Old Bahamas Channel

[Russ]

Anyone out there with first hand practical knowledge about sailing the Old Bahamas Channel from south Florida to the USVI?
Currently it is recommend route by my router/ forecaster.
Any suggestions / information / opinions appreciated

[Sailormantx]

It's easy navigation...BUT make sure you have the weather in your favor to complete the trip. I did that once in the late winter of 2014 and the cold front I was riding on dissapated earlier than forecast predicted. After days of tacking between the banks and Cuba and making only a few miles of progress on each tack I put into Puerta da Vita to wait for the next cold front to sail the last 130 miles to the Windward Passage. The prevailing winds and current are against you, but if you think you can carry the wind long enough to get through its a great route. I have done it many times on delivery jobs, but it's a different story with a few thousand horsepower to push the boat.

[skipmac]

Sailormantx pretty much covered it. Headed east and south you are bucking the current and the prevailing winds so if you lose the westerlies from the front it will be a hard beat.


Not sure what options are available in eastern Cuba but the Bahamas side there's nowhere to stop so keep that in mind in the trip planning.