Portsmouth to the Canaries – an Atlantic Sailing Adventure

Sail away from the UK, out of the Solent, down the busy English Channel and then South across the Bay of Biscay to warmer climes and your destination: Gran Canaria in the Canaries!

For anyone wishing to do some serious offshore sailing, build miles, or just escape to the high seas this will be just the trip for you. Joining the yacht on 25th October in Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth you will soon cast off to put the UK Autumn firmly astern.

Conditions around the English Channel and Biscay can be challenging at this time of year but once past Biscay you can expect the wind to be more from behind and the days to get warmer and warmer.

The distance is approximately 1530 miles and will take around 10 days or so.

Challenger Takes on the Challenges

The yacht is an extremely sound steel Challenger 72, built to sail around the world (a feat it has accomplished twice!). She will be specked to the very highest Maritime and Coastguard Agency requirements – this means that not only will she be structurally well up to the voyage but she will have a large amount of safety gear on board including liferafts, lifejackets fitted with AIS, an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and an extensive medical kit.

Depending on the weather and progress of the voyage you may well pull into Cascais in Portugal (likely but not guaranteed).

There should, on arrival at Canaries, be plenty of time to have a good look around before departing the yacht on 10th November. If you are staying on to do the ARC you are welcome to remain on the yacht until the other crew members join on the 16th November.

For more details on the voyage have a look here: Biscay Adventure Call 0203 006 3717

Posted by: First Class Sailing