Cartagena to Bonaire ?

[captainteacup]

Has anyone recently done this trip? I am in a 34 foot sailboat. I know it will be going against the swell and wind and current. I have the annual year to choose from , but will be there around August - SEPT most likely. I'd really like to hit Trinidad too, but it's a beat.

THX

[skipmac]

Sounds like you already know what you're up against. The only option I know to make it less of a bash is hug the coast and play the land/sea breezes. The problem with that is as you get further up the coast from Cartagena you are getting into the wrong side of the tracks. Once past Riohacha you are definitely in cowboy country and hugging the coast might not be recommended.

[osirissail]

You really are trying to be like a salmon and fight it upstream. I suppose it can be done but you would either be making like a motor boat the whole way or tacking so much you will wear out your boat.
- - Aug to Sept is dead square in the hurricane season with some significant storms usually starting up in the western Caribbean early and Atlantic Tropical Wave and local low pressure areas making your journey anything but pleasant.
- - If coast hopping up Columbia watch out for Rio Barranquilla as it is a historical hot spot for attacks on cruisers. Same for Santa Maria. No adverse reports beyond there all the way to Cabo de la Vela. Once past Punta Gallinas you have a clear shot to Los Monjes and on to Aruba, etc.

[beachgirl1952]

s/v Linea is in Cartagena right now, they are acquaintances from Curacao ...
at happy hour I heard friends here on Curacao talking about Linea coming back to Curacao and that somebody advised them to leave Cartagena yesterday (May 26) ...
westerly winds were predicted ...
I have more friends here on Curacao who did it (West - East) and that it was very doable with the right weatherwindow ...
ps: s/v Linea seems to be hauled in Cartagena one of these days, so they are not coming to Curacao any time soon ...