I plan on crossing from Miami to Bimini in a few weeks and have been advised not to attempt it with any northerly part of the wind direction. This could pin me down for a week. Is there any safe wind speed...( say under 15) that this would be passable? Amy advice about this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Billy C.
Bahamas crossing
- Thread starter billyc13
- Start date
- Status
THe reason for this advice is to make that crossing you will be crossing the Gulf Stream, which is a strong current flowing south-to-north... and if there is any northerly component to the wind, the wind opposing the current will make waves that make sailing in them feel like sailing in a washing machine...
In fact, you really should wait until the northerly winds have died down and been down for at least 12-hours to a day before making the crossing. It depends a lot on what boat you're in too...but even the bigger sailboats 45-60' can get pretty well beaten up by the Gulf stream just after a northerly wind.
One problem that I have experienced out there is with the forecasting. I watch for light northerlies and see 5 to 10 for a few days in the forecast. Then I get out there and they are right, it is blowing ten. But only in the morning. Then it builds all day and 'dog is right, fifteen is too much in the stream.
This year has been very bad for crossing the Gulfstream between Florida and the Bahamas.
Due to the constant (since November) and strong north winds, the gulfstream has somewhat been slowed down in its northerly course during the higher wind speeds .... and when the N wind does briefly die down a bit the 'flow' seems to be accelerated.
The accelerated northerly stream flow during 'mild winds' is causing the waves to be much higher than 'normal'.
Typical is to NOT cross the Gulfstream in the Straights of Florida during ANY *north component* (NW, NNW, N, NE, NNE) wind of Force THREE or more - dangerous. This year, even the heartiest of trans-ocean sailors are turning back (to FL) from midstream due to the apparent flow/current variations. Ive been 'waiting it out' in the FL Keys since mid-January; Im waiting for the wind flow patterns to get back to 'normal' (easterly).
Most of the harbors in the SE (Georgia through Florida) are supposedly 'choked' with boats waiting to cross to the Bahamas and beyond. Almost no one has left to cross the Gulfstream in 2 months .... because of the frequency and intensity of the gales, the sea states, and because the 'weather windows' are usually only open for 24 hours - plus there are few anchorages in the southern Bahamas in a North wind.
As long as the current El Nino keep sending LOW pressure across the ITCZ and such HIGH pressure continues over the USA, the frequency of gales and low pressure centers continue to march across the Gulf of Mex. ......, methinks you will have a very difficult time crossing the 'stream' anytime soon.
Due to the constant (since November) and strong north winds, the gulfstream has somewhat been slowed down in its northerly course during the higher wind speeds .... and when the N wind does briefly die down a bit the 'flow' seems to be accelerated.
The accelerated northerly stream flow during 'mild winds' is causing the waves to be much higher than 'normal'.
Typical is to NOT cross the Gulfstream in the Straights of Florida during ANY *north component* (NW, NNW, N, NE, NNE) wind of Force THREE or more - dangerous. This year, even the heartiest of trans-ocean sailors are turning back (to FL) from midstream due to the apparent flow/current variations. Ive been 'waiting it out' in the FL Keys since mid-January; Im waiting for the wind flow patterns to get back to 'normal' (easterly).
Most of the harbors in the SE (Georgia through Florida) are supposedly 'choked' with boats waiting to cross to the Bahamas and beyond. Almost no one has left to cross the Gulfstream in 2 months .... because of the frequency and intensity of the gales, the sea states, and because the 'weather windows' are usually only open for 24 hours - plus there are few anchorages in the southern Bahamas in a North wind.
As long as the current El Nino keep sending LOW pressure across the ITCZ and such HIGH pressure continues over the USA, the frequency of gales and low pressure centers continue to march across the Gulf of Mex. ......, methinks you will have a very difficult time crossing the 'stream' anytime soon.
I'm suprised there is no service to take boats across when the weather prevents boats for such a long period of time.
If you only had 2 weeks vacation, and the admiral wanted to see the Abacos. I bet you'd be shelling out $500-$1000 to get across now, instead of waiting until who knows when.And here I was all along thinking that boating was a do-it-yourself sport...
They'd have to put it on as deck cargo on one of those ugly cruise liners that dock in Miami. Anything smaller wouldn't eb able to get across the stream as described above, which is why a cruising boat can't either.
What one does is to fly to the Abacos and bareboat. It's a much more consistent return on investment and time.
What one does is to fly to the Abacos and bareboat. It's a much more consistent return on investment and time.
Next Year
This years weather is really been too crazy for me to do any real sailing in Florida a day here and there but mostly too cold for water sports for sure and the snow birds coming to Florida have been very disappointed with the weather.
I wonder how much better can it be in the Bahamas,just back from Hawaii and it was even cool there too.
Nick
This years weather is really been too crazy for me to do any real sailing in Florida a day here and there but mostly too cold for water sports for sure and the snow birds coming to Florida have been very disappointed with the weather.
I wonder how much better can it be in the Bahamas,just back from Hawaii and it was even cool there too.
Nick
Because of the risks to the boat, the captain and crew are unreasonably high if the wind and current aren't favorable, this is very unlikely to happen. You haven't been out in those conditions and don't really have any idea of how bad it can be.
This report today from a B323 in Exuma" Thursday, March 4:
The winds kicked up again last night, but not nearly as bad as the night before. Temp was probably about 68 or 69 today. The winds were from the northwest and brought in cold air. That seems to be the story everywhere we go. Cruisers tell us this is not a typical weather year at all. Blame it on El Nino.
I guess a bareboat would be a better option with time constraints.
I heard of those ships that sink themselves and hold boats on the deck when it comes back up. Since they go across the atlantic, I thought they could do a gulf stream crossing. It just seems like if people want something bad enough and are willing to pay for it someone will offer it. I guess they don't do it for a reason.
I heard of those ships that sink themselves and hold boats on the deck when it comes back up. Since they go across the atlantic, I thought they could do a gulf stream crossing. It just seems like if people want something bad enough and are willing to pay for it someone will offer it. I guess they don't do it for a reason.
If you're talking about the Dockwise-type yacht transport ships, they're really expensive to operate and doing short runs with them would probably not be economically feasible. Most people sailing to the Bahamas are not on a schedule. Sailing on a schedule is often a self-correcting problem, since the ocean and weather tend to kill of the people who do so.
It looks from the website that you have your choice of 4 ports in the Caribbean as a destination. Port everglades is one of the ports they leave from.But I'm pretty sure it isn't going to the Bahamas, is it???
It seems a little like cheating, like the guys who trailer their motorcycles to bike week. But if you felt inclined to do either, I wouldn't wait for the approval of the crowd.
- Status