The Pond

[BrianJ]

Bit hot here again (36*C), so I decided to open up Jimmy Cornell’s and have a look at his suggestions for crossing “the pond’’… I am sure a lot of you have done it, so a question.

Cornell says Best time to make the crossing is June to August
Then on the next line he says “tropical Storms” June to November

Reading further, I am almost convinced it’s better to fly to USA (if you want to go there!!!!!) while leaving your yacht in UK.

What do you guys (guyesses) do if you plan a crossing?

Trouble is, for a circumnavigation departing from OZ, via the Indian Ocean, the “windows” have you arriving in UK in September. Hence you either find a pub in London that serves COLD beer for 9 months or head to the Med… BUT I read again from Cornell that the sailing season in the Med is from March to Nov.

Gee I am convinced we have the best cruising grounds in the world.
1. the Oz coast line .2. the South Pacific 3 . the Indian Ocean
However I’m not going to tell you too much about any of them, there are enough cruisers sailing those routes now.
BrianJ /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[TheBoatman]

Brian,,,,,, bu*****r off 36*C you can seriously go off people you know<s>.

If it's a p***ing contest your looking for then here on the Medway we've got 3.6*C, shallow water, loads of brown water because of all the mud, warm beer and expensive marina's, so there. I bet you don't feel as cocky now you know what you're missing<s>.

Peter.

 

[sorehead]

Met this UK based landlord the other day and he was having a rant about australians as tenants. Said that every single ozzie tenant he's had in eight years had done a runner and left the property in a state. Funny thing was that someone else overheard our conversation and said they'd had the same experience.

Arrogant ar*eholes was the conclusion. Sorry to say, but I have to agree.

 

[BrendanS]

Don't be a spoilsport, tell us more. I hope you are a natural story teller, othewise you might be lynched?

 

[BrianJ]

Aw come on fellas .. I am serious.
OK I AM sitting here in T shirt and shorts Its 36* C but I wanted an answer to a serious question. . /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

not a lecture on bloody Aussie " runners'....dont for a minute think the Poms dont do the same... however as I am being nice to POms in 2005 I will refrain from buying into well known arguments... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Yes Pete I can tell some great stories about cruising in the South Pacific ( some islands still like white man meat) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BUT I want to know what do you do when crossing the POND.. honestly I have worked out the route , schedule( windows) etc but find having to wait in UK for 9 months a bit long, then getting a belting just to cross the Atlantic...

I hate to ask a Pom.. but seek your advice and experience please.
BrianJ /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Woodentop]

Re read it.

The crossing Canaries to Caribbean is best in winter., at abou 15 deg N

The crossing US to UK is best in summer, at about 40 deg N, when there are hurricanes, two thousand miles to your south.

 

[BrianJ]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

I don’t believe you are such stupid bloody idiots… let me explain

1.. I ask a question…. Get some absolutely peculiar answers and none related to the itinerary I am planning… let me to explain.
<font color="red"> </font> says re- read it… suggest YOU bloody well re-read MY post. I said the windows “have you arriving in UK in Sep; clearly you idiot I am in UK (on paper) and seek the timing to move to USA... Seems to me YOU are arse about face… plus your sailing experience is as good as your reading ability
(b) FATIPA..Hey Brian, I like most of your posts but you didn’t read my mail either. I don’t mind the rest of your “ digs” as that’s all in the spirit of Oz v’s Poms ,I give plenty and receive plenty , so that’s not my complaint…. But where did I mention crossing from USA to UK…no where .. !!!!! I said ( once again) the windows have me arriving UK in Sep… and the Med ( according to Cornell, isn’t good after Nov either…. ) so Cornell may be RIGHT .
(c)Brendan S.. Don’t have any problems with your response, you also are a regular and have a lot of good advice and posts , however I have to admit we have a cold day today… about 20*C and RAIN… more rain fell in the last 24 hours than all of Jan… boy do we need it. Besides we are getting ready to greet Snowleopard… who will be visiting Melbourne soon, hence we want everything green and clean
(d) Dirtybilge.. What the F(**^%%$^% has that subject got to do with my request for information… clearly demonstrates your lack of sailing knowledge and experience. Otherwise YOU would have assisted with my request…. You either drink to excess or have been let out for the day… hope your back inside now. If Australians are such lousy tenants WHY do Poms let their homes /units to them..? ?????
Suggest you bend over and have a look in the mirror at your bum.

