Caribbean sailors--Swell Alert

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

just thought I'd report that according to someone in Simpson Lagoon /St. Maarten...the bridge is closed for repairs indefinitely .

I found out today that is because of the wind. Apparently the bridge is closed (ie not opened) when the wind is gusting above 25 kts. In the last few days its been over 30 in some mooments.

Also I understand there are 2 charters sitting on the expensive supa-mega-yachts going nowhere! Oh how the rich suffer!

[camaraderie]

Apparently the bridge went up this AM...all clear!

[SFV CAMI]

Hello sailors. the weather seems preety bad for crossing to St. Maarten. has anyone cross recently.

[Hud3]

It's been pretty rough recently, but the wind and swells are forecasted to be light during the latter half of this week.

Go for it.

[SFV CAMI]

Thank you. Leaving on Wenesday.

[avazquez]

PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS

AMZ700-092230-
434 AM AST WED APR 9 2008

.SYNOPSIS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS...
A BROAD 1019 MB SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER THE WEST
CENTRAL ATLANTIC WILL CONTINUE TO DRIFT SLOWLY SOUTHEAST AND
WEAKEN THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK...RESULTING IN A GRADUAL DECREASE
IN WINDS AND SEAS ACROSS THE REGIONAL WATERS. HOWEVER...SEAS WILL BUILD
AGAIN ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND CARIBBEAN PASSAGES FRIDAY
NIGHT INTO SATURDAY...AS LONG PERIOD NORTH NORTHEAST SWELLS BEGIN
TO AFFECT THE LOCAL WATERS.


AMZ720-092230-
/O.ROU.TJSJ.MA.F.0000.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
ATLC NEAR SHORE WATERS FROM MOUTH OF RIO GUAJATACA E TO CABO SAN
JUAN CONTINUING E-NE TO ANEGADA OUT TO 100 FATHOMS-
434 AM AST WED APR 9 2008

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION...

.TODAY...EAST SOUTHEAST WINDS 13 TO 18 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.
ISOLATED SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...EAST WINDS 12 TO 17 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. ISOLATED
SHOWERS.
.THURSDAY...EAST WINDS 11 TO 16 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...EAST WINDS 9 TO 14 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 5 FEET IN
NORTHEAST SWELLS.
.FRIDAY...EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 9 TO 14 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 5 FEET IN
NORTHEAST SWELLS.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 11 TO 16 KNOTS. SEAS 5 FEET IN
NORTHEAST SWELLS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.
.SATURDAY...EAST WINDS 12 TO 17 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 6 FEET IN NORTHEAST
SWELLS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.
.SUNDAY...EAST WINDS 14 TO 19 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 5 FEET IN NORTHEAST
SWELLS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

$$

AMZ730-092230-
/O.ROU.TJSJ.MA.F.0000.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
CARIB WATERS FROM PUNTA VIENTO TO CABO SAN JUAN S TO 17N AND E TO
64W INCLUDING THE CARIB WATERS OF CULEBRA VIEQUES AND THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS-
434 AM AST WED APR 9 2008

...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION...

.TODAY...EAST WINDS 13 TO 18 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. ISOLATED
SHOWERS.
.TONIGHT...EAST WINDS 13 TO 18 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. ISOLATED
SHOWERS.
.THURSDAY...EAST WINDS 13 TO 18 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 5 FEET. ISOLATED
SHOWERS.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 11 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO
5 FEET IN EAST NORTHEAST SWELLS.
.FRIDAY...EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 11 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO 5 FEET IN
EAST NORTHEAST SWELLS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 13 TO 18 KNOTS. SEAS 4 TO
5 FEET IN EAST NORTHEAST SWELLS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.
.SATURDAY...EAST NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 6 FEET IN
NORTHEAST SWELLS.
.SUNDAY...EAST WINDS 16 TO 21 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 6 FEET IN NORTHEAST
SWELLS. ISOLATED SHOWERS.

[SFV CAMI]

Thank you for the report. It seems my boss sold the boat so we are heading back to San Juan for delivery. Looking for a new boat, until then I'm on vacation.

[harryrezz]

Was there! We were in the Tobago Keys when we heard for forcast so we headed south. Saltwhistle Bay on Mayreau was deserted when we passed - very large swells in there already. We continued south down the western shore of Union Island and into Chatham Bay - usually very calm. We anchored about 100 yd. off the beach, and the swells coming around the corner and into the bay were the largest I've ever seen there. The surf was breaking well off the beach (usually very calm), going all the way up the beach and crossing into the treeline! I've never seen that! We decided to move on out, and went into a very sheltered area on the south coast of the island behine a penninsula known as Frigate Rock. there was a bit of a swell, but nothing serious. Just to be safe, however, we anchored about 30 yd off the beach and I put out the stern anchor to hold us just in case.
We took a trip to town to check out (we planned to leave early the next morning) and saw a large cruise ship anchored in an unusual place. We were told that the Captain had been advised not to go north because of the impending conditions ... and we're talking a large, full-fledged cruise ship! They were talking about 30 to 40 foot swells!
After a quiet night we did head on south the Carruacou and our home port in Tyrrel Bay. It was 2/3 empty as several of the regulars had gone into the mangroves to escape the forcasted swells. Once again, and this was "the day after", the surf was breaking well off shore, crossing the entire beach and smashing afainst the wall along the road - something I had never seen. Even though things settled down over the next few days, we still had a most unusual residual swell for nearly a week, making it difficult to go ashore.
The ferry service between Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique was suspended for a day, and then used a different landing place for three days afterward until the landing in Hillsborough settled enough to use.
We heard reports of seeral piers and docks being washed away farther north, and even had reports of such damage on Grenada itself.
Conditions in our area were not as severe as forcasted, but it was certainly more severe than I had seen in the 7 years I've been in the area.
OK - so it could have been worse, but ya never know .... and it is NEVER wise to tempt Mother Nature!

[Hud3]

Harry,

Thanks for the insight. I was wondering what kind of swells would make it down to the Grenadines.

So, Saltwhistle Bay was empty! The charter companies must have sent out warnings to their charterers to stay away. I wonder where they sent them? Without local knowledge, it would be hard to figure out which anchorages would be safe in a northerly swell event.

[Sunspot Baby]

It's not just height of swell but the period. 17' swell with a 30 sec period is probably pretty nice sailing. When the height and the period of a wave are about equal it can be more than a little unpleasant.

This will probably make for some awesome rages in the Abacos.

George

[Joli]

Originally Posted by Sunspot Baby

It's not just height of swell but the period. 17' swell with a 30 sec period is probably pretty nice sailing. When the height and the period of a wave are about equal it can be more than a little unpleasant.

This will probably make for some awesome rages in the Abacos.

George

You got that right!

We were in the channel leaving the Detroit River two weeks ago and ran smack dab into 6-8 footers with a 5~6 second period and 25 to 30 on the nose. Boat speed went from 10 to 3 real quick like. Since spoils were dumped either side of the channel we could not motor sail. Visibility kind of went to hell but at 3 in the morning with rain/hail and a balmy 45 degrees we were pretty sure we would have the channel to ourselves other then an occasional freighter.

Record slow trip for us, 17 hours to do a 140 mile transport. Oof..... honey why do we live here?