Which way to go

[sailaway78]

Planning a trip to the US Virgins in Jan. Leaving from the New Orleans area. From the Fl. keys it is approx. 1000 miles which is 8 to 10 days. Just a little farther from Islla Mujeras. Don't really want to do that much time non stop if avoidable, and don't really want to pay the duties to stop over in the Bahamas, since don't intend on spending any time there. Any and all suggestions on routing would be appreciated. Also, if I do it non stop, is it a better trip wind and current wise, to leave from the keys, or head over to Isla Mujeras, and then go east from there.

 

[RichH]

Suggest you get a copy of VanSandt's "Gentlemans Guide to Passages South" ..... using the wind shadows of major islands and/or waiting for 'northers' that reverse the flow of the constant easterlies. Going 'direct' from the Bahamas or FL to the Virgins is aptly called "the Thorny Path".

In January you will probably be fighting the "Christmas trade winds" all the way - gonna be 'ugly'. Going direct from either (keys or Is.Mujeras) is going to be a 'bash' as you will be going against the current AND the (enhanced?) tradewinds ..... called the "Island two-step .... one step forward and two steps to the side" and your VMG is going to be VERY low. If you go 'direct' I suggest that you stop off beforehand at your dentist - to have all your fillings tightened.

In all probability it would be better/faster to sail 'up' the gulfstream (but not during any 'norther') to almost to the latitude of Charleston SC, etc. thus 'using' instead of fighting the Gulfstream and avoiding the Antilles Current that crosses the 'top' of the Abacos; then, make your easting until 65°Lon; then follow 65°Lon down to the Virgins - this way you'll be beam reaching when you hit into the 'trades' and will have left most of the adverse currents far behind you when you do hit the trades. That said, every year is different. Last year was a roaring bitch, this year so far has been a 'pussy cat'.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Also, if I do it non stop, is it a better trip wind and current wise, to leave from the keys, or head over to Isla Mujeras, and then go east from there.

Huh? Western end of Cuba is west of Keys, and IM is further west.

Going east to the BVIs from further west is questionable.

Are we having more creative spam?

 

[sailaway78]

Creative Spam

Stu,
Apparently you didn't read the post very well, or are not familiar with the area in question. I am leaving from New Orleans, and the distances to Key West, and Isla Mujeras are similar. New Orleans is west of both, so I am not going to be going farther west before I go east. I will get a copy of gentlemans passages south. Always wanted to do something like a gentleman.

 

[zeehag]

Huh? Western end of Cuba is west of Keys, and IM is further west.

Going east to the BVIs from further west is questionable.

Are we having more creative spam?

stu--why dont you restrict your answers to things you know about---i would still want to read your trip report about anything you write......speaking of spam....

btw--this is a REAL question seeking a REAL answer...there are many ways to approach the virgins.....we want to find the best for us---and those who HAVE done the trip are able to answer this appropriately.....

the boat in question is a performance cruiser......

thankyou rich for your suggestions---will be planted in our minds and publication purchased....

 

[Rick Webb]

East Then South

Is the common wisdom

I have a friend who thought that only applied to sailboats and that VanSandt' did not as much as my friend did. He got into some very rough stuff and his crew almost gave up on him and went home before he made it to Provo.

From NO I wonder about just going south and staying along the coast then going east. Never heard of anyone going that way maybe there is a reason.

 

[Benny]

Not the time of the year to be heading down there but with time and caution it can be done. You are going to be crosssing the Gulf Stream any ways. The most comfortable route would be through the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico on to the VI. You can enter Bahamian waters under a quarantine flag and as long as you do not make landfall you may avoid paying their $300 cruising fee. You will need to land at DR and PR. Offshore passages can get dicey at this time of the year.

 

[Stu Jackson]

My apologies

Thanks Nice & zeehag. I actually did look at Google Earth and charts before I asked that question. I appreciate your input and have learned something. Perhaps I am still somewhat confused in the routing concepts, so anything you can do to help us understand would be helpful.

My apologies.

z - I recall our discourse about the Baja Dash. I never said I had done it, just quoted a published source. I bow to your superior experience on that one, and this one, too.

 

[zeehag]

Re: My apologies

i have heard of folks sailing from teejass to isla mujeres then tortugas---but seems so complex---want to limit complexity and keep it simple, as it were-----i know the bahamas route is a thorny path----and i know the length of time without sleeep going from NO to tortugas via isla mujeres is 10 days-----with only 2 on board besides kat could be a trouble in that case----when i went to carib last dec, the texan went for 2 weeks from teejas to PR----was a complex route and very sleeep depriving...LOL.....boatkat doesnt know how to steer boat yet---still l earning..LOL.....we appreciate the input from you all----thankyou......
next question is gonna be --do i drive my beeter alllll the way to noo orleeenz or do i make boatkat fly again----he hates it and cannot carry stuff on board an airplane lol....they think his claws are lethal weaponry LOL.....