Now all I can say is I will find the information elsewhere, as apparently no one sails across the Pond to USA from UK
/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
BrianJ

 

[BrianJ]

Re: I am a bit annoyed oops

OOPS (a) should have been (a) WOODENTOP

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

Brian, assuming that you are not trying to wind people up:

I had to read your post several times to try and work out:

1. Which Pond you were referring. In UK we normally call the Atlantic the pond - but as you were posting from Oz, I was just checking that it wasn't a local colloquialism for the Pacific.

2. Which direction that you were asking about. Your post is a bit ambiguous to simple pom minds.

The answer to your question, "When is the best time to sail from UK to US"

Leave UK as early in the year as the weather/your inclination allows. Normally at least May/June so that you have good weather going South. (Depends how lazy a cruise down to the Azores/Gib?Canaries you want as well!)

Depart Southern Europe/Azores etc late November to arrive Carib/ in time for end of hurricane season and Christmas.

Sail North up to USA whenever you want, with the proviso that there is stuff all wind the further north you go in the summer months.

 

[BrianJ]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

[ QUOTE ]
Brian, assuming that you are not trying to wind people up:

No I was serious.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I had to read your post several times to try and work out:

Sorry.... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

1. Which Pond you were referring. In UK we normally call the Atlantic the pond - but as you were posting from Oz, I was just checking that it wasn't a local colloquialism for the Pacific.( been there done that )

no I was using Your terms.. the Atlantic /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

2. Which direction that you were asking about. Your post is a bit ambiguous to simple pom minds.

The questions were related to sailing UK to USA /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

The answer to your question, "When is the best time to sail from UK to US"

Leave UK as early in the year as the weather/your inclination allows. Normally at least May/June so that you have good weather going South. (Depends how lazy a cruise down to the Azores/Gib?Canaries you want as well!)

The route north from Brazil would stop over at Horta , hence I was looking at Jimmys Cornells suggestion to head straight from UK to Halifax , then to Newport.. from there I work my way down the coast to the Carib. then on to Panama /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Depart Southern Europe/Azores etc late November to arrive Carib/ in time for end of hurricane season and Christmas.

Sail North up to USA whenever you want, with the proviso that there is stuff all wind the further north you go in the summer months.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks John.. thats the best answer I have received...
Keep in mind, it was a planning exercise that I was doing, working out waypoints , routes , windows , stopovers etc... so you have been a breath of fresh air... I owe you one.

BrianJ

 

[sorehead]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

1. I don't know if you noticed, but I was actaully replying to TheBoatmans' post and not yours so my post does have nothig to do with your request for information. I am not sure how that clearly demonstrates my lack of sailing knowledge and experience.

2. Yes, I drink to excess to make arrogant people like Australians tollerable.

3. "If Australians are such lousy tenants WHY do Poms let their homes /units to them". Well you got me there. It's better to have a tenant do a runner than have tenants that don't pay for months on end.

4. "Suggest you bend over and have a look in the mirror at your bum". I can't, because my beer gut gets in the way - proof that I drink too much.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

Wow, isn't everybody getting worked up here!

One misunderstood post and we're into a war between the hemispheres. If it goes on like this we'll be sending the navy down to ram a few more Aussie rocks.

Work was made for raising the BP, not Scuttlebutt.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

Stop It Now!

And don't remind me of ships ramming ozzie rocks. I lost my mainsail trimmer for Cork and Cowes week because he had to go and conduct an RN enquiry in Oz after the last fiasco!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

Brian,

Thanks for your warm words. I don't mind if the beer is warm or cold so I guess I'll take you up on the beer...

Although I've seen Jimmy's book I am not familiar with it and therefore can't comment on why he suggests sailing directly for Halifax. You cerainly wouldn't want to try it in the winter months unless you enjoy being beaten up.

I do have the routing charts for the Atlantic though for every month and its from these that I can comment on the prevailing winds and currents. The route most Brits take is the route that I have described because it takes you into warmer waters (a novelty for many Brit sailors) and equally or more importantly the NE trade winds across the ocean leg along with a touch of ocean drift to help you along. I should have also added that the prevailing wind and current down the coast of Portugal is also in your favour going South!

You can sail directly from UK to Halifax - its a lot shorter, but you are not assured of nice weather and downwind sailing, and even in summer you can get stronger winds than most people choose to sail in.

I have just realised what Cornell means by the apparent contradiction in Tropical Storms and best crossing time. The best crossing time for a northern route is definitely the summer months. See above. The time to avoid for a southern route via the Trade winds is the Hurricane or Tropical Storm season - May - November. Hence he is correct on both counts. Just choose your route.

