Routing to the Canaries via Azores from NW Spain

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pjf

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Hi,

Looking for any advice/wisdom regarding a proposed route from NW Spain (Vigo/Bayona) to the Azores and then down to Madeira and the Canaries, setting off last week of September-ish.

I cant find any information on this route as the norm is of course to simply sail down the Portuguese coast or directly to Madeira. I somehow find this less appealing and the possibility of visiting the Azores seems much more exciting. I am in no rush to reach the Canaries, so is it just a case of picking the best 7 day window I can? particularly when the North - Northeast east winds are favourable? or is there something I have missed about any dangers at this time in the season.

Any advice or knowledge would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
 
We crossed from Finesterre to Ponta Delgada in just over 6 days at the beginning of July, having spent a bit of time exploring Galicia (La Coruna as a first stop after Isles of Scilly). We waited for a good weather window which is easy if you, like us, have little time pressure. The winds were never more that F5 and mainly N or NW so it was worth the wait. Not sure it will be so easy in September as mentioned above.

Ponta Delgada had most things we needed including the excellent JB Electronics who sourced and fitted new gears for our autohelm linear drive within a few days. Marina is reasonably priced at under 15 euros a night (37'). We set off for Porto Santo from Vila do Porto marina, Santa Maria to shorten the passage a bit. We chose Porto Santo as there is usually space here. Madeira Grande marinas may be full (Funchal usually is). Marinas in Madeira are about 28 euros per night but joining any of the associations on the quintadolorde.pt website should get you a 20% discount. We chose the SSCA as it was cheapest and will be more than paid for by the savings made in a couple of weeks here and at Quinta do Lorde.

We are off to the Canaries next in a couple of weeks but it looks an easy passage this time of year.

Hope some of the above is helpful.
 
Hi, Many thanks for the information and some reassurance is taken from the fact that someone else has done this route! Great info on Azores marina thank you.

I did get a kind reply to my PM as suggested and with his permission, I note his comments below:

Hi

I've done the trip from Lisbon or the Algarve to Madeira four times on my current boat.I usually leave at the end of July and sail back by mid August.The trades are at their strongest then and the return trip can be a long slog to windward.The Azores are quite safe until the first weeks of August.As the Azores high weakens the depressions move in and it becomes more unpredictable.The general consensus is that the safest thing to do is to leave the Azores by the first week of August.Having said that I once crewed on a friends boat on a trip back to Lisbon at the end of August and we got perfect weather.
You'll need to find a fair weather window because things can become dangerous very quickly.Madeira being more to the south is a bit better but the southwestery fronts become more common after August so again look for a weather window.It'sble .A friend of mine sailed his decrepit catamaran back from the Azores in December and got away with it.
I know that after September the weather in Madeira can be quite severe at times so take that into consideration.Don'terestimate the power of the storms in the Azores or even Madeira.There are casualties almost every year there in the winter.
If you can find a good weather window go for it but then you'll need another one to sail to Madeira.From there to the Canaries (I haven't done it yet) it's usally easier. Hope this helps.
 
Am currently in Praia Da Vitoria marina, Terceira. If its any help in the last three or four weeks one boat set out for the Canaries and another for Portugal. We currently have a low sitting to the east of us, and its probably going to be around for the next week. After that check the long range weather maps. However, the weather patterns have been a bit odd so far this summer so its a case of 'suck it and see'.
 
Thanks SRM,

Not many going south then. Yes the weather has been a bit odd around NW Spain also, quite a few boats holding up awaiting more favourable winds to get south. Don't know what your plans are but if you are still going to be around there around 20th Sept it would be great to get your views on the local weather at that time. I'll PM you
 
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