when is the best time to cross the Atlantic east?

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

George,

Which St. Pierre?

Given the (relatively quick) passage time . . . Most likely the one off Newfoundland coast.

Originally Posted by MarkJ

As others have said dont go early. April is too early so is most of May.
Remember 6 were killed last year and one this year.... All early.

Remember he wants to go to the canaries (not Azores or France/UK). That means he has the option to leave earlier (if he wants to) and stay much further south than the "normal" N Atlantic track. Late April is quite typical for the group going non-stop to the med. They track restively low, thru the area where the high pressure (usually) fills in during June - they get wind all the way but can dodge south as storms track north. The only drawback is it is a relatively long non-stop passage (longer than the Bermuda to Azores to wherever routing).. . . But the routing (direct to med/canaries) is usually shorter earlier in the season (unless you are prepared to motor a long way thru the high pressure system later).

[George DuBose]

We left from St. Pierre, which with its sister island of Miquelon, are French colonies, not part of the Dominion of Canada. One must fly the French courtesy flag and euros are the currency. These two islands are south between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

It is a good place to provision and depart for Europe from. We avoided the two day sail up to St. John's, Newfoundland.

June was decide upon due to the lower frequency of storms and the prevalent winds from the west. Crossing the Labrador Current gave us cold water and cold weather, but that only lasted until we got back into the North Atlantic Current.

With the prevailing westerlies, we reached Baltimore, Ireland from St. Pierre in 13 days. The distance is the shortest except for Africa to Brazil.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by George DuBose

We left from St. Pierre, which with its sister island of Miquelon, are French colonies, not part of the Dominion of Canada. One must fly the French courtesy flag and euros are the currency. These two islands are south between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

It is a good place to provision and depart for Europe from. We avoided the two day sail up to St. John's, Newfoundland.

June was decide upon due to the lower frequency of storms and the prevalent winds from the west. Crossing the Labrador Current gave us cold water and cold weather, but that only lasted until we got back into the North Atlantic Current.

With the prevailing westerlies, we reached Baltimore, Ireland from St. Pierre in 13 days. The distance is the shortest except for Africa to Brazil.

TO: Evanstarzinger and George Dubose

I have never been to that part of the world, so learned several things in this thread and in your post above. Thanks!

Earlier I googled St. Pierre NS and saw the place, wondered if that was correct. Also since it only took 13 days (!!) I supposed it to be that one.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

Remember he wants to go to the canaries (not Azores or France/UK). That means he has the option to leave earlier (if he wants to) and stay much further south than the "normal" N Atlantic track. Late April is quite typical for the group going non-stop to the med. They track restively low, thru the area where the high pressure (usually) fills in during June - they get wind all the way but can dodge south as storms track north. The only drawback is it is a relatively long non-stop passage (longer than the Bermuda to Azores to wherever routing).. . . But the routing (direct to med/canaries) is usually shorter earlier in the season (unless you are prepared to motor a long way thru the high pressure system later).

Yes, i agree with you. But I thought the OP meant to the Canaries via the Azores.
If his boat is excellent upwind he can lay Madeira but that task is for someone whose knowledge is formidable...

[YARGESOL]

Make sure you will have offshore forecast available aboard. I made this year Florida-Bahamas-Bermuda-Azores-Continent. We started April. But , spending two weeks at Bermuda , Azores leg made in May. Main problem were lool...and, not go up the 40. We met german guy at Horta...he came from St.Martaine....went too far North and got 60 knots two times...

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

Earlier I googled St. Pierre NS and saw the place

The french would put you under the guillotine for that

St. Pierre is French territory, real french (not fake Canadian french), french passports, good baguettes, pain aux chocolates and decent coffee. The French held on to it thru victory and defeat because of its access/rights to the grand banks fishing grounds.

[barnakiel]

If starting as far South as Guyana one can sail this BELOW the High. Esp. "late" as past mid-June the High tends to float way up (kind of blocking the way for those who are tying to sail the direct route in piggish boats).

It is done by beam reaching and reaching towards the center of the High as long as the wind is above 5 knots; then tacking and sailing port tack away from the High and towards the wind.

In a good boat this is two long tacks and you end up in Madeira / Gibraltar or Canary Islands (if you are less lucky).

You can look up return legs of big ocean races to visualize what I am talking about.

b.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by hamburking

Good advice. Jimmy Cornell's book is excellent, worth every penny. I think I memorized the section on crossing the atlantic from west to east (trade wind route) before I actually went.

100% agree. We also got a signed copy of his cruising atlas of prevailing winds by time of year and location for the entire planet. Add this to his book and you will understand a lot.