Quickest and Safest Route from St.Thomas, USVI to Miami in June

[AZBD1313]

Hello all,

First post here. Seeking best, quickest, safest route from STT to MIA leaving June 5th. Have been reading about the Thorn Patch route but looking at charts, is it feasible to use the Antilles Current to the Gulf Stream? Most of my research has the winds from the South but I can't find a lot of info on people choosing that route. I'm on a Lagoon 500 cat with 3 other crew member for the passage. TIA, Bob

[MicHughV]

The Gulf Stream really originates in the Gulf..hence the name.
Most folk leaving from your departure point, go north....PR....Dominica...Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, etc. Winds are generally out of the SE most all of the way. You can do it non-stop off course...or stop here and there...
Go to Mike'sWeatherPage.com and it will give you all the data you'll need.

[HeywoodJ]

Bob, welcome to CF.

The Thorny bits really describe the path in the opposite direction, getting from Miami to STT against that current and the wind. There are options, but none of them are the most pleasant, hence the name. Heading the other direction, just as you describe. You'll get the land effects of sailing along the Greater Antilles islands, but the currents help with that.

You can also take the offshore route and through the Providence Channel, but then you are crossing the Gulfstream to get to Miami. Probably a bit better/more consistent wind, but not as generally great current. I'd probably choose the Antilles route, but stay as far off the islands as I could to keep good breeze.

[MicHughV]

Well, you are going to have to cross the Gulf Stream as you approach Florida, as it curls around the Florida Keys and heads north.
In June, the Gulf Stream is typically quite docile. Only real problem with the GS stream is when you have a strong norther blowing against the north flowing current, but by June, winds are typically SE, mostly 15 knots or less.
If you keep to the southern B'mas, crossing over to Florida is very straightforward.
GS current strength is about 3 knots in the middle, but tapers off towards the edges.
The GS stream runs very close to Miami, Ft.L, etc...maybe a few miles offshore
I've crossed the GS dozens of times, it's pretty straight forward unless there is norther blowing. Miami, Ft.L., West Palm Beach all have deep entrance channels...if for any reason you can't make Miami, Ft. L is just up the coast.

[donradcliffe]

My preferred route is the Old Bahama Channel. If you are a US boat/crew, check into Puerto Rico at Isla Culebra and then go non stop to Miami, you don't have to check in again.

[MicHughV]

I've met countless people that are petrified of the Gulf Stream..they've all heard how knarly it can get, but that is really only in the wintertime, which, I suppose, is the time most people head to the Bmas, so as to avoid hurricane season.
But in the summer time, the GS is fairly well behaved.
Though hurricane " season" starts officially June 1, it is reasonable to assume that June/July are typically quiet months. June/July, hurricanes typically head to the Gulf of Mexico but with hurricanes it's always a toss of the dice.
June is about as good a month to pick for this trip as any.
Cuba is a pretty big land mass to avoid if you take the southerly route.
For my money, I'd go north as previously described.

[floydmiami1]

My preferred route going north to mia is along the south shore. of Puerto Rico ( a lot less big ships, lots of anchorages and marinas,Salinas,Ponce if needed.Stop on the west coast of PR at the marina pescateria in Puerto Real for fuel and check the weather to cross the Mona Passage.Sail over to the Dominican Republic sometimes stop in Samana or continue around the NW coast of DR. Stop at Sosua depending on crew or continue to Ocean World just pass Puerto Plata ,easy to clear in and out and get fuel right at the marina,Head NW towards Great Inaugua, Bahamas,sometimes anchor on the SW side of the island make my way up the old Bahama channel on the N side to try to stay away from the big ships but also giving a wide birth to the southern tip of Andros( gets shallow along ways out) then plot your course to Mia .The wind and current is in your favor all the way.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

My preferred route is the Old Bahama Channel. If you are a US boat/crew, check into Puerto Rico at Isla Culebra and then go non stop to Miami, you don't have to check in again.

^^^^^^
This!!

As a delivery guy, this is a no-brainer. Old Bahama Channel to Anguilla Cays, as long as the weather is reasonable lay for Government Cut.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Bob.

[skipmac]

Two options. As noted by others, fastest, most direct route is the Old Bahamas Channel. Only downside to that route is there's nowhere to stop along the way except the north coast of Cuba which is problematic for US citizens.

An alternate that is slightly longer but offers plenty of options for stopping off if rest or repairs are needed is pass the north side of the Turks and Caicos, past San Salvador and up the east side of Cat Island then through the NE and NW Providence channels to Florida.

One downside to this route, you will come out a bit north of Miami but can make the FL coast and work your way back south once inside the Gulf Stream.