 |
|
19-08-2008, 09:13
|
#1
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 11
|
Sailing the Caribbean - is it possible in ....??
Does anyone know where I can get the Marine Weather information of the Caribbean Sea between Mexico and the islands from the Gulf of Mexico (starting in Florida) to Trinidad during March / April, including sea current and wind directions?
Or if you have experience of sailing / cruising during this time, I would love to hear about it.
I have heard that there is a window, at this time of year for good sailing south through the Caribbean. Did I understand correctly?
I also found a book called the 'Concise Guide to Caribbean Weather' by David Jones... any comments?
In advance many thanks
rascalarg 
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 09:39
|
#2
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SF Bay area
Boat: Columbia 57 "Angelique"
Posts: 67
|
look for a "pilot chart" for the area. they have wind and sea averages from the past ... lot of years (25 or 50 i think)
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 10:18
|
#3
|
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 47,153
|
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 10:56
|
#4
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 11
|
Thank for this information, it has all the information I was looking for...
Much appreciated
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 13:23
|
#5
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,147
|
"mainly fine weathah"
As the Caribe broadcast goes "mainly fine weathah" Seriously, that would be a great time of year, assuming you watch the wx report/nets along the way. The wind will generally blow from the east daily. You will be making day sails much of the time between islands. An occasional overnighter. (Turks to Dom Republic, Dom Republic to Puerto Rico, Grenada to Trinidad)
The lee side of the islands will generally not be strong winds.... if any. You will get hammered between the islands on your day sails at times. (It can be 12 knots behinds the islands and 25-30 between.) You will want to be to Trinidad or at least Grenada by June sometime. Personally I would want as much time Jan-June as possilble to linger...Damn.... I gotta go back!...........
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 13:44
|
#6
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 11
|
Thanks for this Cheechako, sounds like you have some good times down there... After looking briefly at the charts I did see the easterly winds generally between 11 - 16kn, but it make sense that I will get hammered (by the wind of course, not by alcohol ;-)) between the islands... but is does sound like fun...
What about the top part from Florida, round the North of Cuba? Would I have the east wind behind me, battling against the current ..... or what would you suggest would be the best route to get to the Caribbean at this time of year...
Many thanks again...
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 13:46
|
#7
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 182
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by rascalarg
I also found a book called the 'Concise Guide to Caribbean Weather' by David Jones... any comments?:
|
Great book, David really had a handle on Caribbean weather patterns.
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 15:06
|
#8
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tampa Bay area, USA
Boat: Beneteau First 42
Posts: 3,961
|
Passage Weather
We have been relying upon Passage Weather at http://www.passageweather.com for some time and have found their projections very accurate. For example, they predicted the course actually taken by Fay yesterday morning, long before anyone else did. They were also dead on with weather conditions for our trip to Key West and back in June. You might find the site useful.
s/v HyLyte 
__________________
"It is not so much for its beauty that the Sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 17:45
|
#9
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Gulf Port Florida
Boat: Island Packet 45. Tiki Hut
Posts: 45
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by GordMay
|
This information is excellent. Can you instruct us on how to change the month? I tried going into the Marintime web site without positive results. Assistance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
__________________
 GeorgeR
TIKI HUT
|
|
|
|
|
19-08-2008, 18:09
|
#10
|
|
CF Adviser
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Virginia
Boat: Island Packet 380, now sold
Posts: 8,942
|
George,
It's a very quirky site, and requires a bit of patience and work-around sometimes. It doesn't like to be linked to for some reason. Try this one, and select Atlas of Pilot Charts from the Publications menu.
http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/marit...c24fd73927a759
__________________
Hud
|
|
|
|
|
20-08-2008, 03:36
|
#11
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Gulf Port Florida
Boat: Island Packet 45. Tiki Hut
Posts: 45
|
Thanks Hud!!
__________________
GeorgeR
TIKI HUT
|
|
|
|
|
20-08-2008, 04:18
|
#12
|
|
Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 47,153
|
Google “Pilot Charts” or “Atlas of Pilot Charts”, then select the NGA “Maritime Safety Information” return:
Or goto URL: nga.mil/portal/site/maritime/?epi_menuItemID=a633978aca46a1625b2a7fbd3227a759
Hot Link (which, as Hud indicates, is VERY quirky):
http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/marit...2a7fbd3227a759
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
|
|
|
|
|
21-08-2008, 12:16
|
#13
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hampshire UK-Summers. Winters, cruising Caribbean
Boat: Searunner 40. Maxolar
Posts: 11
|
You need a vhf and a short wave radio, then once you get out cruising, there are local 'nets' that you will find, giving really good weather forecasts every morning and evening too sometimes. It is suprising how much information is available over the radio, from fellow cruisers. I have all frequency details on board the tri, but here in UK my memory does not retain such 'boaty stuff' when I am landbound. We sailed from Honduras up through Belize and Mexico to FL, 30 Dec to 11 Feb '08, not rushing, and waiting for weather, with decent forecasts all the way.
DaveM
|
|
|
|
|
21-08-2008, 12:22
|
#14
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hampshire UK-Summers. Winters, cruising Caribbean
Boat: Searunner 40. Maxolar
Posts: 11
|
Just rememberd, you might like to read 'The thornless passage', author beginning with a P !! My excuse is old age memory loss.
DaveM
|
|
|
|
|
21-08-2008, 12:49
|
#15
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,147
|
+1 on the Thornless Passage
great book. Had dinner with the Author on his boat in Luperon. Down to earth, a little opinionated, but pretty much right on!
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Rate This Thread |
 Linear Mode
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Advertise Here
 Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vendor Spotlight |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
