Routing & pots of call btwn BVIs and Marathon/Miami FL

[chrtucke]

I am in the process of buying a boat down in Road Town, BVI. I plan to bring it back up to FL myself with a little help from some friends. )

I envision taking 2-4 day hops depending on weather etc and am looking for advice on a route that has decent ports along the way with airports close by for crew swapping fuel/provisions etc if necessary. It seems that there is basically a straight shot from the northern Caribbean to the Florida Keys without too many variations but I'm hoping to get some insight into "ports of call" and air travel resources etc along that basic route...i.e. is it better to stay a bit south and maybe plan a stop in the DR and then the Bahamas or go further north and plan a stop in the Turks & Caicos etc?

I'm planning to buy soon and then bring her up in Nov/Dec timeline.

Thank you in advance for your insights.

[rockDAWG]

It is an easy ride or should I say it is the reverse of the thorny path. You have plenty option depending on how much time your have. I would not worry about it. Focus on finding your boat first.

[sck5]

If you go to the turks and caicos there isnt much chance to stop until you get there. That would be probablybe 425 miles give or take - 3-4 days depending how fast you go. And a really pleasant sail in April May! After that you can hop to whichever Bahama island you like

[nautical62]

I did that solo sailing last summer with only one over nighter.

With 2-4 day hops, it would be tough to skip the D.R., so probably stop in P.R., then Sousua to check into the D.R., then Luperon to check out. You could skip the T&C and check directly into the Bahamas, realizing the southern Bahamas are limited in terms of re-provisioning or notable airports. (Depending on the boat and wind, you might be able to from the VIs, directly to the T&Cs in 4 days, skipping P.R. and D.R.)

You could hit Long and from there to Gerogetown for a re-provision and crew change. Hit an Exuma Island or two if desired, the Berries and back to FL.

My stops were:

Sun Bay Bay, Vieques, P.R.
Isle Des Mortes, P.R.
Boqueron, P.R.
Puerto Real, P.R. (Didn't go far due to engine problems)
Sousua, D.R.
?? (name escapes me)
Rio San Juan, D.R.
Louperon, D.R.
Big Sandy, T&C
Sapodilla Bay, T&C
Mayaguan, Bahamas
West Plana (short day after checking in)
Attwood Harbour, Acklins
Little Harbour, Long island
NW tip of Long Island
Great Guana, Exuma (skipped Georgetown)
Hawksbill
N. Eleuthera
Abacos where I spent some time due to weather before hopping to Florida.