Abacos

[dw5055]

Just returned from the Abacos. Solo sailor on Catalina 400 and first sailing trip to Bahamas. Spent several months from Grand Cay to Green Turtle to Great Guana Cay including the Whale passage which both times I passed thru were mild....had a blast. Most everything I read on this forum helped...I did find being a solo I got invited to many dinners on other boats and ened up bringing back 1/2 the food I took...lol.
Back in West Palm trying to figure out my next trip...Keys or BVI...everyone says hold off on the BVI till I get more experience but what an experience it would be to go do it....

[Tim R.]

Why not back to the Bahamas and go further down the chain? Eleuthera? Exumas? Maybe then to Turks and Caicos?

[clifford sloan]

Tim R. is right on the money. Georgetown Exumas is the best place to jump off as you go "down island" to the BVIs. A stop in T & C can be an option leaving you with a straight shot to Puerto Rico or a shot to the DR, then through the Mona Passage to P R. dependant on the wind direction at time of departure. I've done it both ways many times but because I pick my "weather windows" it has always been a pleasurable run.
All the best -
Clif

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by clifford sloan

Tim R. is right on the money. Georgetown Exumas is the best place to jump off as you go "down island" to the BVIs. A stop in T & C can be an option leaving you with a straight shot to Puerto Rico or a shot to the DR, then through the Mona Passage to P R. dependant on the wind direction at time of departure. I've done it both ways many times but because I pick my "weather windows" it has always been a pleasurable run.
All the best -
Clif

[dw5055]

yikes...I'm not sure why I didn't think of that but it's a great suggestion...thanks

[Group9]

Sounds like you had a blast. I love the Abacos but I love the Exumas even more. Try that for a change of pace next time.

[rockDAWG]

Originally Posted by clifford sloan

A stop in T & C can be an option
Clif

I found T&C is just a bit on expensive side. I skip and sail directly to DR.

[swampcreek]

We took our ASA courses in the Abaco. I have never completely come home from there. We're starting to think about planning to charter a catamaran in Abaco in 2015 to enjoy and see if a catamaran could fit us if we decide to move up again.

[Gerrycooper56]

Ditto the Exhumas - great spots to Visit and 'chicken' harbor can be fun. Can be lumpy going to the T&Cs. If your thinking of going that far and later further I would suggest a copy of the gentlemans guide to passages south.

[tankersteve]

the gentlemans guide to passages south - is this the hard-to-find out of print book, or a different edition?

[Gerrycooper56]

Didn't know it was out of print - I suppose if you have a copy you don't look for another

[tankersteve]

The 06 edition shows on Amazon for $398 and up. I am not sure what the differences between editions are, though. Probably most of the sailing facts should be similar, even if the local guide advice changes.

Anybody able to confirm that? Should I spring for the 03 edition for $65?

Tankersteve

[LeaseOnLife]

Originally Posted by tankersteve

The 06 edition shows on Amazon for $398 and up. I am not sure what the differences between editions are, though. Probably most of the sailing facts should be similar, even if the local guide advice changes.

Anybody able to confirm that? Should I spring for the 03 edition for $65?

Tankersteve

Edition 10, $30:
https://www.createspace.com/3810921

[sck5]

Yes it is a "straight shot" to PR - A straight shot directly into the current and trade winds. Much easier to head north up the US coast and take the offshore route. Unless you like weeks of beating up wind pounding along and burning lots of fuel. Stock up on jerry cans if you do this.

[Gerrycooper56]

We did follow the gentle mans guide to passages south and did burn a bit of fuel. Overall though we enjoyed the places we stopped at enroute to PR and then around PR. We had to motor sail a bit going down the Mona passage as it was like a pond. The key was picking the weather windows.