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08-04-2016, 10:33
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 832
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South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
Regarding winds and currents, is it more practical for a powerboat to hug the west coast of Africa going North instead of the traditional offshore route that sailboats take (Cape Town/St Helena/Georgetown/Ascension/Cape Verde/Canaries)?
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08-04-2016, 11:47
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: USA & Europe
Boat: Kadey Krogen '42
Posts: 320
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
Check out jimmy Cornell's book, World Ocean Routes.
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08-04-2016, 13:05
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Back in Montt.
Boat: Westerly Sealord
Posts: 8,180
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
I'd be looking at CT, Walvis Bay, St Helena, Ascension ( can you buy fuel in Ascension?), Dakar.......
Beware, Beware,
The Gulf of Benin,
Few come out,
Though many go in...
(Old E.D's ditty )
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08-04-2016, 14:01
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#5
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
if range is an issue,walvis bay Namibia,luanda Angola,liberia,mindelo cape vedes,canary islands ,gib
getting fuel in quantity in st Helena and ascension would be difficult and expensive
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09-04-2016, 01:07
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 832
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
Quote:
Originally Posted by atoll
getting fuel in quantity in st Helena and ascension would be difficult and expensive
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Refueling in Saint Helena would be required to keep the range to 2100nm (first leg) over 12 days. I understand diesel runs about $5 a gallon - any idea what the current rate is?
Hugging the cost in the Gulf of Guinea may be a bit risky. Will have to research the present state of piracy in that region.
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09-04-2016, 03:02
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#7
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
Quote:
Originally Posted by makobuilders
Refueling in Saint Helena would be required to keep the range to 2100nm (first leg) over 12 days. I understand diesel runs about $5 a gallon - any idea what the current rate is?
Hugging the cost in the Gulf of Guinea may be a bit risky. Will have to research the present state of piracy in that region.
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I have no idea what the current fuel price is,but vic on wind wanderer,a cf member was there in march,so would be able to fill you in on recent prices etc
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Profile: VirtualVagabond
it is also unlikely that you would be able to take on fuel alongside the dock due to the swell,but probably could have it delivered in drums.
if taking the other route I would not recommend "hugging" the coast,rather staying 120 miles offshore so you are out of the range of opportunistic gangs that use 70ft pirogues with outboards who are generally found 0-60 miles offshore fishing.
I have heard gambia,Liberia ,Ghana,and angola are relatively safe stops,as is Dakar,but would avoid dakar port due to petty thieving if staying overnight.
mindalo in cape verdes is safe and easy to get fuel alongside.
what are your fuel requirements and how big is the vessel?
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09-04-2016, 10:35
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Holland, Michigan
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 193
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
From one who has family members who have done this trip, in a motor sailer, my suggestion is to stay offshore. Get extra diesel in the largest drums you can carry and store on deck, if you can. Avoid most of the area. It is not well charted, there are lots of mud banks, shoulder deep water dozens of miles offshore, fish traps, oh, and did I mention pirates?
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09-04-2016, 15:07
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
Yes, you are generally keeping to the right. Plan refuel as per your specifics. Make sure the boat is not a lime. It is at times very rough, even though 'windless' on the direct route from Helena to CV. It is a hard upwind upswells ride from the zone onwards.
Use the winds and currents to the max, unless you do not have to. This includes more E'ly exit from the zone.
Make sure Helena refuel is viable. It is often very rolly there and you may be limited in using any docking facilities. You cannot jerry can diesel to a power boat.
Cheers,
b.
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09-04-2016, 20:17
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 832
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
Hi barnakiel I appreciate your input, but would you please translate what you just said into English? What is a "lime" and "E'ly exit?"
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10-04-2016, 06:50
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
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Re: South Africa to Europe via West Coast - POWERBOAT
Eh. ;-)
When I say a lime I think I mean a tub or else a fine boat but with some undisclosed technical conditions. It is a major and extensive passage and so any sludge in the tanks, any non perfectly sealed hatches, etc. WILL soon get disclosed by the sea.
By E'ly I mean Easterly - in line with sticking to the right, you want to exit the zone not too far to the W, due to the conditions prevailing North of the zone.
My clients will be taking off from Helena anyday now and towards the CV. They say everything is very dear at Helena.
Hope this explains. PLS forgive my earlier slurry style.
b.
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