Gibraltar - Canaries - Cape Verde Islands in Summer

[vw1961]

In 2019 we want to cross the Atlantic (East to West, individually, not part of the ARC)
As far as I understand most people leave the Med in autumn (around Sept or Oct) then stay for a few weeks in the Canaries, then depart to the Cape Verde Islands in Winter, not earlier than late November.

As we have plenty of time we thought we could start early, lets say August, from Gibraltar, stay one or two months in the Canaries, and then again head early to the Cape Verde islands, staying one or two months there too, and then in December cross to the Carribean.

Is there any problem with this plan? Do either the Canaries or the Cape Verde Islands or the route in between get affectes by tropical storms? Any other problems?

[bruno2209]

Hallo, we have exactly the same plan. Have you got any information after your post?

My boat is in La Linea right now for mantainance, to be ready to leave in July.

I'd be glad to share info with whoever has similar plan.

Regards
Bruno

[gmakhs]

It's possible ,.
Spending 2.months in cape Verde for me it seems to much for a place to offer so few , if I had that time.on hand I would visit west coast of Africa and cape Verde just before the Atlantic for re provision.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by vw1961

In 2019 we want to cross the Atlantic (East to West, individually, not part of the ARC)
As far as I understand most people leave the Med in autumn (around Sept or Oct) then stay for a few weeks in the Canaries, then depart to the Cape Verde Islands in Winter, not earlier than late November.

As we have plenty of time we thought we could start early, lets say August, from Gibraltar, stay one or two months in the Canaries, and then again head early to the Cape Verde islands, staying one or two months there too, and then in December cross to the Carribean.

Is there any problem with this plan? Do either the Canaries or the Cape Verde Islands or the route in between get affectes by tropical storms? Any other problems?

Good plan.. the further S the steadier the Trades..

[chuckr]

We also plan to cross in 2019 - so interested in answers - our question is how do the Canaries count Schengen? May limit our stay as we will probably run out of days with our summer sailing plan.

[Sojourner]

The canaries are full on Spain, schengen and all.

[vw1961]

Hello Bruno2209,

We still have the same plan, and havent heard anything contrary.
Our boat is in Valencia, Spain now, we will start from there at the beginning of May. In June, because of work, we need to leave the boat somewhere for about 6 weeks, any recommendations about cheap marinas / boatyards around gibraltar, atlantic spain or southern portugal are highly appreciated.

Concerning Schengen, yes, the canary islands are part of Spain and therefor Schengen. I dont know where you start but I would recommend spending as much time as possible in Tunisia, Marokko, Gibraltar. I have heard though that the authorities on Canary islands are more relaxed regarding overstays by cruisers, and granting extensions quite easily, especially if you have a good reason (like not wanting cross the atlantic during hurricane season) . But me personally i would not want to rely on that, better to keep the schengen clock short before.

[Nelsons]

Yep, it’s Schengen and Gibraltar check-in Check-out does not count as EU outbound. 2 month are too much for CV, especially as sailing between the islands is not that easy. Mindelo in St. Vincente is the place were you can get some equipment before a crossing, there is a tiny chandler. But take care if you buy fuel, take it at the station only. But on the upside gas is very cheep.

[mikedefieslife]

From my reading it seems opinions on CV are mixed at best, and with it being a poor economy provisioning isn't as good as in the Canaries.

[Nelsons]

Well, of course provisioning is not as good as in the Canaries, where you can get everything.

But provisioning in CV is not as bad as it is often reported. You can get all kind of fresh stuff there, in Mindelo you can find a nice market and while driving over the islands you can get fresh fruits. However I made the experience that everybody charged a higher, an European price. C`est la vie and a small compensation to that what the Europeans (especially British) did to the Cape Verdians in the past.

The only thing one has to take care is the adulterated fuel (not in the station in Mindelo marina). But what locals offer contains a lot of water.

[boatman61]

VW1961.. Almerimar is a good spot to leave the boat, cheap and friendly with all facilities available and an excellent supermarket in the marina complex.
Fast trains to Madrid are a half hour car ride away as is an inter EU airport.. also one is only a 24hr sail from the Straits/Gib..
Re Cap Verde.. Do your main provisioning in the Canaries and just use Cap for topping up fresh that you have used up.. things are improving there as it os becoming a bit more popular as a holiday spot.
It is Portuguese so Schengen may or may not apply.

[Nelsons]

Originally Posted by boatman61

VW1961.. Almerimar is a good spot to leave the boat, cheap and friendly with all facilities available and an excellent supermarket in the marina complex.
Fast trains to Madrid are a half hour car ride away as is an inter EU airport.. also one is only a 24hr sail from the Straits/Gib..
Re Cap Verde.. Do your main provisioning in the Canaries and just use Cap for topping up fresh that you have used up.. things are improving there as it os becoming a bit more popular as a holiday spot.
It is Portuguese so Schengen may or may not apply.

CV is not Portuguese and so it`s not Schengen.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Nelsons

CV is not Portuguese and so it`s not Schengen.

Apologies.. it was till the dictator Salazar was overthrown in 1975 but is now self governing.. the language is Portuguese and it still uses the old currency of Portugal.. the escudo.

Cape Verde is an island nation, part of the Macaronesian group of islands of the Atlantic Ocean and was a former Portuguese colony during the colonial era between 1460 and 1975. EU-Cape Verde relations are founded on the EU/Cape Verde Special Partnership, agreed in 2007

[vw1961]

I am still not sure yet about one thing: If somebody runs out of schengen time lets say in september and decides to depart early from the Canaries to Cape Verde, how big is the risk of encountering a hurricane on the way?
Attached are the tracks of all hurricanes in 1851-2012 and the area seems affected

[boatman61]

Hurricanes are born thereabouts but I dont think there has ever been one recorded.
Its a tropical wave out of Africa that passes over or near the islands and develops and grows as it crosses the Atlantic..