St. Lucia to Cartagena via ABC's end of April/May??

[Rivers2Seas]

Hi Cruiser's Forum,
We are currently in the Grenadines and are headed back up to St. Lucia to pick up a crew member and then head over to Columbia. Is there anyone else headed that way right now?? Does anyone have any suggestions for guidebooks? I saw the thread in here on there really not being anything good in print, just online but thought I would try again.

Hope everyone is enjoying their time on the sea.

Cheers,
Lindsey
s/v Rivers2Seas

[barnakiel]

Get Doyles. It covers Venezuela and ABC.

Beware of the winds off the headland beyond ABC towards Columbia.

b.

[Rivers2Seas]

Thanks for the reply. I have heard the passage the ABC's to Columbia is one of the five worst in the world.. We've been watching the weather and noting different weather patterns. It sounds like you have some experience, if the weather call for a certain weather pattern; ie. lighter winds, and all of the sources of weather call for the same thing, can we still expect to be surprised by giant gusts?? Or are we ok if we wait for weather?

Lindsey

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by Rivers2Seas

Thanks for the reply. I have heard the passage the ABC's to Columbia is one of the five worst in the world.(...)

This would be a vast overstatement.

There is an area there where, at times, it blows a bit harder than in the vicinity. But it is an easy downwind ride with the current helping you. Nothing to fear of. Just follow the wx sources and do not go when a blow is forecast.

Attached an image that will give you a general idea of where the windy area is and what gradient to expect.

Cheers,
b.

[barnakiel]

Doh.

I have made another sample which shows the isobars better. Clearly a cell of low pressure over the continent accelerates the flow to its N..

b.

[Richard Jordan]

The Magladena river spits out some gnarly debris. Keep a watch out. R

[Rivers2Seas]

Thanks Guys,
That is kind of what I had thought but everybody kept giving us the 'Fire and Brimstone' talk about that area. We are certainly poised to wait for weather, and we've been watching it for a couple months now in that area as we've traveled down the islands but it is good to hear you say "not to worry" . We are looking forward to it.

Thanks again.

Lindsey