Cruising to the Bahamas

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by gillettij

Chuckr would you recommend an inexpensive handheld device.

What do you do?; just put it on scan and wait for transmissions from people that are talking about sailing to the Bahamas?

Hopefully, this doesn't sound like a stupid question; because I DO wish to travel in a flotilla for obvious reasons.

thanks

we put an 802 on board a lot of years ago -- there are designated cruiser nets - I have not been in that area for a while but cruizheimers net is a basic Bahamas/East Coast net that meets on 8.152 at 0830 each day -
and of course you can also get weather by listening to Chris Parker in the morning - you will have to go on line to see the times Chris broadcast and the frequency -

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by gillettij

Chuckr would you recommend an inexpensive handheld device.

What do you do?; just put it on scan and wait for transmissions from people that are talking about sailing to the Bahamas?

Hopefully, this doesn't sound like a stupid question; because I DO wish to travel in a flotilla for obvious reasons.

thanks

Gillettij -- missed the part of the "flotilla for obvious reasons" - not sure what that means - we have never been part of a flotilla but some times hook up for a trip or month or two with various boats - part of the fun of all this at least to us is meeting other boats and other people and learning from them or vice versa helping them out -
we have made long term friends out here and stay in touch even through we have not seen each other in a while and are in different parts of the world -
We do know people who get in a crowd and stay there and venture beyond a small circle of boats - if we run into folks like that we stay on the fringe and yes we socialize with them but we still do our own thing and never on a group think thing -
and what is most amazing is pulling into a port or anchorage and hearing or seeing an old friend sail in or being there -

is there safety in numbers - you will have to judge that on your own - we sailed a lot on our own and last year we did the entire Black Sea with no one around - now that is isolated but wow what a trip - think about sailing into Russia - we would have never gotten there if we had waited for others

[Cormorant]

Some sailors will tell you that sailing in a group, or with a buddy boat, is more trouble than it's worth. Especially for crossing the Gulf Stream. There will be differences in boat speed and slight differences in course. You could wind up focusing more on the other boat than on sailing your boat optimally.

It's fine to go alone. The crossing is relatively short. There will be other boats out there in a good weather window. And the USCG has large VHF antennas covering the whole way across, so your (hypothetical) distress call will not go unheeded.

Also, just for peace of mind, be sure to have a DSC VHF -- your (hypothetical!) distress call, including precise GPS coordinates, then goes to all surrounding boats as well.

[gillettij]

Originally Posted by chuckr

Gillettij -- missed the part of the "flotilla for obvious reasons" - not sure what that means - we have never been part of a flotilla but some times hook up for a trip or month or two with various boats - part of the fun of all this at least to us is meeting other boats and other people and learning from them or vice versa helping them out -
we have made long term friends out here and stay in touch even through we have not seen each other in a while and are in different parts of the world -
We do know people who get in a crowd and stay there and venture beyond a small circle of boats - if we run into folks like that we stay on the fringe and yes we socialize with them but we still do our own thing and never on a group think thing -
and what is most amazing is pulling into a port or anchorage and hearing or seeing an old friend sail in or being there -

is there safety in numbers - you will have to judge that on your own - we sailed a lot on our own and last year we did the entire Black Sea with no one around - now that is isolated but wow what a trip - think about sailing into Russia - we would have never gotten there if we had waited for others

I really appreciate these comments and they are very valid!
thanks

[gillettij]

Originally Posted by Cormorant

Some sailors will tell you that sailing in a group, or with a buddy boat, is more trouble than it's worth. Especially for crossing the Gulf Stream. There will be differences in boat speed and slight differences in course. You could wind up focusing more on the other boat than on sailing your boat optimally.

It's fine to go alone. The crossing is relatively short. There will be other boats out there in a good weather window. And the USCG has large VHF antennas covering the whole way across, so your (hypothetical) distress call will not go unheeded.

Also, just for peace of mind, be sure to have a DSC VHF -- your (hypothetical!) distress call, including precise GPS coordinates, then goes to all surrounding boats as well.

Very quality information thanks, I am no longer thinking about a flotilla!