Curacao to Panama - inshore or offshore route?

[On the rode]

Hello.

I will be transiting from Willemstad Curacao to Colon Panama sometime in the latter part of September. I am trying to decide whether to plan the passage to pass North or South of Aruba. I understand that with the unrest in Venezuela it might be better to give Venezuela a wider berth, but of course there are advantages I think to the Southerly inshore route if it is otherwise safe. Can anyone offer any advice in this regard?

Thank you.

[belizesailor]

In theory more distance off is better, but I passed S of Aruba and just barely within visual range of Monjes Norte a few years ago without incident. Of course, the situation has gotten worse since then.

Venezuelan friends tell me most of the trouble is around major population centers like Caracas and that its not as bad (not good, just not as bad) in the country side and out at the islands.

Ive not heard of anyone having troubles on that route and CSSN shows no reported events. The only nearby reported events have been dinghy thefts in the anchorage of Cabo de Vela...so probably best to give that remote anchorage a pass.

https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/zoo...sessment-tool/

[s/v Moondancer]

The first time we did the trip we went inshore but then some friends were robbed at gunpoint a few miles off-shore.

The next time we went well off-shore and waited for 25+ knots and 8ft seas to keep the bad guys in harbor.

[On the rode]

Thanks to Moondancer and Belizesailor for your responses. I appreciate your views and your taking the time to respond.

Best. AMS

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

The next time we went well off-shore and waited for 25+ knots and 8ft seas to keep the bad guys in harbor.

Good tactic. Makes a lot of sense if you can handle it.

[LeaseOnLife]

We only did that section twice, this is our 2018 track. Per Pilot Charts, I believe you catch better, favorable current staying in deeper water. We did have quite a bit of adverse current coming out of Spanish Waters, but once we were N of Aruba it turned with us almost all the way to Santa Marta.

[On the rode]

Makes sense. Think I remember reading something about contrary currents in shallower water for that route. Will look at the Pilot Chart, as I should have already, but it's on the boat in Curacao and I'm in Florida. I'll go on line for it here. Thanks for taking the time to respond and to send me your route.

[Caravela1986]

Weather determines your route. Go direct to Colon if weather is favorable. If you run into a problem, transit S towards Cartagena (Plan B) or San Blas Islands (Plan C ). N of Aruba is safer.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

The first time we did the trip we went inshore but then some friends were robbed at gunpoint a few miles off-shore.

The next time we went well off-shore and waited for 25+ knots and 8ft seas to keep the bad guys in harbor.

Originally Posted by Hardhead

Good tactic. Makes a lot of sense if you can handle it.

This tactic has been used successfully on the Nicaraguan Banks too...a SV was pursued by pangas in sporty conditions, SV went hard to windward w all possible speed, pangas could not maintain speed and gave up.

[On the rode]

Thank you for your reply. It's appreciated.

[belizesailor]

Also September is generally a good time to make this transit. The area of disturbed weather associated w the Colombian Low typically settles down in summer months then revives around January when the seasonal Trades fill in again.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

The first time we did the trip we went inshore but then some friends were robbed at gunpoint a few miles off-shore.

The next time we went well off-shore and waited for 25+ knots and 8ft seas to keep the bad guys in harbor.

When/where did the robbery happen?

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

When/where did the robbery happen?

Bump......

[sy_gilana]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Bump......

Hi Curtis, I have never heard of an underway robbery there. This might be referring to the people who were robbed in 5 bays. Details on CSSN.


I prefer the inside route, at the mouth of the Magdalena river, you only have about a mile of debris, further out, its 20 miles wide.



Also, you can change course and alter the wind speed by 5 knots in 2 miles, ie, closer and further from the shore...outside, you get what you get...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Hi Curtis, I have never heard of an underway robbery there. This might be referring to the people who were robbed in 5 bays. Details on CSSN.


I prefer the inside route, at the mouth of the Magdalena river, you only have about a mile of debris, further out, its 20 miles wide.



Also, you can change course and alter the wind speed by 5 knots in 2 miles, ie, closer and further from the shore...outside, you get what you get...

I have not either, which is why I was curious.