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Old 30-01-2012, 15:34   #1
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Panama to Trinidad

Comments and recommendations appreciated on the more comfortable sailing route and timing, Panama to Trinidad.
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Old 30-01-2012, 15:37   #2
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Re: Panama to Trinidad

cant tell you a route and timing but i can give you some places to go while there!! are you gonna be there for the carnival if so i will to and can show u around
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Old 30-01-2012, 15:58   #3
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Re: Panama to Trinidad

Planning for carnival (Feb) 2013. Haven’t reached Panama , this years agenda, starting in a couple of weeks, Florida down Central America, think its advisable that I begin to get the mind out of neutral as to what’s installed in going East.
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Old 30-01-2012, 16:02   #4
ice
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Re: Panama to Trinidad

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Originally Posted by cameron forsyth View Post
Comments and recommendations appreciated on the more comfortable sailing route and timing, Panama to Trinidad.
Hard trip, against the trade winds.

Usually done just before or after hurricane season when trades winds are least.

Common approach is to sail at night along coast - trades least at night, and anchor/rest during day.
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Old 30-01-2012, 17:03   #5
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Re: Panama to Trinidad

There isn't a lot of places to stop on long stretches of that trip, so just sailing at night and anchoring during the day isn't good advice. And when there are places to do so, those places are called "Venezuela".

But you have it nailed with the trade winds. Don't want to go against them on that trip. During the summer months, the winds swing south and west and going east is much easier. So June - October is good. All of it is below the hurricane belt, but you need to be aware of sea state if there are storms north of you.

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Old 30-01-2012, 18:04   #6
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Re: Panama to Trinidad

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There isn't a lot of places to stop on long stretches of that trip.

And when there are places to do so, those places are called "Venezuela".

During the summer months, the winds swing south and west and going east is much easier.

All of it is below the hurricane belt
There are anchorages spaced along Columbia and Venezuela coasts. The SSCA used to have some cruising notes that laid them all out but I can't see it on their website now. Could probably find it with a search in past SSCA bulletin's.

This 'night/coastal' route used to be a quite common route, but now, yes, you would have to decide if they are 'safe enough' - different people feel differently about that.

The prevailing summer winds are still pretty much head winds, but lighter than the rest of the year. Take a look at the pilot charts.

Low chance of hurricane, but there is about a 5% chance/year of a tropical storm in Columbia and Venezuela in the region above 10S during the hurricane season. According to wiki there have been 38 cyclone hits there since 1588.
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Old 30-01-2012, 19:14   #7
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Re: Panama to Trinidad

Its a little dated, but the crew of Pizazz put together a free guide

CRUISING THE COAST OF COLUMBIA

My own recommendation would to be to go north from Panama to South Carolina, then go east to Bermuda, then go south. Not only are the tradewinds against you, the current is too.
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Old 30-01-2012, 19:57   #8
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Re: Panama to Trinidad

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Its a little dated, but the crew of Pizazz put together a free guide

CRUISING THE COAST OF COLUMBIA

My own recommendation would to be to go north from Panama to South Carolina, then go east to Bermuda, then go south. Not only are the tradewinds against you, the current is too.
The Pizazz guide is very good, but a lot of the information is dated - particularly given the violence changes in this area.

Panama to SC to Bermuda to Trinidad? That is a lot of miles to escape a bit of current and you will still be facing a lot of current just to get back to the States to start your 2000+ mile trip back south via Bermuda.

The current back to Trinidad from Panama isn't that much and it often changes directions.

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