Winds and Tidal Streams

[Talbot]

Can anyone recommend the right book to research winds and tidal streams for long distance cruising? e.g. when and where to go from UK to the states and from panama eastwards - yes I know sail south until the butter melts then turn right, but there must be a book which shows this in a somewhat more accurate fashion

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[bigmart]

When I were a lad the book to use for the info you need was "Ocean Passages for the World". I don't know if it's still available.

Martin

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[wishbone]

A good place to start try Kelvin Hughes Ltd (www.Bookharbour.com) also there is a free issue in november issue of BPO for all those xmas stocking fillers.

All the best
Wishbone

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[bedouin]

Ocean passages of the world is a good starting point. For more detailed information you want what are known as "routing charts". They give all the details you need to plan a passage, such as currents, average wind force and direction (which includes the likelihood of getting storms, and other useful things. These are produced one per month and cover areas such as "north atlantic" - so getting an entire set for a world cruise could be quite expensive

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[stephenh]

try -
"The Atlantic Crossing Guide" by Anne Hammick and Gavin Mclaren - RCC pilotage - Adlard Coles
I think there is a Pacific one as well.
Don't let it just sit on your bookshelf like my copy!!!!

fair winds Stephen

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[Capt_Marlinspike]

A great book for this is Jimmy Cornell's World Cruising Routes.

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[Birdseye]

routeing charts give you the typical wind speeds / directions month by month. apparently the US ones are quite good and , unlike the UK ones, the can legally be photocopied.

if you want to research in the UK, then the cruising association in Limehouse, London has a very good library. Have a visit, have a look round and decide if you want to join. Well worth it (IMHO) for people going afar.

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[alex_rogers]

For software, have a look at Visual Passage Planner - it includes the full pilot wind and current data and can optimise routes for travel time, minimum gales, minimum calms or any combination. It has a world map with enough detail to plan costal passages around the UK as well as ocean crossings.

http://www.digwave.com/



<hr width=100% size=1>Alex Rogers
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.YachtsAtSea.com> www.YachtsAtSea.com </A>

 

[NigeCh]

For chart books (about A2) you could start with the USA NIMA (DMA) Pilot Chart Atlas's. They cover both the areas that you mention and more. They have monthly charts which show the average conditions for everything that a sailor needs. Unfortunately when you open them out you need to use the saloon table to display the current month on both open pages.

I don't know of any UK source that sells them. Bought the North Atlantic, Caribbean, Med chart book in the USA for $39. It's been invaluable for Atlantic passage planning over the years ... and it costs peanuts. (UKHO take note !!!)

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[bedouin]

How do the contents of the charts compare with the Admiralty routing charts?

Strange isn't it how the USians can produce everything for a fraction of the price of UKHO

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[MainlySteam]

One can find the NIMA Pilot Chart Atlas's for the South Pacific and Indian Ocean free for downloading on the NIMA internet site's Navigation Page. The others, including the North Atlantic atlas, are not available in electronic form as yet.

John

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