Need Best Route NC-STT

[lokityler]

Made the trip to NC from STT in May again but have never taken the route back. What is the best route? I am not making any stops, straight through. Sailing. Response greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[psk125]

1/Leave Saint Thomas
2/Head northwest
2a/If you aim a little more west than north, you will pick up the Gulf Stream. It can help push you north, generally. Watch out for eddies and screwy weather in the Gulf Stream, however.

[lokityler]

We are headed back to st Thomas

[Dsanduril]

The classic offshore route is some version of I65 depending on where you jump off. Basically this means heading east (or SE if you are further north) to 65W longitude where you will hopefully encounter winds that are more E, then tack over and head south to the VI. Timing of departure so that you cross the Gulf Stream and get favorable winds to make easting your first several days is critical. The alternative is the Thorny Path down the coast and along the islands (don't you love how they've been given names?).

Might want to take a look at the Salty Dawg Rally website. Not saying you want to join, but collectively a lot of boats in the Rally have made the VA->Caribbean passage so there's a fair amount of experience there.

[Edit] Indigo Moon has a pretty fair description of the options from Florida, might be worth a read.

Another article.



Don Street

[lokityler]

Thank you helpful. Been the thorny path route would be out of the way jumping out from Wilmington nc. But hopefully leaving mid November.

[Dsanduril]

The key is really keeping north of the tradewinds (north of ~25N but it depends on year season) and using the frontal systems to your advantage to work east. Your target is about 65W at the edge of the trades (whatever latitude that happens to be) where you flop over to port tack and have a ~beam reach south to the islands. If you can make 65W then you have a buffer, if the trades come a little SE you are still close reaching, and if they go a little NE you are broad reaching. Not making 65W means a more likely chance you will end up hard on the wind at some point.

I had the misfortune to be making this very passage when Kate formed in mid-November and did a number on those of us that thought we were late enough in the season, be careful.

[Joyful Noise]

the last time I made that run the sailing directions were:
East until the butter melts and then due south

[SeeMonstrEd]

I made the trip in Nov. 2015 and also got caught by Hurricane Kate. We took route #2 which placed us right in the path of Kate. We manage to get out of the way and she passed North of us.

You really have to watch the weather that time of year when you are that far out.