Introduction
Ever since Christopher Columbus first made the crossing from the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands) to San Salvador (Bahamas), the sailing route from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean has been the most popular route for sailors to cross the Atlantic from East (E) to West (W). Today it is still sailed by a large number of yachts, either independently or in company with the support of an organisation such as the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers).
The Canary Islands-Caribbean route is a relatively straightforward oceanic navigation, in the sense that it is normally carried out with favourable winds and currents. However, it is essential to choose the time of year, in order to avoid the cyclone season in the North Atlantic. It is also important to choose the time (window) of departure from the Canary Islands in order to have a favourable situation during the first days of the crossing.
The most suitable route will depend on the port of destination in the Caribbean, and on the evolution of the weather situation during the crossing. When setting sail from the Canary Islands, we will initially have to descend in latitude until the trade winds become clearly established and then head W. Stopping in the Cape Verde Islands may be a good option, especially if we have time and are heading for the southernmost islands of the Caribbean.
In this chapter we will look at the following aspects of crossing the Atlantic under sail from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean:
– The Canary Islands, an excellent starting point.
– The most suitable time of year.
– Weather during the crossing.
– Choice of the route to follow.
– Stopover in the Cape Verde Islands.
– Final considerations. Efecúe Log In para desbloquear.Este contenido solo está disponible para subscriptores de navegantesoceanicos.com