Gran Canaria to Portugal April 27th 2018

[Popeye2]

Hi

Will sail from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to Lagos in Portugal on April 27th in a 10 meter sailboat. Any advice from those that may have gone before ? . How long might it take going directly? Is direct best? Or Madeira or even further west? Bit concerned to go so long upwind and against the current and would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

[Steadman Uhlich]

I have gone that route, but...

Are you using some weather watch software or a routing or weather service?

I like Windy.com to monitor weather and for modeled forecasts.

It also shows Wave heights and direction, currents, swells, Cape Index, water and air temperatures, etc.

Here are the Canary Islands:
https://www.windy.com/?28.021,-15.656,8

[boatman61]

You may be best going via Madeira.. usually you'll have current and wind to beat against going direct.. if its like 2016 you may even have to get up level with the Azores before escaping the Easterlies that are predominant in summer.. then hang a right to Lisbon or the Algarve.
Whichever it is.. hope you have a good trip.. and the systems have settled down.

[Steadman Uhlich]

CORRECTION!
While typing my earlier comment up above my iPad kept correcting things LOL.
I intended for the first line to say "I have NOT gone that route."

[snort]

If you can spend some time on Madeira, the island has some of the best walks I've ever been on. Google images: "Madeira levadas" for a look.
The good thing is that most bus routes will drop you off at the head of most of the trails.

[Popeye2]

Originally Posted by Steadman Uhlich

I have gone that route, but...

Are you using some weather watch software or a routing or weather service?

I like Windy.com to monitor weather and for modeled forecasts.

It also shows Wave heights and direction, currents, swells, Cape Index, water and air temperatures, etc.

Here are the Canary Islands:
https://www.windy.com/?28.021,-15.656,8

Thanks. Very helpfull

[noblewarrior]

Are you crewed or singlehander, if crewed it will be easier to stay at sea for the long haul and do it in one go. However I would be wary of a fixed date for departure, and if possible would choose a time that fits in with a favourable wind, the trades willl not have settled in yet so there may be a favourable window. Also I would stop at madeira as it will give you a shorter sail for the last long leg. Morrocco is not of much use as a stopover as it does nothing to shorten the journey, the Azores are too far and still a beat all the way.

[Popeye2]

Thanks. Very Helpful. 3 of us in all. Seems like it might be a good idea to motor most of the way up to Madeira and stop overnight there. Motor up a little further then sail across to Lagos. 10 days in all?

[Steadman Uhlich]

Hello POPEYE2.

What follows is written in a friendly tone of voice with the sole intent to help you.

I am curious to learn more about your boat.
Please tell us the type and year.
Also, if you have a photo, post a photo in this thread (or upload it to your CF Profile Page and copy to here in this thread).

You mention you may motor a long distance. What kind of motor (and HP) does your boat have?

And a curiosity question, did you sail the boat TO the Canaries and if so from where?

Are the Canaries your home port? Or was the boat bought there?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Popeye2

Thanks. Very Helpful. 3 of us in all. Seems like it might be a good idea to motor most of the way up to Madeira and stop overnight there. Motor up a little further then sail across to Lagos. 10 days in all?

[Junk Viking]

Originally Posted by Popeye2

Hi

Will sail from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to Lagos in Portugal on April 27th in a 10 meter sailboat. Any advice from those that may have gone before ? . How long might it take going directly? Is direct best? Or Madeira or even further west? Bit concerned to go so long upwind and against the current and would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

We just sailed up from the Canaries to the Med. in a Lagoon 440

- Sailed up to Lanzarote and waited for favorable weather
- Had a mix of favorable and no winds
- Mixed sailing / motor sailing / motoring
- 5 days Lanzarote - La Linea (Gibraltar)
- Bunkered diesel in Gib for €0.55 / L
- Windy.com and Passageweather fairly accurate day to day
- Kept track of Moroccan harbours/marinas for shelter if needed

Not being pressured for time is the most important safety feature!
Having lots of diesel is the second.

[Sea Angel1]

We sailed in september 2015 from Lanzarote to Rabat (Maroc) and cont'd to GIB next spring to GIB in 2016. Lots of motoring and waves. Better go to Madeira, a 2 days sail. A great beautiful island and continue North, NE direction Azores. Depending of the weather situation turn to Lisbon / Lagos.
Marocco is great going the other way.
Good sail

[conachair]

Jet stream been pointing at Morocco on and off since, what, mid Feb? Still doesn't seem keen to head back north.
Think I'd be watching the synoptics 4 times a day and loading up the kindle...

https://ocean.weather.gov/Loops/inde...days=15&loop=1

[Popeye2]

Originally Posted by conachair

Jet stream been pointing at Morocco on and off since, what, mid Feb? Still doesn't seem keen to head back north.
Think I'd be watching the synoptics 4 times a day and loading up the kindle...

https://ocean.weather.gov/Loops/inde...days=15&loop=1

Thanks. I see it now. Its a wall of 30knots between Madeira and Lagos. Yes it seems to have been there for a a long time now. Too strong for me at present. WOuld be too hard going.

[Malfoi]

I want to go as crew from Canary to Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida. Let me know if somebody wants to do such ride.