Carib 1-Year Itinerary Help Request

[67Therapy]

Considering hurricane season and insurance requirements (I'm not well informed on these requirements yet), what would a 1-year(+-) round-robin itinerary look like?

- Leave from gulf coast Florida...return likely to same, but flexible.
- Includes adolescents...appreciate any "must do" or "stay away from" suggestions
- Not looking for much detail, really just an area-by-month type sketch. Especially if there are any "Must be here by XXX month in order to get to XXX" type ideas.

First back of napkin plan:
- Nov: Keys
- Dec - Feb: Bahamas
- Feb - Mar: T&C, BVI, USVI
- Mar - Apr: Continue down islands
- Apr - May: West ABC to Panama
- May: 1) Stay below ~10N until Oct/Nov
- May: 2) Run to US Gulf coast...for only a 6 mo sabbatical
- May: 3) Put boat in storage...continue after hurricane season
- May: 4) Move timeline up to Feb/Mar and continue west through canal

I'm reaching the point in the "plan", where I need a bit more than "we're taking a year off". My Cornell route book has been part of my study, but I'd like to have some back and forth ideas with you folks.

I humbly request advice from the group to expand this section of the plan.

[s/v Moondancer]

Reasonable plan and we have done the circuit three times.

We are scuba divers and we are spending our third hurricane season in Bonaire but we do not arrive until July 1st which is required by our US insurance company. Moorings mandatory but only $10/day.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bona...BtPRsATJzoCwCg

We do not go north again until mid-November because of the possibility of a late hurricane.

On the way back to US we always visit Puerto Morelos south of Cancun, lovely little town and possibly the safest town and Marina in Mexico.

https://www.google.com/search?q=puer...H661sATDhYHgBQ

[bbowers2004]

We're looking to do the same type of trip during those months, but we are coming from south to north, and crossing over towards panama off Jamaica around end of march to try to cross to the west.

Mostly just don't be in the Caribbean from may-Nov is a good rule.

[67Therapy]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

Reasonable plan and we have done the circuit three times.

Thanks for the advice and confirmation.

Originally Posted by bbowers2004

We're looking to do the same type of trip during those months, but we are coming from south to north, and crossing over towards panama off Jamaica around end of march to try to cross to the west.

Mostly just don't be in the Caribbean from may-Nov is a good rule.

Where would you be from May to November?

[bbowers2004]

Originally Posted by 67Therapy

Thanks for the advice and confirmation.



Where would you be from May to November?

Well we are continuing through, so April-August we would be traveling towards NZ across the pacific, Island hoping there.

[tankersteve]

I really like your basic premise. I am looking to do a 2-year loop and wonder what adjustments I should make.

Should I do 2x 1-year loops, or is there a good way to spend 24 months moving through the Caribbean, northern areas of South America, Central America and Mexico? We also intend to hit the Keys and Bahamas.

Any thoughts or guidance on past threads with this sort of itinerary are appreciated.

Tankersteve

[bbowers2004]

When I was looking at choosing different routes people recommended this book.

World Cruising Routes by Jimmy Cornell.

I haven't received the book yet, but heard it contains tips on where to be and when.

It should also be realivent to the information you seek.

[s/v Jedi]

Spend the summer cruising from the ABC's all along the Colombian coast (not every region is safe, research this) and Kuna Yala, Panama. You can spend a lifetime there.

[tankersteve]

So I am waiting on getting Cornell's book. But I am currently in Afghanistan, and I don't want to ship it here, so I am facing a bit of a wait.

Here is my deal. I retire in a couple of years, and my better half has committed to 2 years to sail the Caribbean. I am currently wondering about 2 options and hoped the esteemed readership would provide some recommendations.

1st Option
Depart from Ft. Lauderdale
a.1NOV - 3 months thru Bahamas, T&Cs, Dom Rep, and PR
b.1FEB - 6 months for Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles, down to Barbados/Grenada
c.1AUG - 3 months hanging out below the hurricane belt. Trin/Tobago, ABCs, Colombia, Panama (if enough time)
d.1NOV - 9 months back up thru Lesser Antilles, BVI, PR, Bahamas and back to Fort Lauderdale.

(-)Only a 21 month trip and no exploration of western Caribbean.
(-)May feel rushed seeing Lesser Antilles/Virgin Islands
(+)Fits inside timeline

2nd Option
Same as above until line (d).
d.1NOV - 9 months up thru Lesser Antilles, BVI, and back to Barbados/Grenada
e.1AUG - 3 months in ABCs, Colombia, Panama
f.1NOV - 3 months Costa Rica, San Andres, Honduras and Bay Islands, Belize, Cancun.
g.1FEB - 2 month crossing to Dry Tortugas, Keys and back to Fort Lauderdale

(-)29 months - over 24 commitment
(-)not sure on sailing western Caribbean during winter
(-)not optimal time to be in the Keys
(+)lets us see just about everything we want to see/experience
(+)great revisit of favorites in ABCs and in Lesser Antilles

OK, looking for some perspective. I know I am fudging times a bit with the departures around the hurricane belt but I wanted to keep it simple. Any other thoughts/advice appreciated.

Tankersteve

[Dreaming Yachtsman]

67Therapy and tankersteve,

Having a plan to start cruising is good but do not be surprised when it falls apart in the first 6 months because of breakdowns, weather, changes in family situation, etc. When we started cruising in 2005, our plan had us around the world in 5 years - we are now into our fifth year in the Caribbean having taken 3 years to get here from Seattle, WA.

Taking time to "smell the roses" along the way is much more enjoyable than pressing to be somewhere by a certain date. We have done both. On the other hand, some people go cruising to cover distance and go as many places as they can in whatever time they have available.

It's your cruise - do it however you like.

[tankersteve]

Dreaming Yachtsman,

Thanks for the reply. The 'stop and smell the roses' thing is definitely me, but that's why I like my second option - I think we will really be able to appreciate so much. I don't want to feel like I am rushing. However, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and there is a lot we want to see. Now just to explain this to my Admiral.

Tankersteve

[Cheechako]

Generally a good plan. You will adapt to whatever you feel like doing along the way and the weather.
Personally I would add a little time to the months thru Bahamas, T&Cs, Dom Rep, and PR.
Other than getting to Trini for the hurricane season, relax, enjoy where you are as long as you want.
With 21 months, forget the western caribe entirely. Stay east.

[pistarckle]

Thousands and thousands of boats stay in the Carib. year round . I spent thirteen years in the V.I. and suffered $ 29 .00 of damage from hurricanes .
My opinion , the worst time to be going east from the Bahamas is any time after Dec. 15th . I would leave the Bahamas late November and get as far east as I could before the Christmas Trades start blowing ! Try to get as far as the south coast of Puerto Rico or Culebra ! Or leave the Bahamas early April . Going east in March could spoil your enthusiasm for the trip . Anyone on here went east against the Christmas Trades ? I did , once !

[Cheechako]

Went east in February. no problem unless you consider 3-6 footers a problem.

[Dreaming Yachtsman]

Originally Posted by pistarckle

My opinion , the worst time to be going east from the Bahamas is any time after Dec. 15th . . . . Anyone on here went east against the Christmas Trades ? I did , once !

The season I cruised PR/USVI alone was a perfect example for this sage advice. I was on a mooring buoy at Isla Palominos, having just left Puerto del Rey boatyard after relaunching in early December. The winds were predicted to blow from the northwest for two more days then shift to northeast and pick up (Christmas Winds). I got underway the next day and sailed all the way to St. Thomas without having to tack. It was a beautiful sail. After that, I had to wait up to a week for a lull in the wind each time I wanted to move farther east.