Yacht traffic to/from Carib/Med?

[mannshands]

To research a trip I plan I need to know the approx. dates yachts arrive in Malagar/Gib/Canary from the Carib., headed into the Med. Also, when do they leave the Med to return to the Carib. I understand there is a 2-4 week window of optimal arrival/departure dates. Thanks !

 

[snowleopard]

i can recommend 2 books that will give you that sort of information-

hitch-hikers guide to the oceans

atlantic crossing guide

westbound crossings from the canaries usually start last week nov / 1st week dec.
the eastbound timings are much less well defined because you go up into higher latitudes where weather patterns vary more.

 

[tcm]

leaving the med, the biggish boats tend to leave the charter area of the south of france between end of august and end of october. Then, as snowlep says, they are in canaries ready for the nov/dec departure. By end august a boat would know where it was going (staying or crossing) and crewing appropriately. Departure from med in november can mean rather nasty conditions on the way to the canaries, i hear.

 

[Roy]

Saw a load of motorboats from the Med being offloaded in St Lucia last year - I think it was around end of November.

 

[Becky]

I would hqaave recommended those books too. So we MUST both be right.
The background to this response is READ THE LITERATURE. It is all there, but you must know the background before planning anything where lives could be at risk.

 

[Sea Devil]

By far the best passage planning book is Jimmy Cornells Ocean Passages book - I only have the old one but I believe the new one is even better.

The window across from europe to West Indies is roughly November to May - earlier you get very light winds and it takes for ever - after May there is a danger of a hurricane coming up behind - I have done it in April and it was a good trip - good time but I had to stay south of the hurricane zone a few weeks after arriving..

The window for going back is also governed by the hurricanes and not wanting too high a chance of gales in the Westeren Approaches - You tend to leave East Coast USA or the northly windies - Bahamas around March/April/ early May so you can avoid the hurricane risk in late June and yet not be walking into heavy weather on the european side...

Most europe bound boats head up - or out towards Bermuda - to get to the more favourable winds. If things are going good they keep going to the Azores, if not dive into Bermuda and wait for the next w window. From the Azores you can lay the straights easily but the Channel can be pretty well on the wind all the way.

 

[snowleopard]

jimmy cornell's current edition (world Cruising Routes) is good though pretty terse as it covers a vast amount. i didn't recommend it as it's pretty expensive for someone starting to plan.