Do you have any thoughts on passage planning/routing for a 45 foot Cat from Caribbean to Cape Town to Seychelles. Owner wants to leave June 2009. I am trying to get Jimmy Cornell’s books but would appreciate a specific comment.

Thanks

John

S/Y Amicus

Tortola, BVI

This is not an easy route at all, and there is no logical way to do it. There are two basic options, each with serious disadvantages:

To South Africa direct (or via Azores, Canaries and possibly Cape Verdes) – but you’ll have a fight to make it to Cape Town against the prevailing SE winds in the S. Atlantic (especially in a catamaran). Onwards from Cape Town to Seychelles, it won’t be easy either.

Via Med and Red Sea, but here you have to weigh up the risk of piracy close to Somalia.

You should really get hold of the latest edition (6th) of my World Cruising Routes – and in fact, I am quite surprised that you don’t have it already as it describes all routes that may be of interest to you.

Jimmy Cornell

noonsite

Dear Mr. Cornell,

Thank you very much for your personal reply. I agree entirely. A yacht delivery skipper who has taken a 50-foot cat back (BVI to CT) said once was one time too many.

Since I sent the original question I have bought ROUTES 6th and HANDBOOK 3rd and tried to find the best option. Currently, this is persuade the owner to ship it!

If he insists on sailing the South Atlantic I would recommend waiting ready in December for some sustained northing in the trades, motor sailing SSE as fast as possible and refueling in St. Lucia or even Barbados, then going south as far as possible to get south of the SE trades, fuelling in Brazil if necessary, before striking across with Tristan Da Cunha a possible deviation if far south or St Helena if he is lucky with the trades. Arrives at the Cape late summer.

Please feel free to rubbish this if you consider it a definite no.

My second option would leave April for the Med etc.

Many regards>

John

John,

That route is about the least bad option. Tough but with a lot of fuel, good engines and some luck, it can be done… Not that I (or you!) would do it willingly. Yes, shipping the boat to CT may be the best solution…and if the owner really wants to get to Seychelles, the detour to CT makes no sense at all.

Jimmy