Has anyone done this route to the Bahamas?

[svhighlander]

Thanks guys. Got some good ideas I hadn't thought of. Plan is to leave Wilmington first weather window with after 11/1. Will head south just west of the Gulf Stream. If and when the winds drop down to less than 10 kts, or veer to the SE-W, I will make the crossing at that point. Probably need to let the seas die down for 24 hours. Once across the Gulf Stream I will head for the NW corner of the Little Bahamas Banks and enter there and probably head to Great Sale Cay.

If I don't get a weather window to cross I will pull in at Ft. Pierce or other inlet and wait for a crossing opportunity.

If any of you get to the Bahamas and see me, stop by for a cold one. I owe you.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by svhighlander

Thanks guys. Got some good ideas I hadn't thought of. Plan is to leave Wilmington first weather window with after 11/1. Will head south just west of the Gulf Stream. If and when the winds drop down to less than 10 kts, or veer to the SE-W, I will make the crossing at that point. Probably need to let the seas die down for 24 hours. Once across the Gulf Stream I will head for the NW corner of the Little Bahamas Banks and enter there and probably head to Great Sale Cay.

If I don't get a weather window to cross I will pull in at Ft. Pierce or other inlet and wait for a crossing opportunity.

If any of you get to the Bahamas and see me, stop by for a cold one. I owe you.

If all goes well might make it Nov. Plan B, Chicken Harbor in Feb. Where you headed from the Abacos.

By the way, sounds like a good plan to me.

[gulfcoastsailor]

My only experience is at Fort Pierce. I recommend it

[jewt]

You pays your money, you take your chances. If it was too easy EVERYONE would do it!

jewt

[Cheechako]

From Cape Canaveral you will be bucking the Gulf Stream a long time. The advantage of going way south is avoiding that, as well as spending minimal time in the stream if the NE wind is blowing against it. There's usually a reason "most people..." Biscayne is great because it's a straight shot across perpendicular to the GS.

[jewt]

If we get back together by late Nov/Early Dec. we will be there also.

jewt

S/V Bifrost

[rpjn59]

I would suggest that 'wait 24 hrs.' for the seas to die down be maybe more based on the conditions and recent weather history. Several years ago we were crossing from Lake Worth, it took almost two weeks for northeast swell to die down due to several low pressure systems that crossed the upper atlantic. And the wind, forecast to becoming from the SE, only clocked down to East. NOAA forcast 10-15 with 4' seas. The reality was 25-35 with 6-8 to 10' ft. and we were not even in the GS yet, we turned around and waited. With the wind on the nose. This would have doubled the crossing time and would have quite uncomfortable, be flexible..fair winds.

[Time Traveler]

Two things:

1. Weather Window: you can get very fine weather and departure guidance from Chris Parker (MWXC). For a modest charge, he will personalize a plan built around your preferred float time, advising you to go or wait a bit, with five days of routing from the actual departure including where to enter the stream, what headings to adopt, waypoints to pick-up (or avoid) backloops East of the Stream (a straight line is not the quickest/easiest route to Abaco). Nothing you can't do yourself if you have the background and experience, but using Chris pretty well eliminates the guesswork around weather windows. And if you have either SSB or email underway, you can continue to consult him throughout the passage. Can't recommend MWXC highly enough.

2. Rages: If there's any question about rages, the cut just north of Man o' War is almost always clear and easy. The cozy harbor at MoW should be on your Abaco itinerary, anyway. And Marsh Harbor is just across the bay. Then, if you want to visit anchorages farther North, it's easy to cross the Whale at a time of your choosing. Or start South, inside or outside.

FW&FS, and all that.

[Symphony]

Originally Posted by rpjn59

I would suggest that 'wait 24 hrs.' for the seas to die down be maybe more based on the conditions and recent weather history. Several years ago we were crossing from Lake Worth, it took almost two weeks for northeast swell to die down due to several low pressure systems that crossed the upper atlantic. And the wind, forecast to becoming from the SE, only clocked down to East. NOAA forcast 10-15 with 4' seas. The reality was 25-35 with 6-8 to 10' ft. and we were not even in the GS yet, we turned around and waited. With the wind on the nose. This would have doubled the crossing time and would have quite uncomfortable, be flexible..fair winds.

I have left Ft Worth and Ft Lauderdale in that type of forecast too. I have run into the same nasty headwind and seas as you did - for 3 or 4 miles out. Then we found the predicted and more pleasant conditions.

Not saying it would have been the same for you back when you encountered those rough seas.

I have also suddenly been thrust in the wash machine for the last 3 miles approaching Port Everglades after a nice beam reach.

[dunstonwayne]

Ok...so who is Chris Parker i m suppose to be listening to?

[Lowcountry]

Chris Parker is a weather forecaster/router who lives in Florida and provides detailed (and accurate) weather forecasts for boaters via SSB on a daily basis. I wouldn't go to the Bahamas without a subscription with him. You can get on the net on the SSB every morning and he will give you a specific weather forecast for your exact location and suggest when it will be better or worse for you to move to wherever you want to go. His service is worth every penny.
https://www.mwxc.com/