Fla. To Bahamas

[sneuman]

Where's the best place to make a jump from Fla. To Bahamas assuming one is hoping down the coast from up north? We are in Charleston, heading to Fernandina Beach, Fla., but it looks like the Gulf Stream is going to make southward progress ever more challenging.

[RunawayC47]

I have crossed the stream from Myrtle Beach then headed south to Abbaco as well as crossed from West Palm to West End Freeport on my cat.

The slower the boat the more south your departure should be since you will be set further north with the current. Leaving from Key Largo is a good point for a Bimini arrival with an average monohull. Miami can be used as well.

Look for a nice weather window with no north wind if possible.


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[Vasco]

Originally Posted by sneuman

Where's the best place to make a jump from Fla. To Bahamas assuming one is hoping down the coast from up north? We are in Charleston, heading to Fernandina Beach, Fla., but it looks like the Gulf Stream is going to make southward progress ever more challenging.

Depends on whether you're going to Abaco or further south. If you're intending to do Abaco first West Palm (lake Worth) is a good jumping off spot. If you're thinking of Exumas first then further south would be better, Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. We always start from Miami.

As for the gulf stream and heading south there's not much against you from Charleston to Fernandina (St. Marys River inlet). Once you get to FL staying close to shore reduces the likelihood of an adverse current greatly.

[skipmac]

I would agree with the comments so far but add a few more.

First, it will depend on where you want to go in the Bahamas.

Second, if you want to make a short hop across the stream and beat to windward across the banks to the Abacos or Exumas OR make an offshore passage east from SC to directly cross the stream and then turn south.

This time of year due to the potential for northers I would prefer going south and making the short hop straight across from W Palm to Grand Bahama and the Little Banks or Miami/Ft Lauderdale across to Bimini and the Great Banks.

[RunawayC47]

Having sailed most of the Bahamas I prefer The southern half south and east of Nassau. My favorite is the Exumas. Short hops between islands and not as developed except for Georgetown.

It also gets fairly cold at times in Abaco and Grand Bahama. The northern swells also can make the passes in Abaco extremely. dangerous. Air travel is less expensive though for guests. Many sailors use Nassau as a pickup drop off point for guests then head back south.


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[colemj]

The Gulf Stream doesn't press close to the coast until around Ft. Pierce, so you have long way to go before you need to be concerned about it.

As others have pointed out, your most Northern jump over place is around Lake Worth for the Abacos and close to Miami for points further South in the Bahamas.

Mark

[Amapola]

Lake Worth for the Abacos or Key Biscayne for Exumas.