Anyone headed to st martin from bvi in the next 3 days

[kevins]

Looking for a buddy boat to Cross with. We r at the bitter end

Thx
Lucky seven

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[Zanshin]

Greetings Kevins,

I have vague plans on heading to St. Martin from the BVI (North Sound) in the next couple of days. I've done this trip many times and it invariably "sucks". Most of the time going upwind to St. Martin means motorsailing as with sails up for stability and a bit of propulsion. It is only about 80NM but usually is closer to about 100NM.

Doing buddy boating is a bit difficult on that trip due to differing boat speeds - unlike sailing upwind where different boat types and sizes often do similar speeds this trip's speed is determined by engine RPMs and LWL.

If you don't find anyone just do the trip - it is easy and straightforward, just a long miserable pounding against the waves.

[boatman61]

Winds look pretty light this w/end 3-4... leave before sunset and beat SE till 10am then tack NE and you'll come to SMX mid-late afternoon.. that's the way I usually do it.. buga pounding head on burning fuel..

[Zanshin]

Boatman - we don't know if this is a mono or a cat or what size the vessel is and what speeds she can do under sail and engine, so timing advice is a bit premature.
I usually leave around midnight from the North Sound, I like night passages and the headwinds are usually a bit less at night. I'll stay north of the direct line, winds permitting. That lets me arrive in the afternoon - letting me see and avoid all those nasty fish pots in the shallow waters shy of Anguilla/St. Martin.

[kevins]

Ya. Understood. We have a valiant 40. A little heavy a little slow. Will leave around noon Thur and try to sail part way to st Kitts. Better angle. Winds are a bit NE. Seas are down. Just looking for a smooth ride. No need to get beat up



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[Zanshin]

Kevin - I'm still stuck in the USVI waiting for a shipment of electronic stuff that probably won't arrive until tomorrow afternoon - but I wish you a smooth and uneventful crossing.