Comments on: Which Route Westbound Across the Atlantic? http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/ Making it happen Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Daria Blackwell http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-8267 Daria Blackwell Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:18:53 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-8267 Hi Steve, I know it's a bit late for comments but we just returned to Ireland after three Atlantic crossings and came across your page. The northern route is quite intriguing because it was the route taken from Ireland to Newfoundland by Saint Brendan in a currach long before Columbus. A currach is a traditional small open Irish boat made of animal skins. Tim Severin recreated the voyage and wrote a book about it some years ago. We crossed the N Atlantic west to east in July/Aug of 2008 (Halifax to Ireland) and had to deal with 6 gales en route. Our only east to west crossing was the traditional trade winds route (Spain, Portugal, Madeiras, Canaries, Barbados) and it was very slow going in 2009. The Azores high had slid way down and we just kept having to drop further south to find wind. We'll take more wind over no wind any day (we sail a 57 foot ketch double handed). We returned via the Azores in 2010 and had a very nice crossing back. We loved the Azores and vow to return for a circuit of the Atlantic Islands another time. Hi Steve,
I know it’s a bit late for comments but we just returned to Ireland after three Atlantic crossings and came across your page. The northern route is quite intriguing because it was the route taken from Ireland to Newfoundland by Saint Brendan in a currach long before Columbus. A currach is a traditional small open Irish boat made of animal skins. Tim Severin recreated the voyage and wrote a book about it some years ago.

We crossed the N Atlantic west to east in July/Aug of 2008 (Halifax to Ireland) and had to deal with 6 gales en route. Our only east to west crossing was the traditional trade winds route (Spain, Portugal, Madeiras, Canaries, Barbados) and it was very slow going in 2009. The Azores high had slid way down and we just kept having to drop further south to find wind. We’ll take more wind over no wind any day (we sail a 57 foot ketch double handed).

We returned via the Azores in 2010 and had a very nice crossing back. We loved the Azores and vow to return for a circuit of the Atlantic Islands another time.

]]> By: SetSail » Blog Archive » North Atlantic Routing Logic – Part ll http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4858 SetSail » Blog Archive » North Atlantic Routing Logic – Part ll Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:06:03 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4858 [...] we see when ready to depart the UK, we like to get an early jump thinking about various scenarios. For part one of this discussion click here [...] [...] we see when ready to depart the UK, we like to get an early jump thinking about various scenarios. For part one of this discussion click here [...]

]]> By: Skip http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4651 Skip Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:05:43 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4651 While I like your iceland-greenland route, might I suggest the Great Lakes - Chicago - Mississippi trip south? I don't know the airdraft for Windhorse but I'll bet that's a route you've never taken before with one of your sail designs. It also may be the last season that route will be available as the Chicago canal may be permanantly closed because of the asian carp. Easy access to air travel. Out of most hurricane problems. Quick access to Carribean in the fall. just a thought While I like your iceland-greenland route, might I suggest the Great Lakes – Chicago – Mississippi trip south? I don’t know the airdraft for Windhorse but I’ll bet that’s a route you’ve never taken before with one of your sail designs. It also may be the last season that route will be available as the Chicago canal may be permanantly closed because of the asian carp. Easy access to air travel. Out of most hurricane problems. Quick access to Carribean in the fall. just a thought

]]> By: marroque http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4648 marroque Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:53:35 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4648 Steve, Just want to say have a safe trip. Steve,
Just want to say have a safe trip.

]]> By: Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4606 Steve Dashew Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:44:23 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4606 Hi Roger: Your suggested route is typically close to the Canaries, although we could easily power through the center of the high rather than under it if it is further north. The sea state and wind angles are apt to be much more comfortable, and warm. But the distance is a lot longer. Under sail this would be the logical route. But the FPB gives us the option of having a pleasant trip when it is cold outside, and making an efficient trip to weather, which in terms opens up the option of the direct or northern route, making the decision process more complex. Hi Roger:
Your suggested route is typically close to the Canaries, although we could easily power through the center of the high rather than under it if it is further north. The sea state and wind angles are apt to be much more comfortable, and warm. But the distance is a lot longer. Under sail this would be the logical route. But the FPB gives us the option of having a pleasant trip when it is cold outside, and making an efficient trip to weather, which in terms opens up the option of the direct or northern route, making the decision process more complex.

]]> By: Roger Arrowood http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4604 Roger Arrowood Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:41:51 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4604 Steve, I haven't looked at the great circle route, but have you considered getting south of the lows that sweep across the North Atlantic and then transitting the Bermuda High direct to the Bahamas instead of going south to pick up the trades? I know that the High's position is seasonal and varies each year but now that you've abandoned sails your southern route may not have to go quite so far south. Cheers, Roger Arrowood Steve,
I haven’t looked at the great circle route, but have you considered getting south of the lows that sweep across the North Atlantic and then transitting the Bermuda High direct to the Bahamas instead of going south to pick up the trades? I know that the High’s position is seasonal and varies each year but now that you’ve abandoned sails your southern route may not have to go quite so far south.
Cheers,
Roger Arrowood

]]> By: Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4607 Steve Dashew Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:45:38 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4607 Hi Dave and Gerhard: We have long wanted to visit the Azores, and this could be the year. It is a definite consideration, although considerably longer in distance than the northern route. Hi Dave and Gerhard:
We have long wanted to visit the Azores, and this could be the year. It is a definite consideration, although considerably longer in distance than the northern route.

]]> By: Steve Dashew http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4652 Steve Dashew Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:50:45 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4652 Thanks for the kind offer Hafsteinn: If we head that way we will certainly contact you. Thanks for the kind offer Hafsteinn:
If we head that way we will certainly contact you.

]]> By: Hafsteinn Saemundsson http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4615 Hafsteinn Saemundsson Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:50:04 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4615 Dear Steve and Linda I hope you come to Iceland.Should you do so I can be of assistance to you, because I have been sailing in these waters for over a quarter of a century.I also have all the pilot and chart information you might need.Collecting old pilots and sea charts is a hobby of mine. Hafsteinn Saemundsson MD Dear Steve and Linda
I hope you come to Iceland.Should you do so I can be of assistance to you, because I have been sailing in these waters for over a quarter of a century.I also have all the pilot and chart information you might need.Collecting old pilots and sea charts is a hobby of mine.
Hafsteinn Saemundsson MD

]]> By: Gerhard http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/comment-page-1/#comment-4588 Gerhard Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:26:49 +0000 http://setsail.com/which-route-westbound-across-the-atlantic/#comment-4588 From the Canarias (my wife's 2nd home) you can fly every day to Madrid (3h), London or Frankfurt (4h). From there to US is not a problem. In Frankfurt I can support you (my home town). The coast of portugal can be very crowdy ... but in the South is more SUN. Have a good and secure trip. From the Canarias (my wife’s 2nd home) you can fly every day to Madrid (3h), London or Frankfurt (4h). From there to US is not a problem. In Frankfurt I can support you (my home town).

The coast of portugal can be very crowdy … but in the South is more SUN.
Have a good and secure trip.

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