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MarkJ · 15-11-2016, 15:10

Right-O off tomorrow morning headed for the warmth of the Caribbean.

Weather looks ok, wind up da bum. Invest 91L in the W Caribbean but should take 10 days to get easy of Florida so I should be south of it.
I hope!

So 2 weeks without me! Yay! Let's not hope its permanent.

Mark

**boatman61** · 15-11-2016, 15:50

Hey Mark.. Have a safe trip amigo..

You going offshore...?? I am assuming you are with your ETA..

MarkJ · 15-11-2016, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by boatman61

Hey Mark.. Have a safe trip amigo..

You going offshore...?? I am assuming you are with your ETA..

Yep, classic route. Straight out to 25N 65W then turn right.

I should be able to get more Easting early but I'm in a bit of a quandry how important it is.

What do you think?

AiniA · 15-11-2016, 16:27

Have a good trip Mark. There can be times when a more direct route makes sense but heading to 65 basically always works. If you had a weather router onshore you could be more agressive cutting the corner, but you really don't want to end up having to go 400 miles to windward.

accomplice · 15-11-2016, 16:40

I'm headed tomorrow from Bermuda to Antigua, and I'm wondering.... where'd the Bermuda high go? I'm certainly no weather expert, but in my limited experience, easterlies kick-in at 25N if not sooner. Based on the GRIBs, it may not happen until 20N or even further south. Without that pressure gradient, the easterlies from 18N-~28N have gone missing. Also, without the high over Bermuda, the LP systems are stepping right over Bermuda instead of being pushed north over the top of the high.

I know that from the SE US the conventional wisdom is east to 65W then south in the easterlies, but you may want to check the forecasts and possibly cut the corner -- if you're going to be becalmed, it might as well be on a rhumb line course. Good luck on your passage.

Can anyone with more weather knowledge and experience than me explain what's happening this year?

**JPA Cate** · 15-11-2016, 18:15

Fair winds, Mark.

I guess you changed your wild and woolly winter plans for warm waters and happy times!

Ann

Sandero · 15-11-2016, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Yep, classic route. Straight out to 25N 65W then turn right.

I should be able to get more Easting early but I'm in a bit of a quandry how important it is.

What do you think?

Go east young man and then turn south. If not you'll likely be pounding for a week or more.

Tom and Maje · 16-11-2016, 10:36

Hi Mark,

We just got to St. Thomas this morning. We'll be in the BVI until after the US Thanksgiving, then we're headed to St. Martin.

Maje

**boatman61** · 17-11-2016, 02:03

Grab enough Easting to leave the Stream well astern then play it by ear.
If this summer was anything to go by the 'Old Reliables' are not as they were.
Have a good run mate..

Delancey · 17-11-2016, 04:00

Wishing you a safe passage!

ALAIN97133 · 17-11-2016, 04:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Right-O off tomorrow morning headed for the warmth of the Caribbean. Weather looks ok, wind up da bum. Invest 91L in the W Caribbean but should take 10 days to get easy of Florida so I should be south of it. I hope! So 2 weeks without me! Yay! Let's not hope its permanent. Mark

I did that passage in November/December 2014 from Beaufort to St-Martin using Donald M. Street's recommendation: Steer East-South-East 'till the butter starts to melt in the bilge* then South-South-East. I did the passage alone in 11 days aboard my 34 footer but I'm sure I could have done it in 9 with another sailor on board. I got 4 days of bad weather & the rest was OK... Buckle up & have a safe passage !
* It was a 19th century sailors recommendation i.e. before small sailboats had fridge.
Home - Donald M. Street Jr.

Boatguy30 · 17-11-2016, 05:18

Looks like a nice window as long as you stay head of the developing gale.

**boatman61** · 17-11-2016, 06:03

Having looked at PW I think I'd clear the Stream by a few miles then turn SE and cut the corner.. chance of a days light/calm but nothing hiding behind to fret about.. grab some Southing at the same time.. looks like a grand run.