Atlantic Ocean outlook - September update
by Noonsite 4 Oct 2024 01:45 PDT
Atlantic Ocean © noonsite.com
Channel Islands: To the French author Victor Hugo, the Channel Islands are like 'little bits of France dropped into the sea and picked up by Britain'. An archipelago in the English Channel off the Normandy coast of France, they are divided into two British crown dependencies, the Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey. Assistant Harbourmaster with Guernsey Ports, Kieran Higgs, describes the abundance of anchorages that cruising boats can enjoy around the islands in this report.
Iberian Peninsula: Orcas have been busy this month off the coast of southern Galicia as many yachts transit past heading south for the Canary Islands. Smoke-filled skies and blazing sunsets would also have characterised their passage this month as northern and central Portugal were engulfed by wildfires in the first half of September, leading to widespread destruction and the deaths of at least seven people.
Canary Islands: Due to the popularity of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands as a departure point for boats undertaking an Atlantic Crossing, the Port Authority has created a temporary anchorage area exclusively for small craft that will be in place for one month from October 25 to November 25. This is welcome news and will greatly ease the burden on space here due to the ARC rallies that depart during November.
Skippers en-route to the Canary Islands should be aware that a record 126% increase in migrant boats arriving from Africa has been recorded this year, with 22,300 migrants arriving since the beginning of the year from Mali, Morocco, Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania.
This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com.