Cruising for a Newbie - Carribean

[devilfishlane]

Well just like most on here I want to sail away. But not too far. I would like to spend a few months working my way down to Colombia, (my home) from Miami. I'm a beginner with basic experience. The plan is to take it from Miami to Colombia , and base it there (taking 1 to 2 week trips in the area.)

I 'm looking for a boat around 30ft for around $20-25K. I was thinking about a 30 ft Catalina or Pearson or ? Any ideas? Would prefer a spacious boat and not so much a blue water boat

Could I get away with $1000 a month on a basic budget on the way down? Maybe I could find someone to go along to cut the costs.

Is anyone familar with the cruising area around Cartagena? Currents, winds?

Thank you

[slomotion]

Catalina 30s are just about the most popular cruising boats ever made. That makes it easy to comparison shop and you should be able to find a good condition example in your price range. They are also roomy for their length.

The conventional route from Miami would be through the Straits/Keys/Dry Tortugas and then a multi-day sail to Isla Mujeres in the Yucatan Channel. If you are a Colombian national, stopping in Cuba may be an option. From Isla Mujeres you leisurely coastal sail/island hop south to Panama and then jump east to the Colombian islands and Cartagena. I've never sailed the western Caribbean, but I assume there are good cruising guides like the ones for the eastern Caribbean.

[slomotion]

I believe a member here, Soft Air, is based in Cartagena.

[sck5]

get Freya Rauscher's cruising guide for isla mujeres down though belize to rio dulce. the charts are pretty worthless, at least in Belize - you need the guide

[boatman61]

Welcome to CF and hope/wish you every success cruising the Spanish Main...

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Originally Posted by devilfishlane

Well just like most on here I want to sail away. But not too far. I would like to spend a few months working my way down to Colombia, (my home) from Miami. I'm a beginner with basic experience. The plan is to take it from Miami to Colombia , and base it there (taking 1 to 2 week trips in the area.)

I 'm looking for a boat around 30ft for around $20-25K. I was thinking about a 30 ft Catalina or Pearson or ? Any ideas? Would prefer a spacious boat and not so much a blue water boat

Could I get away with $1000 a month on a basic budget on the way down? Maybe I could find someone to go along to cut the costs.

Is anyone familar with the cruising area around Cartagena? Currents, winds?

Thank you

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
You can do it!
regards,