Around November hundreds of sailboats are concentrated in the Canarian ports to undertake one of these voyages of at least once in your life where you too can embark.
Crossing the Atlantic under sail: a challenge cherished by every sailor worth his salt and affordable, too, as “mere mortals” with a thirst for adventure. From well into October, and finished the season in the Mediterranean, hundreds of sailboats with flags disparate van leaning against the Canarian ports in preparation for the great ocean crossings toward the Caribbean, often undertaken during November. It is time to finalize the development of ships, supply ships and stow everything needed for at least two weeks of sailing and, in many cases, crews completed.
They are also hundreds of adventurers every year around this time arrive in the Canaries looking to be admitted on board in exchange for guards and participate in sharing the work of the voyage as a crew more. Some experience as a navigator and minimal handling at least the English are usually good qualities to take a chance and thus cross the Pond for free or for a small fee to contribute to core costs.
Even if you are not the work left to the fortune to participate in such a trip and want to make sure both the travel plaza as authentic “sea dogs”, you can always call the boat rental companies that carry these Sailing dates its operations to the Caribbean and which offer them a small number of cabins for passengers, even without any previous experience, will have to act as a boy involved in all tasks of the seafaring life.
Shall, from the Canary Islands, two to three weeks when pushed forward by the trade winds on the back of the long Atlantic waves under the tropical sun, across 3,000 nautical miles almost perfect to address these months without, in principle, large good risks from storms and sea almost assured.
Long days without seeing land, alone with the ocean, where the guard duty at the helm or as domestic affairs and as vital as while cooking or cleaning the boat left countless hours to read, to clear the mind and spirit to those horizons by diaphanous rarely overlook other boats, to try his luck with the rod and try to catch some tuna with that prepare the freshest sushi to co-voyage and enjoy the unique atmosphere generated between participants in this truly exceptional experience, at least once in their life, no one should miss.
And notes that, if you can not organize it this year, in spring, usually in May, most of these yachts embark on the journey back to the Mediterranean and there and really do not have any excuse.
Some clues
The Atlantic Rally for Cruises rather than an actual race is an annual voyage that starts in November from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, which incorporates over 200 yachts up to make the ocean crossing in a way more secure since, apart from the strict security measures that are required for each boat to join them, the presence of marine experts in many boats is always a guarantee for novice sailors.
This year will leave on 22 November and ship owners who wish to join they can contact the organization for information on requirements and fees, while those who want to try their luck looking for a place in any of these boats is recommended that you arrive Las Palmas at least ten days before departure to allow enough time to go see what might need an extra crew member.
If you have your own boat and want to make sure the power to participate in the trip, you can contact rental companies take their sailing vessels operating in the Caribbean as Aproaches (Telp: 915 91 34 52 and 932 25 02 66), this year part with the Zulu, a lovely yacht with four double cabins for passengers since its launch in 2005, has crossed the Atlantic seven times. This time will sail from the Canary Islands on November 8 and is scheduled to arrive in Martinique, with a stopover in St. Lucia, the 29th. The price of adventure is 3,500 € per person plus about 40 € / day for the common fund for food and fuel and mooring costs, not including air travel.
The return trip can be done entirely from the British Virgin Islands with a stop in the Azores, to Torrevieja (between 7 and 30 May 2010, € 2,500 plus the amount of the pool), or by installments: Virgin Islands-Azores (between 7 and 21 May for € 2,000) and Azores-Torrevieja (between 30 May and 6 June, € 800).