts, then turn right.

Bound to hit something on the American continent, then ask where you are unless there's a steel band playing, in which case carry on a bit further.

 

[Cruiser2B]

Note the Canadian RPCS rule 10(s) "A vessel making a transatlantic voyage shall, as far as practicable, avoid crossing the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Labrador north of 43° north latitude."

Of course they don't apply to you until you hit Canadian territorial waters, but you should consider there's a valid reason for the rule.

 

[snowleopard]

I guess the reason most people take the Southerly routes is because that is the best way to do it!

Not the 'best' - if you want to get to NY quickly - but the further south you go the more pleasant the sailing.

 

[Fascadale]

Note the Canadian RPCS rule 10(s) "A vessel making a transatlantic voyage shall, as far as practicable, avoid crossing the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Labrador north of 43° north latitude."

Of course they don't apply to you until you hit Canadian territorial waters, but you should consider there's a valid reason for the rule.

Interesting.

Does that mean then if sailing from say Barra in the Hebrides, to Halifax, NS, one is obliged to, or advised to steer a long dogleg to south of the Grand Banks?

On roughly measuring it on GoogleEarth, the diversion south only adds about an extra 200nms to a passage of about 2250nms

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Interesting.

Does that mean then if sailing from say Barra in the Hebrides, to Halifax, NS, one is obliged to, or advised to steer a long dogleg to south of the Grand Banks?

On roughly measuring it on GoogleEarth, the diversion south only adds about an extra 200nms to a passage of about 2250nms

I'd guess an encounter with ice in the notorious fogs of that region might spoil your whole day.

 

[KellysEye]

Jimmy Cornell's World Cruising routes is worth reading.

 

[Cruiser2B]

Interesting.

Does that mean then if sailing from say Barra in the Hebrides, to Halifax, NS, one is obliged to, or advised to steer a long dogleg to south of the Grand Banks?

On roughly measuring it on GoogleEarth, the diversion south only adds about an extra 200nms to a passage of about 2250nms

Not terribly familiar with Halifax, but seeing as it lies about 45°N it seems they suggest a significant detour to the south for traffic in or out; I seem to recall that one needs to make that diversion anyway in order to stay well south of Sable Is. but that may just be for deep draught. The other hazard in the Grand Banks would also be the fishing fleets - of course there's less fish to be had now, so fewer trawlers to deal with. And better radar and ice reporting may also minimize the fog/ice concern now, but it is something to consider. If you're not averse to going to windward I think the shortest advisable route would be a combined route - great circle to roughly 43°N040°W then rhumb line along the 43rd parallel if going to ports north or direct to ports south.