Annapolis to Bermuda then to STT after boat show

[CaptainMCT]

What is everybody's thoughts on this passage? I've never been to Bermuda and would love a break in the middle of the trip, weather depending of course.

We are leaving directly after the boat show">Annapolis Boat show after the first week of October. Delivery crew on board, Owners of the boat want to meet in Bermuda to learn the boat/passage making.

Sail Plan: Head South through Chesapeake Bay 110nm, Continue S/SSE until best Spot to cross the Gulf Stream then head due east until we reach Bermuda. 750nm Annapolis to Bermuda. Estd 5-7days total. Reprovision, top up on fuel go through rigging/engines/etc. Rest for atleast a day, and Watch Weather then head South to STT. 844nm Due South. 6-8days. 12-15days total.

The FP dealer told me the range on the Volvo d2-60 was nearly 1100NM guzzling about 3liters an hour (or .78ish Gals/hr). They are 940 liters fuel capacity total (248 US gal) I guessed that I would burn around 1.0-1.2gal/hr. and make about 650-700NM.

Thoughts?

Thanks Sailors, new here-happy to be a part of the community!

[captstu]

What Boat?

[Snore]

Yes the boat can do it if set up right.

The question is why? As a delivery Capt, I would not route through Bermuda during hurricane season. Hell running TO the USVI is dicey enough.

[maine50]

Most people do this after Nov 1 due to hurricane threat. Also may have Ins restrictions during Oct south of Norfolk Va. Also good to have Chris Parker or similar weather service provider/router

[Nicholson58]

Join Salty Dawgs and go to Antigua in November after hurricane season is over. Talk to the Dawgs at the Annapolis boat show.

[Bean Counter]

Some people did the rally from Norfolk VA to Antigua last year but a few detoured off to Bermuda on the way. Left in early November.
see one blog

https://twodrifterstravelblog.wordpr...ay-1-thursday/

[CaptainMCT]

I'll check it out--thanks!

[s/v Moondancer]

Owner/destination driven incorrect decision making...wait until the end of hurricane season!

[Scrimshaw4]

Been there, done that in a 53 FT Swan. Wouldn't leave again in November. Left LI Sound en route to Tortola. 6 days, 2 gales and 1 hurricane later (none of the weather had been forecasted) we stopped in Bermuda just to catch our breath. At times we were running under bare poles at 8+kts. November has to be the WORST time to go! JMHO

[morpheus]

We did the Chesapeake STT run mid November 2008 and got caught on the backend of TD Paloma, 30 to 40 knot winds and big seas for three days but we didn’t feel that we were in a dangerous situation.......really glad when it was over though.

[Suijin]

The usual route heading to the Caribbean from the Bay is to essentially sail to Bermuda, then head south after you’ve done all your easting. So it’s an easy trip for the most part.

The Salty Dawg rally is something to think about if only for the weather routing. The rally fee is probably less than the cost of working with Chris directly for the whole trip.

[TheOffice]

As others have said, check your insurance. November 1 is a common date for heading south. First 24 hours out of the Bay could be cold!

Bermuda is at 64.75 W, so if you are doing Route 66 it is not that far out of the way. 653 miles from Norfolk. Do not cross the stream if the wind is out of the North or East.
You will have to clear customs in St. George. Although you can spend a fortune on food, there are some reasonable restaurants if you know where to look.
We are planning on doing the same route in a couple years, and I have done 3 Annapolis Bermuda races.

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by TheOffice

As others have said, check your insurance. November 1 is a common date for heading south. First 24 hours out of the Bay could be cold!

Bermuda is at 64.75 W, so if you are doing Route 66 it is not that far out of the way. 653 miles from Norfolk. Do not cross the stream if the wind is out of the North or East.
You will have to clear customs in St. George. Although you can spend a fortune on food, there are some reasonable restaurants if you know where to look.
We are planning on doing the same route in a couple years, and I have done 3 Annapolis Bermuda races.

===


All good advice in my experience. Definitely wait for a good weather window after November 1st, and get east across the Gulf Stream as quickly as possible.


Rather than going offshore from Norfolk VA, consider going farther south to Beaufort/Morehead City if you can run in the ICW.

[Cat White House]

I assume you will be on a "Boat Show" FP Powercat given your fuel concern. If the dealer has done the shakedown, I would consider Bermuda primarily to pick-up the new owners. But ....

Heading south from Bermuda has some trade-offs. Yes, you will probably avoid the stream, but be faced with perhaps more weather farther offshore. Many Tropical Storms & Hurricanes off Africa end-up heading up the Atlantic. Bad weather can send seas a thousand miles more or less.

In a way, heading to Bermuda, then south is somewhat old school. modern technology, particularly with Gulf Stream Sat Photos. USE TECHNOLOGY. Use Gulf Stream Sat Photos

I would head south planning to pick-up the new owners in Nassau. I would use a combination of the ICW and staying a mile or so offshore particularly if the the boat may have some kinks to work-out. There is a southern counter-current just offshore most of the way down to Florida. Jump over to Nassau using the Northwest Passage. Meet the owners in Nassau and head-out. Five to eight days is plenty of time to get offshore experience Nassau-STT with a better ride. Use Sat images out of Nassau to deftermine how far offshore you will need.

Also consider a little time in the Exumas.

Example: Currently, the Gulf Stream is a little farther off the US Shore than usual. And, there is a Gulf Stream eddy just north of the Bahamas which makes a southern turn, then dissipates.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by Cat White House

Heading south from Bermuda has some trade-offs. Yes, you will probably avoid the stream, but be faced with perhaps more weather farther offshore. Many Tropical Storms & Hurricanes off Africa end-up heading up the Atlantic. Bad weather can send seas a thousand miles more or less.

In a way, heading to Bermuda, then south is somewhat old school. modern technology, particularly with Gulf Stream Sat Photos. USE TECHNOLOGY. Use Gulf Stream Sat Photos

The strategy of heading towards Bermuda and then banging a right after most of your easting is done has nothing to do with the Gulfstream. It has to do with the prevailing winds. If you cross the stream (and out of the bay you’ll be past it in 24-48 hours) and then head down the rhumb line you set your self up for headwinds the whole way. Heading for Bermuda gets you out into more favorable prevailing winds for getting south.

Crossing the stream from the Bay is not a huge deal. It has widened out to a degree by then and while sometimes uncomfortable you just push through it. It can go from dead flat to a washing machine in 3 hours so there is little point in timing it unless it’s blowing 35+ out of the NE.