Looking for 'Weather Window' Advice

[holmek]

Hi Guys, I need advice on the best months for fitting out in Connecticut and for heading out into the Atlantic. When does it start to get cold, what considerations are there for crossing the Gulf stream at that lat. I would prefer to fit out in late Sept and head out in late Oct. Opinions please. Thanks.

[Sunset]

That's hurricane season. Where are you going?

[captden]

We are planning to start heading south from Ma. around the second week of September keeping a close eye on hurricane activity and get to Norfolk to wait out the end of hurricane season there. It can get pretty cool at night up here after labor day and we want to keep ahead of the cool nights.

[Sunset]

I'm kind of out of my field here as I have never sailed in the northeast but I would think you wouldn't have to cross the gulf stream to coastal hop down to Norfolk. In fact if it is similiar to down south there are counter currents closer to shore.

[Bash]

The first thing you ought to do is figure out what the Gulf Stream is about. Check out this map: The Gulf Stream

[skipmac]

Hi Holmek,

Previous posters are correct. If you are just headed south down the coast you will be a very long way from the Gulf Stream until you reach Hatteras or far south Florida.

At Hatteras I think it's easier to go inside by the ICW. It's shorter, nice scenery, and you don't have to sweat the weather.

As far as when it's time to head south to beat the cold, probably Sept to early Oct, although you can get an early cold snap even then. It is still hurricane season but you won't be going offshore if you are headed down the coast so will be easy to pick weather windows of a day to a few days.

Skip

[captden]

The way I'm looking at is get out of here [MA.] right after Labor Day and it should be a good time to head south mostly outside down to Norfork Va. Then wait till end of hurricane season and either do the ditch and jump outside on good weather, and head south. Of course that is the plan if we want to do the Bahamas, but if the weather patterns look good we may just head east out of Norfork and down to the Virgins. Still in the planning stages but at least we have set a date to cast off.

[boatman61]

Get down as far as Beaufort NC along the ICW... then run East to Bermuda early Dec... this puts you in a favourable position for a run due south to the Virgins... winds mainly in your favour all the way...

[holmek]

Thanks fellas, see now, I want to head out into the Atlantic and next stop;' Durban. So, I'd like to miss as much of the on-coming winter as I can while still being in the Southern ocean in the southern summer. If I leave in early Autumn, then I will be too soon down south, so thus my query on the onset of the Northern cold weather. Please keep talking. Kevin.

[Christian Van H]

Please buy and read Jimmy Cornell's "World Cruising Routes" before you kill yourself. See here: http://www.amazon.com/World-Cruising.../ref=pd_cp_b_0

[holmek]

Thanks Christian Van H, Cornell recommends Nov, but I thought it might be cold by then up north. I will be headed to the East Atlantic on a non-stop to South Africa so if I leave too early to escape the cold, I'll be in the Hurricane belt too soon.