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This is the most common route for either 'Round-the-Worlders',
or South African yachts en route to the Caribbean or Europe.
The sail can be extremely pleasant as the wind will be off
the starboard quarter once the trades are encountered.
The
best time for the crossing is in the summer months.
A
few suggestions:
Stock
up with supplies very well in Cape Town, or other South
African cities, as prices on the islands are high and stocks
are limited. The direct route from Cape Town to St Helena
Island is approx. 1700 miles, but it keeps you in a rather
busy shipping route (Cape Town to New York).
A more northerly departure than Cape Town, with a southerly
wind forecast, will keep one away from this shipping lane.
There
are three seamounts close to a direct route that one should
be aware of. Rough weather the area around the shallowest
of these creates turbulent seas. These banks are close to
each other, but the one of particular concern is Valdivia
Bank with a least depth of 23m (rising out of depths of
5,000m plus). The others are 115m and 163m.
The
position of Valdivia Bank is 25deg. 55'. S, 5deg. 30'. E.
There are often many fishing factory ships and fleets in
the vicinity. St Helena is free from offshore dangers if
a reasonable distance is kept to sea. It can be rounded
either way, but a northern approach to the anchorage off
Jamestown will keep one in the windless lee of the island
for the shortest period.
St Helena can often be seen on a clear day from about 70
miles away. There is a delightful medium wave communal radio
station (1548kHz) that can be heard about 250 miles from
the island.
The
"Cape to Caribbean" Cruising Guide details the arrival at
St Helena with photos, chart details, anchorages, immigration
details, places of interest, etc. The guide continues in
great detail to cover the other Atlantic islands and includes
everything a cruiser needs to know about the route and making
landfall in Brazil. It also supplies highly sought-after
details on Brazilian ports and approaches, offshore islands,
weather information, chart details, etc., right up to Tobago
and Trinidad. The guide features good quality photographs
and descriptions, chart references and diagrams to assist
cruisers.
For
full details see "Cape to Caribbean" Cruising Notes by Tony
Herrick http://www.cruiser.co.za/tony.asp
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