Once clear of that danger-zone, skippers will try to work their yachts far enough offshore to catch the northerly trades associated with the Azores High without getting caught in the light winds at its centre. Of equal concern is avoiding fluky winds in the lee of the north African coast. According to Rice, the ITCZ is best regarded as a climatic feature. There is no way to avoid it. Fortunately for modern sailors, their equipment has improved beyond the imagination of the first adventurers to cross the line .
Rice notes that satellite imagery helps an awful lot to pick the best crossing point.
Too close to the African coast, and the affect of land on the trade winds produces light and fluky air. Too far towards the Brazilian Coast, around Recife, and persistent northerly winds create havoc for skippers on their return leg up the Atlantic. Somewhere in the middle usually results in a good crossing, and regions showing a lot of cloud are regarded as best. Plenty of cloud along this zone also indicates squall activity, and while there is no wind underneath these miniature storms, there is plenty of it all around and careful skippers can leap from one to another, aiding their crossing. Of course, multihulls find it much easier to slingshot off weather systems, but the Open 60s used in the Vendee Globe will also gain from these thunderstorms in the doldrums.