Anyone in Gibraltar to discuss weather?

[Hugo Picard]

Hi everyone,

I just arrived in Gibraltar, and I'm heading to Canary Islands. This will be my first passage of Gibraltar.
It would be amazing if some experienced sailors were around about to start for the same passage so I could understand how to interpret and understand weather forecast for this area.

Thanks a lot and safe winds
Hugo

[Pete7]

Hugo, welcome to CF. Whilst we wait for someone more knowledgeable to answer, I have been on that route a couple of times and it was wet. Think of the Gibraltar scene to the German U Boat film "Das Boot" and you won't be far off.

Pete

[Seman]

Hi Hugo,
We are in the Canaries now, having left Gibraltar on the 24th Nov. We use OCPN and cm 93 charts & overlay the Grib files :GFS:40.00N,07.00N,64.00W>00.4.22W|0.25,0.25|0,3,6 ..384|WIND.
We meant to stop in Madeira, however the wind was against us so we sailed to the Canaries instead.

[TJ D]

Hugo, we're in Gibraltar now, and while we're not sailing the route this year, we've been keeping an eye on the WX and would be happy to commiserate if you would like.

[boatman61]

Its not rocket science.. Gib to just past Tarifa to clear the traffic lanes will take around 5 or 6 hrs then hang a left and set your course for the Canaries while keeping at least 50+nm clear of the Morrocan coast and the dangerous seas that can occour along the shelf..
Just wait for a window of N'lies to run before.. 5 to 6 days will see you there.

[TJ D]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Its not rocket science.. Gib to just past Tarifa to clear the traffic lanes will take around 5 or 6 hrs then hang a left and set your course for the Canaries while keeping at least 50+nm clear of the Morrocan coast and the dangerous seas that can occour along the shelf..
Just wait for a window of N'lies to run before.. 5 to 6 days will see you there.

Wait, but it IS rocket science... At least on our boat--

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by TJ D

Wait, but it IS rocket science... At least on our boat--

[Hugo Picard]

Originally Posted by TJ D

Hugo, we're in Gibraltar now, and while we're not sailing the route this year, we've been keeping an eye on the WX and would be happy to commiserate if you would like.

Hi,
I am actually thinking about leaving tomorrow morning.
There will be a good wind into the gap so I have enough power to get out quickly of the trafic. Then there is a high pressure quite stable south of the azores that will be producing northerly winds. For at least 4 days.
Also leaving around 7am will be 3 hours after HW, so I should have the current with me for at least 4/5 hours.

Do you think my analysis is ok or did I missed an important variable?

Thanks a lot
Hugo

[TJ D]

Originally Posted by Hugo Picard

Hi,
I am actually thinking about leaving tomorrow morning.
There will be a good wind into the gap so I have enough power to get out quickly of the trafic. Then there is a high pressure quite stable south of the azores that will be producing northerly winds. For at least 4 days.
Also leaving around 7am will be 3 hours after HW, so I should have the current with me for at least 4/5 hours.

Do you think my analysis is ok or did I missed an important variable?

Thanks a lot
Hugo

Hugo, it looks like a great window for leaving to me. Have a great trip!
TJ

[boatman61]

Wot ^^^he^^^ sed..

[TJ D]

Hey, just one small thing, Hugo. The downwind side of the straits usually blows much harder than the upwind side. You might have a nice little spinnaker run and then find yourself struggling to douse it in 30 knots near Tarifa. Just FYI.

[Hugo Picard]

Thanks everyone for the help.

Going out gibraltar was great, good wind and curent, was done in no time.

I got tricked by a westerly wind when I was about 100nm from Madeira, this obligated me to head south towards Canaries Island and get strong winds on the way there. Wonder if I haven't seen this on the forecast or if things just changed.

Anyway all good now. In case some are interested I have a video blog : https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSailingFrenchman

See you on the water,
Hugo