Yachting World — February 2018

that can develop very quickly in the Med; in
the relatively confined and shallow waters they
produce seas of biblical proportions within a
very short time. Modern forecasting allows the
monitoring of swell and wave patterns to find
favourable sailing conditions all year round.
Back out into the Atlantic you can head
offshore to the precipitous and dramatic
islands of Madeira, or continue a continental
coastal hop. Until recently, the Atlantic coast of
Morocco was becoming increasingly popular.
Since the Arab Spring of 2011 fewer yachts
have been taking this route.
All routes then lead to the Canary Islands.
These can be cruised year round. From here
it usually pays to head southwards to pick
up the tradewinds. Again, you have cruising
options. The hurricane risk in the Cape Verdes
is considered to be over by October and is very
low anyway, which means you can leave the
Canaries earlier than if you were planning
to head straight to the Caribbean. Though

The San Blas islands of Panama lie

outside the hurricane zone and are

jewels of cruising grounds

The Bahamas make a pleasant

hop before heading to the USA

coast and connecting with the

Intracoastal Waterway

The Azores

are a popular

staging post

OVER

1,000

SAILING YACHTS CROSS

THE ATLANTIC

EVERY YEAR

i

Reinhard Dirscherl / Alamy

February 2018 97