Klap,
Maine Cat 38, excellent! Our Second Star is also a
Maine Cat 38!
The best way to search the forum is to
google using cruisers forum in the search term. For example searching for "cruisers forum: bahamas crossing" brings up a long list of threads related to Bahamas crossings.
To get your
pump primed...Our
current plan is to take our
Maine Cat 38 to the Bahamas in February...contingent on COVID 19 developments. We will use the
ICW if
weather is not favorable, but otherwise we will get into the ocean from the Chesapeake or from
Beaufort NC. The course via the ocean will be southeast until well across the
gulf stream before heading more south. An alternative ocean
route would hug the coast giving the opportunity to visit Charleston and St Augustine. You can search the threads for lots of discussion on routes to the Bahamas, including ICW cruises if that is your preference
Depending on when your semester at sea starts you might want to include September and October in the Chesapeake. This is prime sailing time on the Chesapeake, and less vulnerable to hurricanes compared to further south.
Early November is a great time to start wondering south, and when many people start their
winter sailing season.
Happy planning!