November Sailing – Sail me to the sun

Classic Sailing suggestions for sailing in November

If you live in the dark, wet Northern hemisphere you could hide under the duvet with a box of chocolates, cringe at every howling gale and pop a penny in Seamans Mission charity collection, but its not your only option.

Even though the planet’s climate is now very unpredictable, there is a seasonal pattern to the ocean crossings. You might want to sail in the Caribbean in November, but it is still technically the hurricane season on the Caribbean side of the North Atlantic. The succession of autumn storms and tail ends of hurricanes scurry across the ocean in latitudes that include the UK and Biscay.

November is the time when ocean going sailing ships re-position themselves by sailing South to the Iberian Peninsula, Canaries or Cape Verde. Late December or early January is typically the time for trade wind, blue water crossings to the Caribbean, or even diagonally across the Atlantic to South America or the Falklands.

November Sailing – Get me to the Sun

Island hopping in the Canaries is one option in November. Flights are relatively cheap if you are time poor and the climate is usually t shirt weather, and considerably more daylight hours than staying at home if you are a British, Scandinavian, Canadian, or EU sailor. If you want tropical Cape Verde – see December voyages.

Honestly a winter sun holiday based on a sailing ship is the best way to see this popular island archipelago. Away from the resorts, the skies are star studded and the mountainous volcanic islands create both flat calm and katabatic wild winds for fast sailing. Whales breed off La Gomera and Tenerife and many cetaceans migrate through the Canaries. Swimming off the boat in 3000ft of ocean is awesome. Ashore trekking in the pine forests and mountain ridges in shorts in November would rejuvenate any outdoor enthusiast.

November Sailing – Big Wave Hunters

If you want an epic offshore adventure and the chance to ride the big ocean swell, then you don’t have to travel to Cape Horn. Any ocean journey at this time of year heading out into the North Atlantic or Bay of Biscay can experience proper ocean swell. The fetch of 3000 miles uninterrupted by land creates impressive waves that then meet the continental shelf of Europe and push up even higher. In between the depressions you can have mild, sunny days with empty horizons.

Head for Sydney or Auckland – Its summer in November

At the moment we are lucky to have tall ships sailing around the world, so why not join them in Sydney, Auckland, Tasmania. Classic Sailing will always endeavour to find sailing partners offering adventures in the Southern Hemisphere.