[PUP] routing question

[Eric Grab]

Hi Warren and PUPers,

Regarding crossing from Med to Caribbean: In December 2008 we departed from
Las Palmas. Our planned route took us a bit south, and then we headed west
to Guadeloupe. We were in contact with 5 sailboats on SSB. They all headed
more south before turning west on their way to Martinique. In general they
were following the tradition of keeping a piece of butter out on the counter
and waiting for it to melt. This is supposed to signal when you are going to
get a consistent trade wind push across the Atlantic. They had mixed luck
with that approach. For us we had minimal wind at the start, and it was
great. But things did pick up with squalls and increasing wind. The story of
our passage is on our blog (including daily coordinates) at the following
address: 

http://kosmos.liveflux.net/blog/2009/02/27/start-of-crossing-the-atlantic/. 

In summary it was 2750nm and it took us 20 days. We probably could have
stayed a bit more north and saved a few miles and maybe would have less
wind.

Regarding route planning in general: A tool we used over and over again to
help figure out routes was Visual Passage Planner 2
(http://www.digwave.com/products.htm). Also we learned to be careful with
route planning advice, especially when it was considered "conventional
wisdom". Lots of it came from a sailing perspective. Often we would ask why
a route or port was recommended. The person giving us the advice would have
to stop and think a bit. It was then revealed the advice was based on having
favorable sailing wind, or the assumption that a fuel stop could not be
skipped.

Wishing you no winds and following seas. :-)

--
Eric & Christi Grab
m/y Kosmos http://kosmos.liveflux.net/blog (Nordhavn 43)
San Diego, CA