sailing Bocas to Miami

[robay]

Hi everyone. I am analyzing sailing from Bocas del Toro, Panama, to Miami.Waht is the best route to get there ? I am thinking to leave BOCAS at the end of Nobember. Tks

[ItDepends]

Well... it depends...

I'll assume you are looking for a delivery route, covering ground ASAP without looking to stop.

If your boat motors well to windward, and you carry a good bit of fuel, shooting between Haiti and Cuba is the fastest option in most weather.

If you'll need to, or want to, sail it, you'll probably be going around the west side of Cuba and pick up the beginnings of the Gulf Stream across the north coast of Cuba.

[mvweebles]

I delivered a trawler from California to Florida in 2004 and went straight north, past west end of Cuba. Early next year, I will be getting my personal boat from Ensenada to my home in Florida. My personal concerns are not just weather, but geopolitical. It's been quiet for a couple years, but piracy off Nicaragua was a problem that stretched to San Andres (Provedencia). Another delivery skipper I met suggested beating to Port Antonio Jamaica, then through thr B'mas which makes sense.

It can be a tough slog. I did the trip in March and had NE wind at 25 kts most of the way. Under similar conditions, I'd make as much easting as possible (Sta Marta Colombia, which is supposedly a nice town) to get a better angle on San Andres.

[carlosproa]

Take a wide turn away from Nicaragua, head to Cayman Brac, then hug Cuba west and get to the US at key west for official entry.
After that you have an easy way back to Miami

[mvweebles]

Originally Posted by carlosproa

Take a wide turn away from Nicaragua, head to Cayman Brac, then hug Cuba west and get to the US at key west for official entry.
After that you have an easy way back to Miami

Could be tough - not sure that route works. Dominant winds in November are out of NE. Staying off Nicaragua would be difficult and wet. Maybe if winds veer to east and boat points extremely well.....


Pilot charts would be helpful. This is not an easy or fast run.

https://www.sailnet.com/threads/nga-...wnloads.38767/

[Snore]

Piece of cake. Done this twice in last few years.

Head almost due east to just short of the Panamanian border then turn north. If you can make the Windward Pass, go for it. Just know it can be bumpy. West end of Cuba is easy, from there you may have to burn some diesel to make Key West. Clear in there (they are ‘meticulous’j, take on fuel and scoot up to Miami.

[GinTonic]

Originally Posted by Snore

Piece of cake. Done this twice in last few years.

Head almost due east to just short of the Panamanian border then turn north. If you can make the Windward Pass, go for it. Just know it can be bumpy. West end of Cuba is easy, from there you may have to burn some diesel to make Key West. Clear in there (they are ‘meticulous’j, take on fuel and scoot up to Miami.

Dear Snore

We have a 41'1 Beneteau , draft is 5' 7" , Jamaican Flag , any advice on Clearing in Key West ? Any Advice on Scooting to Miami on the west side of the keys ?

Thanks !

PS Our boat is in Turtle Cay , Panama , near San Blas so our itinerary is San Andres , then Cayman Islands, and round cuba on the west end to Hemingway Marina in cuba , and from there to clear in Key West

[Snore]

G&T skip Stock Island, head for Margaritaville.

Drawing 5’7”, I would go Cayman to Key West or Cayman direct to Miami. The second option would let you ride the GS for part of the trip.

[Kettlewell]

I would do Bocas to Providencia and then around the corner to Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico and then hop off from Isla Mujeres for the Keys, then Miami. We did that in the spring and had mostly good sailing the whole way. You need to catch the favorable current from Isla Mujeres by looping well to the north before heading east to the Keys.