Sailing UK to Canaries

[aquaholic]

Sailing UK to Canaries.....Dreamers update!

Thought I would post an update seeing as though you so often see so many of these type of posts but often never hear anymore.....Well still havent managed the trip yet , however we have now got the boat which we would use, but the plan is on hold right now as we are moving house! I am sure by hook or by crook we will get there eventually, check back in another couple of years



For some time our dream has been to be able to sail our own yacht to the Canaries from the uk via Portugal and Madeira if possible.

What has been decided is that we are now not going to wait until we retire, instead we are planning on taking a break from work for a few months, obviously this will take some planning so initially I am thinking of 2013/14 in order to get some sheckles together and get some more experience as we have only been at it for a few years now. Due to change the boat next year all being well and I know there's alot for me to research but wanted a few opinions on a couple of points before I go any further.

Whats the best time of year to leave in order to try and avoid bad weather accross Biscay? I was thinking of around May ? and also the return trip ?
A rough plan is to leave from the south west coast bound for La Coruna or similiar, then on to Portugal, Madeira then the Canaries. None of this would be set in stone, the easiest way to the Canaries is ideal.

Any advice or ideas appreciated.

 

[KellysEye]

The best time to cross Biscay is mid May to end of June. If possible leave on the back of a cold front.

However I would strongly recommend that you reconsider the trip. On the way back you would be mainly sailing upwind upcurrent, a total nightmare. In the Canaries the wind rarely goes south until the winter gales come through. It would be better to plan an Atlantic circuit.

 

[mike_bryon]

Once past Finiseterre you should pick up the Portuguese trades and experience a great sail down to Madeira/Porto Santo. In Madeira apply for a permit to visit the Selvagen Islands and stop for a tour of the island reserve on the way down. Jimmy Cornell pilot to the Canaries outlines a circuit cruise of the islands. On the return motor sail back to Madeira from Lanzarote (the only seriously uphill bit), then sail west to the Azores, cruise the central group and home. Anne Hammick’s Atlantic Islands published by the RCC foundation is good.

Enjoy

 

[snowleopard]

In Madeira apply for a permit to visit the Selvagen Islands and stop for a tour of the island reserve on the way down.

We got our permit and duly arrived at Selvagem Grande. We motored into the bay and looked at the swell surging into the bay and breaking on the rocks. I was not prepared to leave my boat at anchor there nor allow my crew to attempt to land on the rocks in a rubber dinghy. We turned round and carried on South.

The snag I see with the OP's plan is what happens when the visit is over, i.e. how do you get back to the UK before the weather turns bad? Most people either stay for the winter or carry on to the Caribbean.

 

[aquaholic]

Thanks for the reply's, so when would the best time be for a return to the uk? or is it only possible to do so from the other side of the atlantic? how about coming back via the med and Canals?

 

[mike_bryon]

Aqualolic:

“when would the best time be for a return to the uk?”

Each time we have done it we would get back for the kids to start in school.

“or is it only possible to do so from the other side of the Atlantic?”

It is perfectly possible to cruise the eastern Atlantic islands from the UK. At the time we were doing it we were tied to school holidays and work commitments so we stretched the school holidays with the agreement of the school and had some truly fantastic summers.

A UK, Madeira, Azores, UK circuit would be more practical and is a fab two month holiday we have done it in our current boat and twice before in our previous boat. The Azores really are very special. Adding the Canaries to the circuit is a level up, we did it over a three month period in a SunMagic 44.

Snowleopard

We succeeded to land and enjoyed a tour of Selvagen with the warden. Something like 20,000 Shearwaters breed there each year and he explained that he is responsible for ringing them all before they fly the nest (we conversed in Spanish as he spoke no English). There is a concrete slip way and we dragged our dingy up that.

PS

We have also done UK –Rias – Azores - UK but you are very likely to suffer head winds on the Rias - Azores leg on this circuit. We did and the pilot said we would!

Best wishes for the New Year

 

[mikewade]

sailing Canaries to UK

Hi
I sailed my boat back from Las Palmas to the North east last year, leaving end of April. The wind was variable and I had some problems with my furler so took a week up to Madeira for repairs. From there we headed to Ponta Delgado in the Azores taking about another week and then 2 weeks direct to Plymouth. Finally 1 week coast hopping back up to the North East. We had hoped to pick up the Azores High but it was lying much further north than usual so wind was very iffy and we did a lot of motoring. However, the overall passage was good with only 1 storm which lasted about 18 hours. Other than that it was very uneventful.

 

[Conachair]

Thanks for the reply's, so when would the best time be for a return to the uk? or is it only possible to do so from the other side of the atlantic? how about coming back via the med and Canals?

You can come back via Azores, wonderful islands worth a month or so on their own. Then couple of weeks should see you back in UK. I did Madiera - Azores in just over three days in july 08 (fastest the boats ever gone ) and Azores - UK in something like couple of weeks last august.


