Anchorage instead of marina recommendations canary islands?

[Franziska]

Hi,

I have heard from various sources that there are few good sheltered bad weather anchorages in the canaries.

We consider going there next autumn and we usually do not go into marinas (for not saying we avoid them like the plague if we can :-)).
So I am wondering which anchorages are reasonably safe sheltered and provide good holding.

Of course I can look in guidebooks and so on, but I am pretty sure we have some old salts with good local knowledge here.

Please do not post about good weather afternoon anchorages here. Neither we are interested if they are pretty or have good supplies nearby.
A beach to take the dinghy ashore would be helpful though.

The basic idea is to get an idea which options there are if bad weather rolls in.
Is any of the islands better suited under this aspect than others?
Please note from which side they offer best protection.

Many thanks.

[goboatingnow]

To be honest the canaries is extremely exposed and bad weather can be extreme. I’ve sailed the whole chain , really I couldn’t recommend any long term anchorages. Even the marinas get beaten up in the winter storms. ( ie Porto Morgan and Marina del Atlantico )

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

To be honest the canaries is extremely exposed and bad weather can be extreme. I’ve sailed the whole chain , really I couldn’t recommend any long term anchorages. Even the marinas get beaten up in the winter storms. ( ie Porto Morgan and Marina del Atlantico )

Thanks. Hmm.
We'll see than, that might be a short visit.
Do you know by any chance if Cape Verde is any better?

[boatman61]

There's a good anchorage at Las Palmas inside the breakwater but outside and to the N of the marina..
However late October early November it tends to get quite full as the Transat crowd gathers.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by boatman61

There's a good anchorage at Las Palmas inside the breakwater but outside and to the N of the marina..

However late October early November it tends to get quite full as the Transat crowd gathers.

Thanks. That's helpful. Do you know anything on Cape Verde? Are the more safe anchorages?

[boatman61]

For the Cap Verdes this is likely your best source..
https://www.noonsite.com/place/cape-verdes/

[Franziska]

Thanks Boatie.

[ahun]

Lanzarote has a tolerable anchorage (see Google maps, satellite view), if you dive down you can find some concrete blocks to tie up. The Las Palmas anchorage at GC can be very rough in the winter with onshore wind and big swell. I also anchored between Isla de Lobo's and Fuertaventura for a couple of nights.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by ahun

Lanzarote has a tolerable anchorage (see Google maps, satellite view), if you dive down you can find some concrete blocks to tie up. The Las Palmas anchorage at GC can be very rough in the winter with onshore wind and big swell. I also anchored between Isla de Lobo's and Fuertaventura for a couple of nights.

Thank you. Very helpful.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boatman61

There's a good anchorage at Las Palmas inside the breakwater but outside and to the N of the marina..
However late October early November it tends to get quite full as the Transat crowd gathers.

It’s also very rough in a bad winter gale

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

It’s also very rough in a bad winter gale

That's when one goes into the marina.. or moves to another location. From the SW round to NE its pretty sheltered.
Just do what sensible sailors do, listen to weather forecasts and take the appropriate action.

[boatman61]

Again from Noonsite...

Despite its position close to the tropics, the Canaries are not too hot in summer, 21-29°C, pleasantly warm in winter, 15-20°C, and can be regarded as an all-year cruising ground. The frequency of gales is low and the islands are not affected by hurricanes.

In the trade wind belt, the prevailing wind is north-easterly throughout the year, being strongest in July and August and lightest in October and November. The high volcanic islands cause some local variations in both wind direction and strength. As a rule, there are different winds in the lee of the islands compared to the coasts exposed to the trade winds. When the NE trades are blowing strongly, an opposing wind usually blows on the other side of the island, varying in strength with the strength of the trade wind. A funnelling effect is also felt along the coasts of some of the mountainous islands and the trades can be accelerated by up to 15 knots in places.

Teletiempo (Maritime Forecast), Tel: 0034 906 365 373. Local weather forecast in Spanish. They give a complete description of the weather, wind force, state of the sea for every island.

For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page

[OldGreyB]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Thanks. That's helpful. Do you know anything on Cape Verde? Are the more safe anchorages?

You could contact Swiss sailor Alexandre Guidetti of YouTube channel " Winded Voyage." He has been Vblogging in that area while on his mono for the last 2 years so will have all current information.

Home - windedvoyage.com

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Again from Noonsite...



Despite its position close to the tropics, the Canaries are not too hot in summer, 21-29°C, pleasantly warm in winter, 15-20°C, and can be regarded as an all-year cruising ground. The frequency of gales is low and the islands are not affected by hurricanes.



In the trade wind belt, the prevailing wind is north-easterly throughout the year, being strongest in July and August and lightest in October and November. The high volcanic islands cause some local variations in both wind direction and strength. As a rule, there are different winds in the lee of the islands compared to the coasts exposed to the trade winds. When the NE trades are blowing strongly, an opposing wind usually blows on the other side of the island, varying in strength with the strength of the trade wind. A funnelling effect is also felt along the coasts of some of the mountainous islands and the trades can be accelerated by up to 15 knots in places.



Teletiempo (Maritime Forecast), Tel: 0034 906 365 373. Local weather forecast in Spanish. They give a complete description of the weather, wind force, state of the sea for every island.



For links to free global weather information, forecast services and extreme weather information see the Noonsite Weather Page

Having been there in the famous Christmas storm that trashed marina del Altantico , the gales that do occur can be very very nasty.

The marina in San Sebastián de is Gomera is one of the best and most reasonable

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Having been there in the famous Christmas storm that trashed marina del Altantico , the gales that do occur can be very very nasty.

The marina in San Sebastián de is Gomera is one of the best and most reasonable

I agree.. a nice town as well, enjoyed my couple of weeks there with the owner of an L380 I helped him bring down from Le Sables, Gran Canaria was full with the ARC mob so we sailed across to La Gomera where he stayed till his mate flew out for the trip to the Caribe.
Used to be able to anchor there once upon an age off the beach but that's been buoyed off and the ferry uses the rest of the space.

Progress n all that..