Florida to USVI

[Russ]

Read most everything re route choices
Seems the offshore vs the winding through the island chain are the choices
Wondering if sailing just offshore North of and past the Bahamas and Turks is a realistic option as opposed to going 600 miles East and turning right to go direct to USVI
It seems to be a beam reach with winds from N- NE

Thanks Russ

[Paul L]

Where are you getting N NE winds? Think SE trades.

[PLANET EXPRESS]

AN113B or AN113E

[Russ]

In the summer winds are from South but most of the wind is the NE trades generally being worst Dec - April. Please send me your source. Thanks. Russ

[Tingum]

Buy a set of pilot charts and all will be clear

[Russ]

Tigum

Have Pilots.
Seems only difference offshore North of island chain vs offshore at 25 degrees LAT is inshore is going is against the current. The wind predictions remain N-E but I'm wondering if I can point 45 degrees off wind, might a close in route be doable.
Have a wife and dog to think of and want to get to Grenada and take to slow route back via the islands.
Thanks for any advice. R

[Paul L]

Most boats that travel the close island path from Fla to the Virgins end up doing a lot of motoring. It is basically 900 miles to weather. You might get less and/or better winds in the summer, but then you have to deal with hurricane issues.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Russ

Tigum

Have Pilots.
Seems only difference offshore North of island chain vs offshore at 25 degrees LAT is inshore is going is against the current. The wind predictions remain N-E but I'm wondering if I can point 45 degrees off wind, might a close in route be doable.
Have a wife and dog to think of and want to get to Grenada and take to slow route back via the islands.
Thanks for any advice. R

we made this run last january - the christmas winds practically beat us to death. we ran with 20-30 knots right on the nose and 3 meter high waves, AFter 8 days of this, the forecast said 40 knots on the nose and 4+ meter waves on the nose. We elected to bail out to San Juan

this is not the kind of sailing to take a non-sailor wife or a dog on

[billknny]

If you are expecting to be on a beam reach from Florida to the USVI you are definitely in for a rude surprise.

I'll make the same recommendation that I do for everyone going this direction. Buy and read--no make that buy and STUDY--the book "Passages South" by Bruce Van Sant

This book is a gold mine of information, although it is not well edited and haphazardly organized. The author is a bit of a curmudgeon, but experienced and knowledgeable and well worth the read.

If you expect a comprehensive answer to your question from a forum posting then you greatly underestimate the complexity of the question you are asking.

[njoynthewater]

Having just left the BVI's after making the run down Mr. van Sant's thornless path I can attest to what you are in for. Sitting and watching for a weather window long enough for you to make the passage plus some extra calm weather for good measure and then wait again. Pick a weather window and move on only to find out your forecasting was wrong. The first big thing you will have to learn is patience. Now that the northern storms are coming to an end I expect it will be a more challenging journey. Good luck and safe travels.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Russ

Read most everything re route choices
Seems the offshore vs the winding through the island chain are the choices
Wondering if sailing just offshore North of and past the Bahamas and Turks is a realistic option as opposed to going 600 miles East and turning right to go direct to USVI
It seems to be a beam reach with winds from N- NE

Thanks Russ

As I noted earlier - we got beaten to death making that run - if you want to see a video we made while out there - here is a link

https://youtu.be/4mt5UdZMnLQ

or read the blog about the trip

https://svcapri.com/2018/02/26/vinni...oops-san-juan/

this is really hard sailing and not for the faint of heart