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Old 11-03-2018, 09:50   #1
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Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Currently about 10 miles or so offshore just north of marathon.

How far off do we need to be in order to take advantage of the current.

On my way to andros.

Thinking about heading due East at this point but also considering following the keys a little further north and then shooting over.

Thanks,

Steve
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Old 11-03-2018, 11:08   #2
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Once outside the reef, you should be in the stream at 500 feet depth, but keep sailing diagonally across the stream, it should be 8 to 10 miles wide. South bound tankers will be right on the edge, north bound will be in the middle

The approximate location of the west wall of the Gulf Stream as
of Mar 10, 2018 at 1200 UTC...

7 nautical miles northeast of Fowey Rocks.
11 nautical miles southeast of Port Everglades.
14 nautical miles east southeast of Lake Worth.
14 nautical miles east southeast of Jupiter Inlet.
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Old 11-03-2018, 11:19   #3
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Quote:
Originally Posted by flyingfin View Post
Once outside the reef, you should be in the stream at 500 feet depth, but keep sailing diagonally across the stream, it should be 8 to 10 miles wide. South bound tankers will be right on the edge, north bound will be in the middle

The approximate location of the west wall of the Gulf Stream as
of Mar 10, 2018 at 1200 UTC...

7 nautical miles northeast of Fowey Rocks.
11 nautical miles southeast of Port Everglades.
14 nautical miles east southeast of Lake Worth.
14 nautical miles east southeast of Jupiter Inlet.
We hit current almost immediately getting out. Just kept changing the auto pilot and crabbing along.
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Old 11-03-2018, 11:35   #4
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Steve,
As of yesterday:

The Approximate Shoreward Edge of the Gulf Stream current, as of March 10.

49 NM South of Dry Tortugas Light...on Loggerhead Key.
1 NM South of Cosgrove Shoal Light...off the Marquesas Keys.
1 NM South of Sand Key Light...off Key West.
6 NM South of Looe Key...off Big Pine Key.
2 NM South of Sombrero Key Light...off Marathon.
4 NM Southeast of Alligator Reef Light...off Islamorada.
6 NM Southeast of Molasses Reef Light...off Key Largo.
4 NM East of Carysfort Reef Light...off Ocean Reef.
7 nautical miles northeast of Fowey Rocks.
11 nautical miles southeast of Port Everglades

Gulf Stream Information Courtesy of the Naval Oceanographic Office.


This information is transmitted along with the Coastal Marine Weather Forecasts from the NOAA VHF Weather stations 24/7 (where the Gulf Stream is within VHF range, such as all of the east coast of FL and the Keys)
I hope you have a working VHF radio on-board...'cuz that's gonna be way more important than the internet...

For this area / crossing:

WWG60 on 162.450mhz Wx 5
WNG663 on 162.425 Wx 4
WZ2531 on 162.500 Wx 6
KHB34 on 162.550 Wx 1




FYI, a quick look shows the main axis of the Stream in its usual position, just east of 80*W Long...and down there its currently running about 1.5 to 2kts...(perhaps as slow as 1kt), but also remember that although "the stream" can be 50 miles wide, this central axis is only 10 to 20 miles wide, at best...and outside of the central axis, the current may be only 1/2 to 3/4 kt..


Fair winds..

John
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Old 11-03-2018, 12:11   #5
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

NOAA reports the GS and have a pretty good graphic: https://www.weather.gov/images/key/gulfstream.png
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Old 11-03-2018, 16:44   #6
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Windyty provides a current overlay:

https://www.windy.com/overlays?curre....884,-80.009,9
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Old 11-03-2018, 18:47   #7
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Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

[QUOTE=getyourbone;2594362]Currently about 10 miles or so offshore just north of marathon.



How far off do we need to be in order to take advantage of the current.



On my way to andros.



Thinking about heading due East at this point but also considering following the keys a little further north and then shooting over.



Thanks,
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Old 14-03-2018, 18:49   #8
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Thanks for all replys!

Well we made it across and hit land at billy Island...extreme western most point about midway along Andros west coast.

Took about 32 hours poking along as slow as we do. Hit 2 good squalls that came in hard and fast. 2-4’s most of the way with some 3-6’s would be my best guess in the early morning hours. Surfed the last 30 miles with quite the winds and wave on our tail.

Sea turtles all over the place off of William island next to billy island...go figure...? No other boat or person in sight. Seems like it is pretty remote.

We anchored at high tide which turned out to be about 2 feet of water at low tide (1983 Proust Snowgoose 37) so we had to wait a bit to move to little more protected spot for a 2nd night.

Now anchored about a mile off shore from on the west side near Reds bay. Again water only 3 feet deep.

Thanks again! We are brand new to this sailing thing so need all the help we can get at times. Our only other “real sail” was a 20 hr run from Marco island to key west a couple of weeks ago.

Steve
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Old 14-03-2018, 20:10   #9
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

The wonders of the internet.....newbies getting guided across the Gulf Stream by CF....
Best wishes Steve, enjoy the Bahamas!! They are not as remote as you think!! Watch out for those bommies on the yellow banks!!!!
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Old 14-03-2018, 23:41   #10
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Quote:
Originally Posted by getyourbone View Post
Thanks for all replys!

Well we made it across and hit land at billy Island...extreme western most point about midway along Andros west coast.

Took about 32 hours poking along as slow as we do. Hit 2 good squalls that came in hard and fast. 2-4’s most of the way with some 3-6’s would be my best guess in the early morning hours. Surfed the last 30 miles with quite the winds and wave on our tail.

Sea turtles all over the place off of William island next to billy island...go figure...? No other boat or person in sight. Seems like it is pretty remote.

We anchored at high tide which turned out to be about 2 feet of water at low tide (1983 Proust Snowgoose 37) so we had to wait a bit to move to little more protected spot for a 2nd night.

Now anchored about a mile off shore from on the west side near Reds bay. Again water only 3 feet deep.

Thanks again! We are brand new to this sailing thing so need all the help we can get at times. Our only other “real sail” was a 20 hr run from Marco island to key west a couple of weeks ago.

Steve


Nice, are you going to work you way around the south end or through the middle?
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Old 15-03-2018, 03:48   #11
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Would absolutely love to try to go through the middle of Andros but wife not up to it so I think we are headed to chub key to check in. Our 5 year old daughter is driving us crazy to break out her 2 foot long Frozen(as in the cartoon movie) fishing pole. Probably should get a fishing license before doing that. She also has been bugging us to pick up trash on the beach to save the sea turtles...interesting what is on kids radar these days.
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Old 15-03-2018, 05:29   #12
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Consider checking in at Morgan's bluff on the Northern tip of Andros for a more Bahamian experience. If you're looking for an expensive comfortable marina then Chubb may be your best bet. Wind direction can play a roll in that decision
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Old 15-03-2018, 05:38   #13
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

next time try using weather type sites like NOAA or Passage Weather and get the answer right then
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Old 15-03-2018, 06:48   #14
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

Thanks for the heads up...We also just realized that chub cay does not look like our scene...

Bums on a boat recently posted a vid about clearing in Morgan’s bluff so that is what we are going to do.

Wife just downloaded the form off the internet(very slow connection using btc but unlimited and free with our t-mobile plan and dug the printer out of who knows where. I think I will dinghy from our anchorage near at Cross Keys to the landing on the west side of Andros near Red bays. Take the folding bike into town and see if I can catch a ride or taxi to Morgan’s bluff.
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Old 15-03-2018, 06:49   #15
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Re: Gulf Stream distance off fl keys

https://bumsonaboat.com/video-log/
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