More generally, I would say if the winds good and the boat's happy then eat up those miles, don't bother stopping. There's too much to see and no way you can see it all, eat up the miles then when you find somewhere you like, relax for a while then go eat some more miles. Day sailing is far too much like hard work. For me anyway. Enjoy.

 

[Zanziba]

Isnt there a large flotilla called "The Ark" or something that goes out once a year which can be joined? Sure "someone in a pub" mentioned it to me once when I was talking yachts?

 

[tarik]

"For some time our dream has been to be able to sail our own yacht to the Canaries from the uk via Portugal and Madeira if possible"


Why not have a look at gthe Jester Forum, in 2012 they will be sailing to the Canaries and many of them will be returning to the UK great way to get there and back in good company. I'm very seriously thinking of doing it myself - although stopping off in Gibraltar on the way back.


Good sailing


David

 

[Talmine]

We're currently in the Canaries having left the UK mid July, the earliest we could organise. We sailed via Galicia, northern Spain and loved our time in the rias. We got held up in Bayona fitting a new engine, delivered by beta in 8 days reasonable charge. By this time we sailed direct to Lagos in the Algarve and with winter snapping at our heels left at the end of October for Canaries. We're really enjoying it here and intend to return to the UK via Madiera and the Azores in the spring summer. We've yet to do this but there seems to be a fair number of people here who have done it before, so fingers crossed. Good Luck

 

[aquaholic]

Sounds really great, I like the idea of returning via the azores but will have to look at the timescales again.

 

[dulcibella]

The Azores are unmissable. On our trip (2008-9) we crossed Biscay in early Ssptember, Pottered down the Rias and Portugal to reach the Algarve in early Oct, crossed to Madeira in early Nove and over-wintered there, then down to the Canaries in March, Cabo Verde by end of March, Azores in early May then back to UK in late July. Uphill from Cabo Verde to the Azores was a great experience but quite hard - suggest dropping from Madeira to the western Canaries (no problem if the NE trades are in place) then there should be another reasonable slant on the wind to the Azores. Have a great time!

 

[adpmijs1]

Hi,

I'm thinking of doing the same, only maybe a liitle sooner (i.e. this year sometime), and maybe staying there a bit longer (i.e. permanently if I like it enough!).

In terms of timing, what would be the earliest time in the year you could reasonably cross Biscay and head down to the Canaries? It seems to be May-ish from what I've read so far?

I'd also be looking to try to get there as quickly as I could to minimise time off work, so is it feasible (weather-dependent of course) to achieve say Scillies to Gran Canaria in a couple of weeks?

The boat is a 36ft Beneteau, and probbaly looking at a crew of 2-3 only, or single-handed as a very last resort! Could be fun..... ;-)

 

[aquaholic]

Hi,

I'm thinking of doing the same, only maybe a liitle sooner (i.e. this year sometime), and maybe staying there a bit longer (i.e. permanently if I like it enough!).

In terms of timing, what would be the earliest time in the year you could reasonably cross Biscay and head down to the Canaries? It seems to be May-ish from what I've read so far?

I'd also be looking to try to get there as quickly as I could to minimise time off work, so is it feasible (weather-dependent of course) to achieve say Scillies to Gran Canaria in a couple of weeks?

The boat is a 36ft Beneteau, and probbaly looking at a crew of 2-3 only, or single-handed as a very last resort! Could be fun..... ;-)

Its not an oceanis 361 by any chance?? just one of the boats on me list.

 

[adpmijs1]

Hi,

No, it's an Oceanis 36CC. Same hull / mould as the 361 though I believe, but the CC option gives much more accomodation below both in terms of layout, headroom, etc which IMO makes it a slightly better option in terms of a liveaboard whilst extended cruising away. The aft cabin and galley areas are huge for a 36 footer, plus the engine room actually has standing room in it!

The down side is that it has more windage being a CC, and as standard came with in-mast furling main which isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it makes for easier operation when short / single-handed. Plus it's got newer maxi roach sails with vertical battens which improves the sail area and performance. It's all swings and roundabouts....I guess you just need to find the right compromise as to what suits you best.

We trawled around looking at loads of boats for about 3 years before finding ours. Once we saw her, we knew it was the boat for us, but then the owners decided not to sell. Spent 2 more years looking for other decent examples of the same boat, but then as luck would have it though, she popped up for sale again a couple of years later and we snapped her up!

Now looking to move her somewhere warmer and drier...(as he stares out of the office window at the seemingly perpetual grey clouds and rain pounding the glass.....)

 

[aquaholic]

Well looks like another one to add to the list of go-see boats

 

[aquaholic]

Update on original post.

 

[Hadenough]

Update on original post.

Is what?

 

[nigelmercier]

Don't worry about the return trip, you won't want to go back.