Advice on Roatan to Santanillas or Islas del Cisne , Honduras

[GinTonic]

We plan to sail from Roatan to San Andres / Providencia come November . The idea to tackle the easterly winds is to sail up 160 NMN to Islas de Cisne or Santanilla , anchor for a day or two and then head SSE to Providencia.

Any advice on this route and anchoring is greatly appreciated

[model 10]

I'm pretty chicken and I don't think you need to go that far offshore for safety. The Vivarillos Cays are closer in and have a good anchorage too.

[GinTonic]

Thanks I was concerned also about the prevailing winds in NOvmeber , seems like if I head straith to vivorillos it will be burning diesel and no sail

[model 10]

I guess you are talking about late NOvember because hurricanes form in that area in early November. We were anchored in the Vivarillos early in November and one formed (Ida) in about 3 days just below San Andres and came our way. We split but the fishing boats stayed. We missed it by 8 hours sailing to the west at our best speed ever. November, December the wind is changing all the time so you could wait for something you like in Roatan and not have to motor to the Vivarillos.

[belizesailor]

In November you will still be bashing into the trade winds to get to Santillas from Roatan (winds almost certainly from E or NE). Wait till hurricane season is really over and then the cold fronts will start. You can play the fronts to get east.

Santillas are interesting, and the lonely souls relegated to duty there really appreaciate the company, but there is no all weather anchorage there (unlike Roatan).

Pilot Chart clip for November attached.

[GALAWA]

We sailed from Roatan to Providentia in December 2016 aboard our 44' catamaran
We first sailed from Roatan to Guanaja , which IMHO is nicer than Roatan and worth a visit.
Winds blowing generally from North East in December, we left Guanaja at 4 PM,
sailed straight on a port tack, passed cabo Gracias a Dios the second night, close to the shore, with AIS transmitter OFF and navigation lights OFF to dodge the pirates which are unfortunately active around this cape, and reached Providentia after 40 hours at an average 9 knots+

In other circumstances we dropped anchor in the western lee of Swan Island- Santanilla, when sailing from Cuba to Guatemala This was a usefull rest , but other wise we found little to do in this island. IMHO this anchorage is not worth beating 160 miles (or worse tacking 320 milles) against the NE trade winds which prevail in early winter.