Hurricane Season - North or South?!

[BobL1981]

Hello fellow CF’ers!

I’m looking for some insight to assist us in making our decision regarding the hurricane season. We are newer to cruising (7 months) and have never left the boat for longer than 2 weeks in a marina and have never hauled out or ‘closed the boat’ on the hard.

Here are the facts:
- we have a 2018 Lagoon 42
- currently in BVI
- Hurricane season for our policy starts July 1.
- Northern limit is Cape Hatteras, NC.
- Lower limit on policy is 10°
- Premium add-on for 10° - 12°40’ is $1200.00 for the season.
- Premium add-on for above 12°40 is $3600 for the season.
- We took foreign delivery of a US Flagged vessel and have not paid the duty which would be $10k.
- We crossed the Atlantic, but with crew, heading North would require us to have more crew for safety. Heading South is well within our abilities without crew.

Our objective:
- we would like to leave the boat and head home for part of the season, maybe 6-10 weeks.

Our concerns:
- heading North to the US means we have to pay the duty and find friends/crew to assist in the trek up. Furthermore, we’ve heard the trip back SE can be a b*tch. I’ve done some research and haven’t been successful in finding many places on the East coast with catamaran lifts and haul out services.
- Heading South we are worried about the Summer heat if we cruise in the Grenadines area. Also concerned about personal and vessel safety if we head down to Trinidad for a haul out and storage scenario.
- Is it worthwhile to haul out for 6-10 weeks or just grab a slip knowing we will need a new bottom paint job in Fall and a dirty hull will be cleaned regardless.

I’m hoping to tap in your brains for some insight on our scenario and some comments/advice on your past experiences. Money is always a concern but will be ignored for the sake of safe and enjoyable sailing.

Thanks!

[Flagman101]

South. A close to the equator as possible

[belizesailor]

If the far SE Carib worries you then head West. Its an easy down wind sail all the way to the ABCs, Colombia, or Panama.

The notorious area off Colombia starts to settle down this time of year and its typically an easy run across to Panama (unlike earlier in the season).

[Paul L]

Some additional options. Bonaire is a great place to hang out for 90 days - visa limit. Curacao is a decent place to store.

[Speedy1961]

South from the BVI is usually a great reach and we usually go there from St Croix Caracas Bai Curacao is the best cruiser destination we have ever been to Spaneze waters is a huge harbor hundreds of sailboats at anchor very friendly customs and immigration. We have traveled over 30,000miles in 25 years.

[Caribbeanreiki]

Definitely go South.
Been in VA (North of Hatteras) with Matthew around and you want to avoid that.
If you want a very safe place, with daily cheap flights to the US, go to Aruba.
The local Marina offers dry storage, off Customs.
You may also hang around in the lagoon or along the sandy beaches for a while (6 months max).