Best route recommended From Jacksonville FL to Guatemala

[BStella Florida]

Hello !

We are quite experienced sailors - we sailed with our monohaul (Hunter 44ds) every winter from 2014 to 2020 in the Caribbeans, from the Bahamas to Trinidad (Dry Storage). After a 4 years break due to the plandemic, we sailed the east coast of Florida last winter and are now planning our next sailing trip starting end of November 2024 to end of April 2025.

We are thinking seriously to explore another area of the Caribbean and go to Guatemala for the dry storage and to have some wood work done. Does somebody have any link that could help us to chose the best route to do it ? Or if you have other suggestions than Guatemala (Panama looks fine also), it would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance !!

Estelle and Richard

[donradcliffe]

Leave from Key West, stop in Islas Mujeres.

Don't forget to get a zarpe when leaving the US.

[SailingHarmonie]

For references you should have Cornell's World Cruising Routes

I know, a book! How old fashioned! But it is still the best way to get detailed, vetted information that will be much more helpful than an 8 word answer posted here. It will discuss the route and the seasons and the weather you need to look for, and a basic summary of the most significant hazards on the route.

Not surprisingly, the answer is not so simple that a single answer suffices for all boats at all times.

[MicHughV]

So many routes to pick from, you gotta put them all in a hat, and then pick one, and another one as back plan.
After that pick one more for "just in case"

[BStella Florida]

Thank you for this recommendation. I will buy this book on Ebay. Have a good day ! :-)

[BStella Florida]

But at looking at it, it appears to be against the Gulf Stream current ... we rather think of following the Bahamas Banks until Mayaguana, or Inagua Island, and then take the channel between Cuba and Haiti (Windward Passage), stop in Jamaica, do the Caiman Island to finally bring our boat to Panama or Guatemala for the dry storage (7 months). Ideally, we would like to have another sailboat similar to ours (same speed) to sail with us, for security.

[BStella Florida]

For now, we think of following the Bahamas Banks until Mayaguana, or Inagua Island, and then take the channel between Cuba and Haiti (Windward Passage), stop in Jamaica, do the Caiman Island to finally bring our boat to Panama or Guatemala for the dry storage (7 months).

Ideally, we would like to have another sailboat similar to ours (same speed) to sail with us, for security.

[MicHughV]

If it were me.....the following.

The west wall of the Gulf Stream is about 70 odd miles east of J'ville. This is where I'd cross as the current velocity is not as strong as further south.
I have crossed here several times, even in a nor-easter. The waves were big, but tenable, and once thru' a NE wind is what you want.
Once thru' the stream make a heading towards the lower B'mas island group of your chosing. I'd tend to go for the most easterly group as easterly winds is what to expect down there.
From there, you'll have several choices of destinations, before crossing over to Guatamala.

Island hopping thru' the B'mas is a motoring windward slog. The only real way to do this is to have unlimited time and an open schedule allowing you to " wait for weather".

I have crossed over to the B'mas many times. Besides the above, an alternate route is to hug the Florida east coast from J'ville to ...say....Ft. P. This keeps you out of the stream. If you're lucky you can ride a nor-easter down from J'vile. An overnighter can put you in Ft. P. Turn east there and as above make as much easting as possible before heading south to a B'mas Island of your choice.

As originally pointed out, have several options in hand as the weather can and will change from day to day, the goal being to make your easting early in the trip.

[BStella Florida]

Thank you for the advices. I will discuss this with my husband. Last feb-mar-apr. we sailed down to Key West - stopping several times - Hollywood, Cap Canaveral ... and sailed back to Jacksonville, where our car was and drove back to Canada. We used to haul-out in Trinidad (4 last years) we loved Tobago and Grenada... 3 last years we sailed mostly in the French Islands. If we enjoy the next season, we may keep our sailboat for few more years. I am 64, Richard is 65. Our boat is presently for sell but we will remove her from the market for now. Just ordered a new main sail. Our Fischer Panda genset just sold on EBay (too expensive to rebuilt for us) we are replacing the batteries and fixing everything that needs to be fixed before leaving ... I am looking forward this next sailing adventure ... :-)

[MicHughV]

You are only slightly younger than me.

For what it is worth, the B'mas are tough to beat. You could spend years there and not see it all. Each island group has it's own flavor, and airports are everywhere, should you need a to take a trip back to the US.

If you want to get some more sea miles, Bermuda is an alternate destination. From
J'ville, expect a 7-10 day trip. The place is pricey, very British, but well worth a visit. Anchorages abound everywhere, and you can stop in the B'mas on your way back.

[BStella Florida]

We already did the Bahamas (winters of 2012 and 2013). We then hauled-out our boat in Stuart - Hinckley Marina. Yes Bahamas are fabulous. White sand, nice reefs, lots of lobsters and conch ... One of the reason we think about Guatemala is because the manpower is cheap compare to Canada or USA. We would like a new cockpit table, maybe new covering for our inside cushions, wood work, etc. etc. And also to discover Guatemala and the countries around ...

[MicHughV]

Gotcha...well, good luck on your trip !!

[MicHughV]

Forgot to add....Rio Dulce is a popular spot with the yachties, probably a good place to get stuff done.

[BStella Florida]

Yes, we will get quotations for the dry storage in marinas of Rio Dulce. And you ? What are your plans ? Sailing in the Bahamas ?

[donradcliffe]

You can minimize gulf stream problems by heading to West End of Cuba, then crabbing over to Isla Mujeres.

I skipped Belize due to reported problems with officials but there are good anchorages.

Roatan/Guanaja were easy and cheap to check in and out, and I really enjoyed them.

I will always avoid Jamaica.

I liked Providencia, but getting there is sketchy with headwinds and pirates.