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16-04-2013, 01:32
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#1
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
This has been discussed in various forms in a couple of threads but I wanted to ask this in its own thread.
What is your opinion of a straight shot passage from southern Caribbean to the Azores eventually ending up in Ireland? With more modern boats that have greater motoring capacity and better upwind sailing ability is the old route no longer optimal but perhaps just habit?
The basic idea is that you do an almost straight shot from where you are in the Caribbean, weather dependent of course, to the Azores - the further south you are in the Caribbean the more you benefit from this route option as well.
Myself and Dockhead were chatting about this passage option as it is a faster route back to Europe. I have read several passage logs and I think Boatman and Barnie have done the route - so I am looking for feedback from any who have as I have only done the normal "northern" up the gulf stream and across.
Southern Route Pros:
1. Less time in High Lattitude
2. Quicker Passage
Cons:
1. Can be very little wind so may be alot of motoring.
Would you recommend it?
Thanks.
__________________
"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
William of Baskerville
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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16-04-2013, 01:59
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Arctic Ocean
Boat: Under construction 35' ketch (and +3 smaller)
Posts: 2,755
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Just wondering straight over the Sargasso sea? Could be a bit of debris floating there..
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16-04-2013, 02:32
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#3
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Solent, England
Boat: Moody 31
Posts: 18,458
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Have you got the fuel for 2200 miles of motoring even at a gentle 4 knots? nice if you have.
Pete
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16-04-2013, 03:13
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#4
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
The issue at the western side is head winds, then potentially no wind,at the Eastern side, you could have anything depending on the azores high and the lows tracking into Ireland, but usually all of them have too much wind in them as you approach the continental shelf
Hence you could experience a significant amount of adverse sailing or diesel burning
Dave
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Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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16-04-2013, 03:14
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#5
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Quote:
Just wondering straight over the Sargasso sea? Could be a bit of debris floating there..
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Thats a bit of a myth really.
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Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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16-04-2013, 03:38
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: oriental
Boat: crowther trimaran 33
Posts: 4,417
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete7
Have you got the fuel for 2200 miles of motoring even at a gentle 4 knots? nice if you have.
Pete
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4 knots is enough to sail in depending on sea state.
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16-04-2013, 03:40
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#7
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Not so sure about "excessive" diesel burning compared to many other crossing in the south pacific, indian ocean, South Asia, etc.?? More than the Northern Route yes but...
This is the website that really got me thinking about it - they present a compelling case
Routes to the Azores
Their main point being that with higher performance sailing ability in modern boats and better access to very accurate weather one should be able to sail a more direct and shorter route without getting trapped in the High and not going so far North you’ll be uncomfortable.
Would obviously also be dependent on the given locatoin of the Azores high for that time and year.
I was looking to leave next year as late as possible to avoid late spring storms (exactly like we just had in Ireland this week with F10+ winds) but before Hurricane risk.
Maybe leave last two weeks of April into first 2 weeks of May?? Would be leaving from Trinidad.
__________________
"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
William of Baskerville
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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16-04-2013, 03:47
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#8
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
A bit earlier than I would plan on going but here is a grib image for today of the region for discussion
Seems like you could go NE from Trinidad to get through the high at 40-45W and at 30N you stay close to the high and come up to the Azores - just follow pressure and use plain ol' Synoptic charts to keep yourself in a good pressure line up?
__________________
"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
William of Baskerville
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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16-04-2013, 03:54
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#10
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Hmmm, of course this is what could also happen - make for a long trip with the diesel
__________________
"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
William of Baskerville
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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16-04-2013, 03:55
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#11
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Pusher of String
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: On the hard; Trinidad
Boat: Trisbal 42, Aluminum Cutter Rigged Sloop
Posts: 2,314
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Quote:
Originally Posted by boatman61
If you can do without the Bermuda 'mental security blanket' its the only way to go.. great sailing..
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I can definitely do without going up the whole damn Caribbean to get to Bermuda and then make a crossing!!!
Thanks for the info!
__________________
"So, rather than appear foolish afterward, I renounce seeming clever now."
William of Baskerville
"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
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16-04-2013, 03:59
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#12
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cruiser
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Probably in an anchorage or a boatyard..
Boat: Ebbtide 33' steel cutter
Posts: 5,030
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
Only done it once, slow north to near Bermuda, maybe motored half the way with a ridge of high pressure following the boat north. Then nice fast sail across to Azores. I'd do the same again, motoring for weeks is just not nice, well worth the extra miles to be sailing instead of burning diesel.
Couple satellite wind sites..
Map » Pitufa.at
Climatology of Global Ocean Winds (QuikSCAT)
Quote:
Originally Posted by foolishsailor
1. Less time in High Lattitude
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38N isn't really that high, with the added advantage of more than likely wind behind the beam and occasional rain to top up the tanks and have a shower in.
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16-04-2013, 06:02
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Tortola
Posts: 756
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Re: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
I did a straight shot from St Martin to Azores a year ago, en route to Norway (terrible boat, lots of problems!). Apart from the boat it was a perfectly ok trip. As has been pointed out, a modern(ish, in this case) boat goes to weather much better. I've done the Bermuda route several times: don't like it much and would only now do it if I was departing from Bahamas or Florida. Tony
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16-04-2013, 07:23
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#15
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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: Is it better do W to E Atlantic Crossing via the Southern "Straight" route?
looking at the unseasonably cold north atlantic this year you may have to head for newfoundland before getting any westerlies in may and june!
motorsailing through the center of the azores high,might save weeks of tacking into headwinds.
the north west coast of africa has had southerly winds the last 2 months! wtf is going on!!!!!!!!!
PS the azores high has been replaced by the azores low..................
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