Beaufort NC to Caribbean

[Snboard976]

We will be in Beaufort in the next couple days and were contemplating making a passage directly to the Bahamas instead of continuing to motor through the ditch.

Has anyone made this trip? How long did it take? Where did you cross the gulf stream and where did you make landfall?

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by Snboard976

We will be in Beaufort in the next couple days and were contemplating making a passage directly to the Bahamas instead of continuing to motor through the ditch.

Has anyone made this trip? How long did it take? Where did you cross the gulf stream and where did you make landfall?

I've made long jumps down the coast by never directly. Understand that many of the inlets require daylight and can be rough if there is any kind of sea running. I would aim for Eleuthera and button hook around Egg Is. Its well protected and easy landfall under N-SE conditions even at night. You can drop the hook by Meeks patch. Nice marina (Yacht Haven), customs, and great island. From there you are centrally located and can go anywhere.
One more thing, the providence channel is very busy!!! Maintain a constant watch.
TJ

[Palarran]

I don't know if it would help, but we left Beaufort two weeks ago, heading straight south with NE wind. Made about 7 knots. We where going to go directly to Ft. Lauderdale but ended up re-directing to St. Augustine. It took 2.5 days for that leg. We left SA and made Ft. Lauderdale about 36 hours later. Pretty easy really. Your past the tough part so enjoy the sail.