Hope that makes sense!

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

Whoops, sorry John, I suddenly realized that was a bit indelicate with you around.
Hope the mainsheet trimmer's safely signed up for this season.

ps. I trust he got a suitable apology from the inconsiderate buggers for leaving the rock lying around.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

No apologies necessary. I'll tell you some dits if we ever meet...

Sadly we have moved on from the Sigma and we are into cruising mode now, and I do all the main trimming myself (when I can tear the sailtrim away from the fourteen year old daughter who is addicted to sailing).

Edited because I got her age wrong and if she see it I die!

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[snowleopard]

there are several routes for an E-W crossing of the north atlantic.

the tradewind route via the canaries. ideal time is after the end of the hurricane season ends (end november) and before the new one starts (beg. june) but if going north of C hattereas you'd want to do it after the winter - march onwards. the leg from the UK to the canaries can get pretty rough in autumn and winter. ideally you should aim to be S of gibraltar by 1 sept, 1 oct at the latest.

various direct routes from UK to NY area, via the azores or rhumb line / great circle, depending on your macho tendencies. 'Ocean Passages for the World' shows this route as 'seldom possible for sailing ships'! it's best to do these routes in full summer, i.e. june-aug. heavy weather is normal at any time of year.

the only people who leave the UK in september are those who can't get away earlier for the tradewind crossing, delivery crews and those doing the RTW who want the summer in the southern ocean. they expect to get a pasting crossing biscay.

leaving for melbourne tomorrow - what are these rumours i hear about 13 deg????

p.s. do ignore the racist prats. you should have seen what was said about us after that canadian sub went down!

 

[BrianJ]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

Aye Aye Sir... you are right... thanks again to those who contributed good info.
I guess it would have been better if I had boed you with what I have workd out so far..... it would have made answering ( for those with sailing knowledge , ) easier.

So here goes.... the draft itinerary is..............

Melbourne to Perth..

Pt Phillip Heads/ Fremantle 1688nm 14 days Jan/Mar Dep 2 Feb/Arr 16 Feb

Perth to Cape Town

Swan River / Cocos Keeling 1593 nm 14 days May/ Sep Dep 4 May / Arr 18 May
Cocos / Salomon Islands 1520 nm 13 days May/Jun Dep 23 May/ Arr 6 Jun
Salomon Islands/Seychelles 1007 nm 9 days May/Sep Dep 14 Jun/ Arr 24 Jun
Seychelles /Mauritius 1694nm 14 days May/Jun Dep 6 Jul / Arr 20 Jul
Mauritius/ Reunion 125 nm 2 days Oct/Nov Dep 5 Oct / Arr 7 Oct
Reunion/Durban 1498 nm 14 days Oct/Nov Dep 28 Oct / Arr 11Nov
Durban/East London 272nm 3 days Jan/Mar Dep 2Jan / Arr 5 Jan
East London / Port Elizabeth 150 nm 2 days Jan/Mar Dep 12 Jan / Arr 14 Jan
Port Elizabeth /Cape Town 420 nm 4 days Jan/Mar Dep 21 Jan / Arr 25 Jan

Cape Town to United Kingdom via South Atlantic


Cape Town /Saint Helena 1703nm 14 days Nov/Mar Dep 28 Feb/ Arr 14Mar
Saint Helena /Salvador 1916nm 16 days All Year Dep 21 Mar/ Arr 6Apr
Salvador / Recife ( Brazil) 409nm 4 days Apr/Sep Dep 11 Jun /Arr 15 Jun
Recife/ Azores 2941nm 30days Apr /Sep Dep 15 Jul/ Arr 15 Aug
Azores/Falmouth (UK) 1234nm 11 days Jun/Jul Dep 27 Aug/ Arr 7 Sep


London … St Katherine’s Basin Sep/June ?????
London Boston or ???? in North America ????? ( I want to be around the Boston area)
Do I stay in UK or the Med .?????

Now those dayes are approx only.. one is at the mercy of the weather. But for vitualling purposes , one must have an idea ot time at sea.

As I say, had I included the above ,it may have saved a lot of bitterness..
I apologise to all who I offended.
BrianJ /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[snowleopard]

Re: I am a bit annoyed

interesting itinerary, particularly for which bits you miss out.

a) most of australia!

b) south east asia

c) the med

d) the caribbean

particularly startled by you planning to go along the south coast of oz