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Old 24-07-2016, 18:59   #1
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Crossing The Atlanic To St. Croix

Has anyone done the crossing from Miami through the Bahamas and then down to the virgin islands? (Delivery Skippers Rout)
We plan to leave in Early November weather dependent.
What port in Miami should we leave from?
Anyone going that way looking to sail next to us?
Thanks
CY
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Old 24-07-2016, 19:42   #2
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

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Originally Posted by Sail girl View Post
Has anyone done the crossing from Miami through the Bahamas and then down to the virgin islands? (Delivery Skippers Rout)
We plan to leave in Early November weather dependent.
What port in Miami should we leave from?
Anyone going that way looking to sail next to us?
Thanks
CY
===

The route down through the Bahamas to the Virgin Islands is well documented in books such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/Gentlemans-Gu.../dp/1470146967

It doesn't really matter where in Miami you leave from. Your goal is to pick a good weather window for getting across the Gulf Stream to a Bahamian port of entry, typically Bimini. Generally speaking this means leaving Miami with a wind that has no northerly component.
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Old 24-07-2016, 19:56   #3
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

Like Wayne says, where you leave from in Florida doesn't really matter. You're going about 1000 miles and whether you leave from Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale or Miami is just a matter of your preference and convenience.

Starting further north would give you an option for a slightly different starting route through the Bahamas.
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Old 24-07-2016, 22:57   #4
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

Good info here. http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ad.php?t=12893.
Any port is fine , I prefer "no name" harbor / cape Fl, south as there are slightly less idiots.
I could be wrong but unless you are stopping somewhere in the Bahamas to you shouldn't need to clear in and waste $300.00.

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Old 25-07-2016, 03:53   #5
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

Its not really "crossing the Atlantic" that's when you go from one side to the other. You are just chipping a little corner off.


You need to get easy to 65W then turn south. That's the viable way. All those 'thorny path' type books and advice ate dribble.
Get out to 65W the best way you can, burn fuel, whatever, but turning south before it is useless.

After you turn south you won't use fuel again.

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Old 25-07-2016, 04:49   #6
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

Thanks everyone for the quick response.
Very helpful too.
Happy sailing.
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Old 25-07-2016, 04:56   #7
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

We were just going to top off gas and water and move on.
That does not need a check in does it?
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Old 25-07-2016, 05:07   #8
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

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We were just going to top off gas and water and move on.
That does not need a check in does it?
Depends. Where are you topping off with gas and water, where did you come from to get there and what is your citizenship.

If you mean top off in Miami before leaving then if you're US citizen and you came from another US port before Miami then you don't need to check in.

If you leave from the US and plan to top off in the Bahamas or other country on the way to the VI then YES, you have to check in. Technically you can pass through the waters of the Bahamas while you are in transit from the US to another country (like the USVI) IF you never stop, anchor, touch land or even fish in their waters. Any of the above you are required to clear customs. If you fail to do so it could be very unpleasant if you are checked.
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Old 25-07-2016, 06:08   #9
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

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We were just going to top off gas and water and move on.
That does not need a check in does it?
===

Yes it does. Your fuel purchase would also be evidence that you had violated the rules.
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Old 25-07-2016, 06:38   #10
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

What MarkJ said.
See ➥ Tor Pinney's Homepage - A Cruising Sailor's Homeport
http://www.tor.cc/images/fl-carib_route.jpg
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Old 25-07-2016, 06:45   #11
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

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That does not need a check in does it?
Yes, it absolutely does.
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Old 25-07-2016, 08:45   #12
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Re: crosssing the Atlanic to St. Croix

We left from Ft. Lauderdale a couple of years ago, and wished that we'd left further north, Lake Worth or Ft. Pierce. It would have given us a better angle when the wind was pushing us south.


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Old 25-07-2016, 09:17   #13
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Re: Crossing The Atlanic To St. Croix

I never quite got the I-65 route, at least from south Florida which is where I was based for many years. Once you are in south Florida, more or less Daytona and south from there, you are already in the trade winds so will see winds from the NE to SE 90% of the time. So leaving from Palm Beach, Ft Lauderdale or Miami you will be beating into it all the way east to longitude 65.

So what's the benefit? I would rather beat through the Bahamas where I can stop and rest, enjoy the trip than beat straight out into the open ocean.

Now if starting from farther north the I-65 route makes more sense to me. You can usually get a better angle on the wind, often even get some westerlies and make much better time east before turning south.

Am I missing something here?

By the way, I completely agree with MarkJ about the gentlemen's route. That whole thing of playing land/sea breezes and such never really work well for me. The only time I ever saw a benefit was an early winter delivery from Panama to the VI. The trades were really strong and the beat more or less N-NNE against NE trades was nasty. Finally got close enough to the south side of Hispaniola that it blocked the wind and we motored due east the reast of the way. Never did see any land/sea breeze at all on that leg.
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Old 25-07-2016, 11:39   #14
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Re: Crossing The Atlanic To St. Croix

There are two fabulous groups for you top check out.....
1) Caribbean 1500 https://www.carib1500.com
2) Salty Dawgs The Salty Dawg Rally

both groups sail down the end of October/ early November and offer not only preparedness classes but you actually kick off and travel with information and on-going assistance.

Having made the trip a couple of times myself, I can't imagine not wanting to with a group for you own personal safety and protection.
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Old 25-07-2016, 13:35   #15
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Re: Crossing The Atlanic To St. Croix

the groups do offer the ILLUSION of personal safety and protection. But once you are out there you are on your own. If you think otherwise you arent ready to go yet.
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