Mona Passage and PR

[Rocinante33]

Hi all

Seeking advice on a passage from USVI to Florida.

Thinking of north coast of PR to Providencales? What degree of concern is the Mona Passage at Christmas time? Good source of last minute info on sea state there?

Anybody done it recently? Mind sharing your approach?

Cheers!

[Zanshin]

You are going in the easy direction, that passage is usually only an issue going west-to-east! But around Christmas you might encounter the "Christmas Winds" which can occur during the seasonal windshift and can blow at 15-25 knots for an extended period. That brings with it bigger waves. The direction you plan on going is close enough to dead downwind to make it potentially uncomfortable with lots of slow rolling and you'd need to make sure you've got strong preventers rigged.

I've done St. Martin to the BVI (110NM) in those conditions once before. It was no fun and slow because I couldn't use the jib and only had the mainsail with a preventer. Now I pay more attention going DDW in the Caribbean.

[wholybee]

I have only done the passage once, sailing from San Juan to Panama in late December, after Christmas. As such, I was passing North to South. There was moderate NE wind making good sailing. It would have been tougher going North.