Crossing the
Gulf Stream is a problem when strong
wind is blowing against the
current. It makes the sea stand up, and you can get what looks like square waves on the front of each breaking sea. That being said, as long as a person is not sailing to a schedule, there's no reason to cross the
Gulf stream in unfavorable condtions. We never crossed the stream unless the
wind and seas were favorable. We've always waited until the seas were flat and motorsailed across. It's really not that big of a deal. It's only 48 miles to
Bimini, and if you
motor at six knots, you can be over there in eight hours.
But if you get in a hurry (if you have a ten day
vacation and must get across because of your schedule) then you are asking for trouble.
I don't worry about the Gulf Stream because I don't sail to a schedule. If you are smart, you will pick your
weather, and you will motorsail across when the
water is as smooth as a baby's bottom.