Routes and safety Sailing to South America from Tx

DanDMan · #1 (**permalink**) 05-20-2010

I am learning to sail. Once I get some proficiency I want to sail from Houston Tx to Brazil.

As I like to plan well ahead I was hopeing from some suggestions.

My questions:
What route might be best?

Should I avoid cuba? Avoid Hatti(as cost guard is there to keep earth quake from fleeing their country?

How long does it take to make the trip. Is this something I can do in a month?

What is the best time of year to make the trip?

If my experience is not enough, How might I locate someone sailing down there and get onboard to help out. Perhaps, a payed learning trip?

wind_magic · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

I hope somebody who knows can give you some good replies, Danda, I'd like to know the answers to these questions myself.

From what I understand going east out of the lower islands towards the eastern tip of South America is a long beat into the waves and wind, but I don't have a lot of details about that, I have just heard it isn't how most people want to spend a few weeks. But then that makes it even more interesting, doesn't it ? Because it means few people head off in that direction!

wind_magic · #3 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

Here is where I read that it was a beat to windward ...

Atom voyages | Back to Brazil

Edit,

Here is his route ...

DanDMan · #4 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

Wow, so I'd have to sail to that clockwise direction to go with the wind? I might have to take a personal leave of work to have enough time to do that.

I would love to talk to someone who has made the trip.

Freesail99 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

Do you have a blue water boat? With limited sailing ability I wouldn't make this trip but if I did, I would hug the coastline down Texas and into Mexico and beyond.

DanDMan · #6 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

I have yet to buy my own boat.

Yea, hugging the coast line was a thought I had. I just did not know if there were danger in doing this.

I really think I might just try to find someone to sail me down there, renting a boat. Then I can learn as we go. Where or how do I locate a skipper that might do something like this?

Freesail99 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanDMan

I have yet to buy my own boat.

Yea, hugging the coast line was a thought I had. I just did not know if there were danger in doing this.

I really think I might just try to find someone to sail me down there, renting a boat. Then I can learn as we go. Where or how do I locate a skipper that might do something like this?

Buy a boat before you start looking for a skipper. You are putting the cart before the horse......

wind_magic · #8 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freesail99

Buy a boat before you start looking for a skipper. You are putting the cart before the horse......

Free, I think he means a charter.

Freesail99 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

Yes I think you may be right, thanks

RainDog · #10 (**permalink**) 05-21-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanDMan

I really think I might just try to find someone to sail me down there, renting a boat. Then I can learn as we go. Where or how do I locate a skipper that might do something like this?

If you do not mind going the other direction, this would work: Cruise the Northwest Passage / March - November 2011

Leg 2 is Rio to Halifax.