Sailing from Lanzarote to Portugal

[Ursula123]

I am wanting to return to Lagos in Portugal from Lanzarote, where I sailed down from last year.
We sailed with the Azores high giving us a Northerly wind and a following sea, albeit a big swell 8-9m for 2 days 4-5 for 1 day, the rest 2-3m, hat aside, the trip was pretty uneventful.
What is the best time to return. is it possible with a northerly wind to reach Madeira on a close haul and then cut the other way to Portugal? Someone told me the wind changes direction in winter to a Southerly. If that is correct is it still a good time to sail. This is the longest passage I have ever done coming down, I was hoping for a smoother return if poss.
Any experiences you might have to share would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[30boat]

It's all a matter of chance.This is a good time of the year to do it because there's no danger of a deep low making things uncomfortable.I've never returned from the Canaries but did it several times from Porto Santo and Madeira.The Portuguese trades can easily reach as far as Madeira so it's usual to sail NW for a day or two and then turn E to the Algarve although so far I've managed to make a direct course.Except the one time when things became so rough that I had to heave to for a night and then head back to Porto Santo.When I tacked towards the Azores it was already too late and it had become almost impossibe to sail against the Portuguese trades which were very strong.If you're lucky you can head straight to the Algarve from the Canaries,a friend of mine did it.The winter can bring dangerous seas and if you choose to do it then you'll have to be careful picking up a weather window.The lows start to come in September and October and will give you following winds that may make the trip considerably easier.Did it once in early October and apart from a bit of rain and strong winds when the low passed over it was an easy trip.

 

[Ursula123]

Thanks for that, I'll keep an eye for the lows.