How long to sail from Florida to Grand Cayman?

[JoSamSailors]

Hello!


My partner and I are looking to buy a sailboat in Florida and have her sailed to Grand Cayman where we live (due to there only being 3 sailboats for sale here and none are in very good condition!).


So wondering roughly how long the journey will take and how much we should budget. We plan to be onboard the boat but would hire a captain. Budget is fairly small, so looking for advise on how to find a good but inexpensive captain.


Thanks!


Jo & Sam

[GreenWave]

PLan on minimum of $300 per day for a delivery captain worth the cause. Once the journey starts, it is probably 3-6 days, depending on where in Florida you start. Factor in expenses like food and transportation for the captain.

[JoSamSailors]

Thank you, that seems reasonable! One person had said 10-15 days which seemed a bit excessive

[GreenWave]

Originally Posted by JoSamSailors

Thank you, that seems reasonable! One person had said 10-15 days which seemed a bit excessive

Just to be transparent, in full disclosure, I have not sailed that route. My guess was based on looking at the charts. Currents and usual winds will impact that. Find a delivery captain who has done that route or close to it before.

[Allied39]

Hard to say time wise.
It took me me 9 days exactly two years ago to run from Mayport (nth FL) to around Cabo San Antonio (Cuba).
I was in no rush so could have taken a day or two off that with more motoring, but winds are fickle at times.
It's an easy run though.

[JoSamSailors]

Thanks for the info! Were you docking overnight?

[model 10]

Originally Posted by Allied39

Hard to say time wise.
It took me me 9 days.
It's an easy run though.

The run from Florida to the tip of Cuba may be easy but from there on it would be into the wind.
Buy a boat in the Rio Dulce, it's close. I could set you up with a nice boat and a local delivery captain for as little as $20k.

[slug]

Originally Posted by JoSamSailors

Hello!


My partner and I are looking to buy a sailboat in Florida and have her sailed to Grand Cayman where we live (due to there only being 3 sailboats for sale here and none are in very good condition!).


So wondering roughly how long the journey will take and how much we should budget. We plan to be onboard the boat but would hire a captain. Budget is fairly small, so looking for advise on how to find a good but inexpensive captain.


Thanks!


Jo & Sam

It’s not an easy trip, be sure your boat and captain are up to the task

[Benz]

Whatever competent captain you get will hopefully know the route already. The size of the boat and its fuel capacity will affect your timeline. Key West to Isla Mujeres is 2-3 nights, so a little less perhaps to Cabo San Antonio, but after you turn that corner, it's kind of upwind. If you do it in winter, the northerly component of the breeze will help you along. If you try and squeeze it in before hurricane season this year......you'll need a really good captain.
BTW, average rate for delivery captains in my neck of the woods (New England) is $500/day plus expenses. It's what I charge, and I'm not the most expensive or sought-after.

[Allied39]

To the op.
No not docking overnight. My happy place is offshore alone. Another posted it's not an easy trip. Thats true enough for some, an easy trip to one is extremely difficult for another.
Know your limitations,,,but be wary of those terrified by the slightest adversity.

[SVHarmonie]

It depends on the boat... but a reasonable time budget from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Cayman would be 6 days. There are always the possibility for weather and mechanical delays of course.

Your best bet for a skipper is to find someone local to where the boat is leaving from. Then you save the travel expenses to the boat. I agree that $300/day is the best price you should expect to pay.

Much past June 1 you might find it difficult to get insurance... although if you live in the Caymans you might know somebody in the biz... )

[Svsumurun]

Having lived in Grand Cayman , it's the 'small budget' thing that got me
Is it that by NA standards or CI ? Because they are vastly different things! Depending on how long you have been there, your sense of budget gets modified !
And if it is really small budget , then I would suggest the boat isn't a great idea , because nothing is cheap in CI ! Is the yacht club in the north sound still there? It's not big boats, but sailors are sailors and they may be able to help!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by JoSamSailors

Thank you, that seems reasonable! One person had said 10-15 days which seemed a bit excessive

Bear in mind that it could take that long depending on weather and other factors like repairs. Be sure you have a clear contract regarding delays and related expenses. Boats and schedules rarely mix well.

[Cool Hand Luke]

7 days with an average speed of 5 knots. But as others have said, weather and other issues may arise.

Also, this is from pretty much up top of Florida. If you start more south, it'll take less time. I'd do it but my wife won't let me