Advice Required for Crossing the Atlantic in June / Hurricane Season

[ThereBePirates]

Hello,

I am intent on crossing the Atlantic now, many say it should not be attempted. After talking to an experienced skipper he said it's not a problem as long as you stay far south, passing through the tropical depressions close to Cape verde. Effectively taking the mini transat route?

Does anyone have any suggestions? I do have a sat phone, providing I get enough warning it should be possible to evade them, although in a small boat like mine it is unlikely. First hurricane last year was in June, they are expecting even more this year.

Appreciate some knowledgeable opinions.

[MarkJ]

Hurricanes can not hold together closer to the equator than 5 degrees as the Coriolis effect is too weak.

Its considered 10 degrees to the equator is safe.

All past hurricane tracks are shown on here: National Hurricane Center

So going well south of Cape Verde to Trinidad should be OK

[capn_billl]

Where are you starting from and where are you going?

Think hard, the last thing you want to do is sail through a hurricane, even a remnant will be ugly, and high waves radiate out for hundreds of miles. It's true hurricanes can't get too close to equator, but even a couple of hundred miles away will be rough. Good luck and fair seas.

[boatman61]

What type/size boat and are you crewed or solo...
As MarkJ say's... stay south and you should be fine.. also June normally aint that bad... few depressions going through but last year was a rarity....
I've done the W-E Carib to Azores late June with nothing worth mentioning... few electric storms in blue skies and cottonball clouds with loadsa lightning but that was all..
Have a good trip... maybe the butterfly season will be later this year....

[Hud3]

The Cape Verde storms are extremely rare in June, and don't usually get going until August. June hurricanes mainly appear in the Gulf of Mexico. Why not just take the normal route, SSW/SW around the mid-Atlantic High, checking the WX regularly. Going down to 10* N or below before turning west just puts you in the squally ITCZ for a lot of miles.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by boatman61

What type/size boat and are you crewed or solo...

He sails a Contessa 32. Solo. His website is at the bottom of the first post in this thread.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by ThereBePirates

Hello,

I am intent on crossing the Atlantic now, many say it should not be attempted. After talking to an experienced skipper he said it's not a problem as long as you stay far south, passing through the tropical depressions close to Cape verde. Effectively taking the mini transat route?

Does anyone have any suggestions? I do have a sat phone, providing I get enough warning it should be possible to evade them, although in a small boat like mine it is unlikely. First hurricane last year was in June, they are expecting even more this year.

Appreciate some knowledgeable opinions.

There's always Brazil A week down to Cape Verdes from canaries then couple of weeks across, cross itcz on east side of atlantic. Hang around down there for a while then easy sail up the Caribbean after hurricane season is over. Stocked up with gallons of Cachaça
Downside is afterwards Carib will seem crowded and expensive

[Stingo]

+1 - what wonkychair says. And if you're single, you will not want to leave Brazil. The gals there luv a gringo. Suggested stops in Brazil:
Salvador (Itaparica)
Jacare
Fortaleza

[ThereBePirates]

Thanks all decided to give it a go, although there is already news of the earliest tropical depressions being detected, been advised to stay quite far south, will see what more will come from these warnings and if need be stay close to the 10 and head for Brazil.

Hope to leave in 4 days.

[Stingo]

I did Cap Verde to Brazil in Sept 2004, so bang in the middle of the nasty season. The strongest winds I had were a mere 18knots.

Hope you have a great sail.