Sail direct from North Florida to Bahamas/Abaco ?

[OldManMirage]

I've been here long enough to know this is not the normal way. Most people go to Miami and wait for the weather window they like and make a run for it. But I also know some do it differently.

What are the pros/cons of just heading east/ESE and getting past the Gulf Stream and turning south ? I'm guessing by looking at Cornell's weather patterns that it would be mostly an uphill slog to weather.

[boatman61]

Not really.. just wait for the S'ly window that swings W and then N over a 3 to 4 day period..
Jump across the top of the Banks on this then ride the N'ly South..

[tkeithlu]

The more southerly your course the longer you will be in the Gulf Stream. You want to jump it, not fight your way through it. Figure out your triangle based on five knots and 60 Mn to cross with your expected speed. Then turn south for West End. Have a really fun trip.

[Sparx]

I think you have the right idea. Just pick a day with a wind that will get you across the Gulf Stream quickly. Lingering in the current will not be helpful so just blast across on a point of sail that gives good speed.


Based on today's current data http://https://ocean.weather.gov/new...m_currents.php heading south east from Canaveral is a reasonable plan.

In my experience it is nice out there.

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by tkeithlu

The more southerly your course the longer you will be in the Gulf Stream. You want to jump it, not fight your way through it. Figure out your triangle based on five knots and 60 Mn to cross with your expected speed. Then turn south for West End. Have a really fun trip.

If you are coming from the north there's no imaginable reason to go to West End that I know of if you want to be in the Abacos. Folks that do it as a waypoint from S. FL frequently get trapped there due to weather. In our case, we usually just went direct from as far south as we could get reasonably, and then over the Memory Rock/White Sand area onto the banks. However...

North FL isn't all that far from the GS. Choose a course which is at right angles to the flow (nominally 090) to minimize your time in the stream and thus your northing. Take a clocking system beginning with westerly to get across (SW-WNW will be fine).

OTOH, northers are your friend once you're on the east side of the stream. Depending on where you want to start in the Abacos, you can head directly to either Walker (more challenging to get inside) or, better, further West at the top of the banks, to Mantanilla or Middle shoals, or at any of the entrances at the various cays further along.

I did essentially that our first time in, and came in near Spanish...