Is December a good time to cross atlantic?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I have done the trip in early Feb on a Lagoon 420.. or was it a 440.. Sigh!!!
Went over the top of the Bahamas from Ft Lauderdale on a 3 day S'ly period then curved down to the SE once clear of the stream and rode S'lies E'wards before turning N for the Azores.. lots of electric activity in the corner of the Caribe/Bahamas otherwise only one spell of F8ish for about 18hrs.. light winds for the last 400nm to the Azores.
I'd say its doable in a fair boat.

Hi Boaty,

Sounds to me like you got lucky with the winds. I have almost never seen southerly winds in that part of the world. Summers especially farther south (like the southern Caribbean), the trades are often ESE-SE but winters and especially farther north like the Bahamas most often from E to NE which makes it tough to make easting.

[adlib2]

Originally Posted by widmn

From Florida to Bahamas to Azores then south to Cape Verde and back to Brazil?
I am getting different opinions and wondering the best time to cross from West to east and then back again.

Hurricane season is over; however, many squalls, one after another, occur in December. Best time to cross is April and later.

[Paul Howard]

I have twice sailed from Canada to eastern Atlantic, then south to Canaries, Cape Verde and Brazil. Both time we sailed from Lake Ontario in June, crossed from Newfoundland/Labrador in July, sailed south to Spain & Portugal, then to Morocco and Canary islands where we waited until after January 1 and the Northeast trade winds to set in, sailed to Cape Verde Islands and on to Brazil. We once sailed to Fernando de Norona and on to Natale and then north, the second time to Jao Passao/Cabadelo and south to the Beagle Channel. Both of those trips were reasonable as to weather and favourable winds.

[Emouchet]

You may want to track the 5640m profile contour on NOAA 500mb weather chart.

5640m is basically the south contour of the storms track over altantic / pacific ocean.

if you stay south of the 5640m contour, you will get no more than Force 8 (!) wind in winter, and F6 wind in summer.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by MartinR

Of course there is a better route to Brazil, through the Caribbean.

Sometimes you wonder?

[MartinR]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Sometimes you wonder?

Saves some 3000´, but yes, it is close-hauled or a beat almost all the way. No problem for a modern yacht, but was almost undoable in the age of the square-riggers.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by MartinR

Saves some 3000´, but yes, it is close-hauled or a beat almost all the way. No problem for a modern yacht, but was almost undoable in the age of the square-riggers.

Not sure I would call it no problem. It's doable but even with a modern boat it will be a long, hard, wet bash to weather with a couple of knots current slowing you down even more.

[lordgeoff]

Originally Posted by widmn

You folks are fantastic.
So when is a good time to go? Or is there a better route to Brazil in the winter?

A good start is to read Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Routes........
I did west to east in July from NY to Lisbon. and
East to West in April Canaries to Caribbean.
Both were lovely trips.
Would not consider winter crossing at all even in the Queen Mary.....
Clearing out from NY, Customs said to be very careful. Historically there have been hurricanes in every month.
Once you start the crossing your options are limitedI. ie Zip
Azores is wonderful.

[lordgeoff]

Originally Posted by widmn

You folks are fantastic.
So when is a good time to go? Or is there a better route to Brazil in the winter?

A good start is to read Jimmy Cornell’s World Cruising Routes........
I did west to east in July from NY to Lisbon. and
East to West in April Canaries to Caribbean.
Both were lovely trips.
Would not consider winter crossing at all even in the Queen Mary.....
Clearing out from NY, Customs said to be very careful. Historically there have been hurricanes in every month.
Once you start the crossing your options are limitedI. ie Zip
Azores is absolutely wonderful.

[Otia]

Your questions lead me to believe you're not ready for this sail :/

[widmn]

Originally Posted by Otia

Your questions lead me to believe you're not ready for this sail :/

You are correct.

[JOHNMARDALL]

There are more comfortable ways to commit suicide than being on a small boat in the North Atlantic in December.


Stay warm and alive
John Mardall
Vetus Maxwell Boat Equipment

[widmn]

OK, you have convinced me not to take the Azores route and I am grateful for the advice. So How long roughly to slog From Jacksonville to Brazil via the caribbean this time of year given the currents and winds?. The boat is a 57' Bruce Robert.

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by widmn

OK, you have convinced me not to take the Azores route and I am grateful for the advice. So How long roughly to slog From Jacksonville to Brazil via the caribbean this time of year given the currents and winds?. The boat is a 57' Bruce Robert.

There are too many variables to come up with a simple answer. We know the boat but not the size and experience of the crew. (I am assuming the boat is in primo condition.) Do you want to go to the Caribbean or just get to Brazil? If the latter I would try to make as much easting from Jacksonville as possible without getting south into the trades. Try to get to around 38 to 40°W before turning south. This way you are reaching through the trades (the current will still push you west). You could still get some depressions on this route and you will have to deal with light winds in the Bermuda-Azores High. Long trip though and you really need to be self-sufficient. Not a trip I would look forward to.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by widmn

OK, you have convinced me not to take the Azores route and I am grateful for the advice. So How long roughly to slog From Jacksonville to Brazil via the caribbean this time of year given the currents and winds?. The boat is a 57' Bruce Robert.

Quick look at charts the distance is about 3,500 nm. If you have lots and lots of time the easy way is to island hop to the Virgin Islands which some call the Thorny Path due to the long beat to windward. There is the alternative The Gentleman's Guide to Passages South, the Thornless Path but many report limited success with that option.

Once you reach the VI you're only 1/3 of the way to turning the corner of Brasil. You can continue island and coastal hopping through the Lesser Antilles and down the north coast of South America or look for the trades to tend more NE and head offshore. The coastal route has some serious security concerns, especially Venezuela (pretty much a no go zone at this time) and the isolated areas of the Brazilian coast. Offshore you will still be fighting the current and typically strong trades (typically 15-20 kts, could be more) but the currents might be not as strong as along the coast.