When to sail to the Canaries?

[johnegraham]

My wife wants to spend the winter in the Canaries. I don't want to be there in October or November when the anchroages and marinas will be crowded with yachts about to cross the Atlantic. I am thinking of leaving Andalucia in November either for Madeira (then onto Canaries in December/January) or sailing straight from Andalucia to Canaries at the same time.

Is there any reason not to sail these routes in November, please?

 

[tcm]

Weathr is the main reason. Route south to Canaries can be quite or very windy in October or early November. A quick scan of the countryside around the straits (eg Tarifa) confirms that they expect (and get) lots of wind and have put up hundreds of wind generators. I would plan to get to the canaries by end of August. ARC-wise and weatherwise, many boats have a far rougher time actually getting to the startline in the Canaries than they do making the Atlantic crossing - if they go late. Some insurers want boats out of Biscay before end August. But of course - it might be fine!

 

[Birdseye]

Have a look at the routing charts for the possible months - they will give you a good idea.

 

[Brian_B]

I've sailed the route in late November and got caught by 50 kts plus winds off Casablanca.
Problem is that there's very few ports of refuge along the African coast if the weather does take a turn for the worst.

 

[TigaWave]

I've gone down mid December and from Bayona on had lovely weather but others that have come along the African coast faired worse. But I've hafd lovely cruising in the Canaries in December Jan before heading across to Rum Punch side.

If you have time then I believe there are fairly settled windows to make thw crossing from Spain.

 

[Woodentop]

Get South of Gibraltar by late Sept or you will probably get hammered by a depression/storm system on your way down.

If you want to avoid the crossers, remember that there are 7 islands. Go to Tazacorte on La Palma and you will never know the ARC exists. Also, stop off in Maderia for a few weeks.