West to East Atlantic Passage

[Time2Go]

Hi Friends,
I know the ARC Europe departs May 1,
But are there other times to make this crossing,
specifically beginning of April.
Departure from BVI
Are there routes to the Azores that don't stop me n Bermuda?
Cheers
Neil

[MarkJ]

I am a bit circumspect at leaving that early. Most who have died leave in April.

I am doing it late May.

[boatman61]

I'd suggest you invest 20hrs in making your way to St Martin then sit on the hook in Marigot Bay till the wind goes S of East which it does for days and sometimes a couple of weeks from early March onwards....
Set your course for the Azores and go.. the Stream will push you W till your across but after that you'll be able to curve round to head for Flores or Faial..
In the past once across the stream the winds go S then gradually veer W as you make Northing.. tho last year for the first time ever I experienced E winds all the way across.. right up to 41N.. so I switched the engine on and motored the 400 odd mile ESE back down to Flores and on to Faial..
This year..?? who knows if this will be the 'New Trend'.
Total distance is around 2300miles.. up to 24 days or less depending on your boats abilities..
Have a grand trip..

[bvimatelot]

I'd agree with Boatman on this one. I've found that modern hulls go to windward so well compared to "the old days" that it is now unnecessary to go up to Bermadoo before crossing to the Azores. Tony

[onavegador]

At the beginning and until late April I would not sail over Bermuda but head direct to the Azores departing from e.g. Antigua or Guadeloupe.

Once departing on about 10th of April from English Harbour with a 42foot Jeanneau Sun Magic we needed on the hour exactly 14 days to Horta with no strong waether other than a few hours of thunderstorm and otherwise good wind. Distance sailed 32 Nm more than Great Circle.

Once by end of February I made the misstake to sail to Bermuda. That took us more than three weeks often hard on the wind not to forget that we had for most of the time until about four days before Flores strong winds.

Other Sailors we met later in Horta told us that they departed from the Martinique on direct course to Horta and that the encountered weak winds and had to use the engine most of the time.

[Time2Go]

Thank you all for your replies,
I'm getting ready for my first Transatlantic passage
(as crew) and am evaluating all the possibilities of different boats and proposed routes and start dates.
Did Biscay twice as a warm up
Thanx once again
I'm sure I'll have some follow ups in the
next few months
Cheers
Neil

[Atraxia]

Must agree with MarkJ.
Leaving too early can get you into unnecessary trouble.
I've just done my 11th crossing last May/June and I never leave before mid-end of May.
All previous crossings were straight forward (though I usually like to stop in Bermuda). Go up to 41N and head east. Last year was a strange one with zigzagging across to avoid the systems that came at us but did Bermuda to Flores in 15 days sailing the whole way. Didn't break my on going streak of no motoring!
Fair winds and sail safe!
Ron