Chesapeake to Caribbean 2017

[AiniA]

Interesting conditions for this year's run south. Seems like there were two groups of boats and they got very different conditions. The first group, including us and the Salty Dog Rally left on November 1st into a large high pressure area and very little wind. Most boats had to divert to Bermuda for more fuel (at US$1.84/l). For us going south from Bermuda was Ok for the first 600 miles or so but then we got winds from the SW to S (SW in the NE Trades) and had more motoring. BTW, boats that did not go as far east did better, which would be against the prevailing wisdom.

The other group, including the Caribbean 1500 Rally, which went to Tortola whereas most of the first group were going to Antiguas were faced with a cold front and had a lot more wind and from a better direction. Their passage was tougher but much faster. BTW, we got the tail end of the cold front quite far south and only had some mild squall activity followed by the southerly winds.

[Suijin]

Did the 1500 leave after the Salty Dawg? They're usually more flexible in their departure date and responsive to the weather.

I'm assuming that y'all ended up close to Bermuda because the routing called for getting your easting in early before the (traditional) turn south.

What are the conditions like on the ground in Antigua?

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by Suijin

Did the 1500 leave after the Salty Dawg? They're usually more flexible in their departure date and responsive to the weather.

I'm assuming that y'all ended up close to Bermuda because the routing called for getting your easting in early before the (traditional) turn south.

What are the conditions like on the ground in Antigua?

Can't comment on the rally conditions.. but I can on Antigua.. We left there 2 weeks ago headed south.. Antigua is %100 UNAFFECTED by the hurricanes. We didn't even see a broken tree... Dominica on the other hand, DEVISTATED!

[AiniA]

Salty Dog left on the first, the 1500 was scheduled to leave on the 5th. I assume that is when they left.