Routes from Savannah to Bimini or Berry's in late May ?

[Gboy]

Looking for advice for experienced sailing routes From Savannah area to Bimini and Berrys leaving may 23.. Need to eventually be in Nassau by the 30th..

Don't really have time to port hope down to miami ...

Will come back via the Abacos so prefer not to go that way.

Thanks all


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[skipmac]

Leaving Savannah destination Bimini? Doesn't really leave many options, especially if you cannot stop in the Abacos. Only thing that makes sense to me would be to hug the coast to stay out of the Gulf Stream and maybe pick up a bit of counter current.

Trying to cross the stream would add too many miles to get on the east side and then you would have to turn west again to skirt the west side of the Bahamas.

[Gboy]

Thanks... That's what I thought...
What's the furthest north normal cross points to west end ? Cape canaveral
From west end I guess I can go to the Berrys

Thanks


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[Double-Wide]

I have found checking in at Port Lucaya much better than West End. From there it is a one day sail to the Berrys.


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[skipmac]

There's no easy answer to your routing question. The Gulf Stream is squeezed between FL and the Bahamas and usually covers most of the gap between the two. Also accelerates.

One past the NW corner of the banks, about the latitude of Ft Pierce, the Stream widens, slows and moves a little further away from the US coast, leaving more room to go south down the US coast without bucking the current.

If you try to cross the Stream and head south on the east side you will be bucking the current unless you go so far east you are adding too much extra distance. However, if you try to angle SE towards Grand Bahama you will be longer in the Stream and bucking the current.

Best strategy is to cross the stream directly and spend less time getting pushed north. So go further south to cross you add distance but save time. One of the cases that the shortest line is not the fastest course.

If you have to go to the western Bahamas you just have to deal with the Gulf Stream.

[rognvald]

Gboy,
As Skip said, you must deal with the Stream. So, pick a weather window and get a Gulf Stream analysis service with updates to determine the narrowest part of the stream and motor across as quickly as possible. Your angle to the wind for sailing ,after that, will be questionable. Good luck and good Motoring.