Timing for Gib to Canaries

[Dockhead]

I will be helping a friend with a minor refit in Spain to be followed by an Atlantic crossing in December. So sometime between now and then we need to get the boat to the Canaries.



I don't know these latitudes. I haven't sailed below about 50N in years. Up where I sail, we are very careful about the equinox, from and after which fearsome gales blow in from the North Atlantic. We would not set out across Biscay, for example, as late as the end of September.


So what about this passage? Would it be ok to do it in October?



I understand the prevailing winds in this area are NW, right?

[boatman61]

Yeah no worries.. usually blows between 5 and 6 so a downwind run all the way.. in a 70ftr you won't even notice..

[goboatingnow]

Yep did several right up to November.

Once well south of biscay , the shorts are on , winds over the shoulder etc. So gib is grand.

Did two crossings of biscay in November and December. Have the T shirt not doing that again thank you

Tarifa and it’s environs can be windy other then that no issues.

[Dockhead]

Great. So -- October, November, no problem?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Great. So -- October, November, no problem?

Nope. having said that I got storm bound for 4 days in the Madeira’s going north in October canaries to Lagos. So like everything the weather gods can be fickle.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Great. So -- October, November, no problem?

Yup, just stay on the N side of the Strait till maybe 5nm W of Tarifa before turning S, the traffic has usually sorted itself out by then..
Madeira's well to the W and the fronts pass well to the W of where you'll be sailing.

[Dockhead]

Thanks, guys!

[Stewie12]

Donald Streets Cruising guides are a good investment for the Caribbean. I understand he is updating his guide to the Canaries and the Atlantic crossing. His charts are more up to date than the admiralty ones. See.

https://www.street-iolaire.com/works.htm

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

Donald Streets Cruising guides are a good investment for the Caribbean. I understand he is updating his guide to the Canaries and the Atlantic crossing. His charts are more up to date than the admiralty ones. See.

https://www.street-iolaire.com/works.htm

Thanks!

[Deep Blue Water]

Originally Posted by Stewie12

Donald Streets Cruising guides are a good investment....

https://www.street-iolaire.com/works.htm

Hats off to him if that's a beer he's holding!!

[MoodyS]

Your only issue will be waiting for a helpful wind through the straits, then keep an eye out for occasional lows off the coast of Morocco. Did the same trip in December a few years ago without problem. Morocco has plenty of refuge but you would need to get in early as the coast is shallow and prone to surf.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by MoodyS

Your only issue will be waiting for a helpful wind through the straits, then keep an eye out for occasional lows off the coast of Morocco. Did the same trip in December a few years ago without problem. Morocco has plenty of refuge but you would need to get in early as the coast is shallow and prone to surf.

Ok, thanks. But how bad does it get? We're quite ok up to F8 - this is a 70 foot vessel. I wouldn't be looking for refuge in less than F9.

[MoodyS]

Don't worry, doubt you will have the slightest problem. Still think you should always be aware of the options.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Ok, thanks. But how bad does it get? We're quite ok up to F8 - this is a 70 foot vessel. I wouldn't be looking for refuge in less than F9.

I keep outside the 1000 metre contour.. from then on in it shallows fairly quickly.
Took 6 days on an L380 so you guys should do it in 4 or 5..
The winds not the problem, its the sea's closer in.