Crossing the Caribbean

[ABAYLEY]

I want to go from the BVI's to Panama Canal in late Feb/early March. My "World Cruising Routes" book tells me it's a pretty rough ride at that time.

Does anyone have any experience of this passage at that time of year or do you have any tips/hints/facts I ought to know?!?

Many thanks.

[btrayfors]

At least you should have the wind, seas, and current with you!

But, it will definitely be a very rough ride.

Here's the Pilot Chart for February.

Bill

[imagine2frolic]

I would think reducing sail will make it a whole lot more comfortable. When we came through the Windward Passage we expected a 2 1/2 day sleigh ride. What we got was all on the nose at 20+ knots..........i2f

[Dave852]

Just that its very doable despite what Jimmy says. We did it at the beginning of February through the windward passage. Like a previous poster said, you will have a better angle from the BVI. Study your gribs and plan on passing the windy area off the coast of Colombia during a lull. Lull meaning less than 30 knots at that time of year.

[barnakiel]

We did it around the same time in a 26 footer. No big deal.

We hopped and for the last and statistically most windy hop (from Aruba) we simply waited the puff over and sailed in perfect conditions.

barnie