What is considered the best season to cruise the keys/Bahamas?? October - December or January-May ?? We want to dodge hurricanes but winter gales aren't fun either. It seems that winter in the Bahamas can be very windy and cool. Thanks!!
Best Season to Cruise the Keys
- Thread starter MoonSailer
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For the past two winters both the Bahamas and the Keys have been quite cool and quite windy (2009 from the E, and 2010 from the N) .... only becoming 'normal' in March/April. With the current wind/weather patterns for me the best time there is now late march through June ... of course it will all change 'tomorrow' when there isnt an El Nino or La Nina.
I think most cruising guides actually are written for summer cruising, but if you are a northerner you want to get away from snow and winters, right? As mentioned, last year was terribly cold in Florida, unlike normal years. There isn't much you can do about that. But, generally speaking, the best time in the winter to sail the keys and the Bahamas are in February, March or April, with the latters being better. Before February and often into February there are weather systems called "Northers" that unexpectedly come from the NW and bring heavy air and often precipitation. These phenomenons usually subside as you get into March and are gone by April. But, you cannot trust mother nature. The keys, for the most part are pretty protected and you can get out of bad weather in pretty short order. If you are on the Atlantic side you most likely will be in Biscayne Bay and south in the Hawk Channel all the way to Key West. This is also the ICW. If you are on the Gulf side then you can be more exposed as you head south towards Key West, but not so much from the Ft. Myers area north. If you plan on the Bahamas you have to do a Gulf Stream crossing and you really have to pick your weather window. It is a very rough and uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe place to be if you catch big winds and heavy seas. So, you really want to watch the weather reports, sea reports, etc. and pick the day and night to cross in comfort. When they give you wave heights in Florida, they will be a lot higher in the Gulf Stream. The Bahamas are a wonderful place to cruise, but you will be in a lot more open water while passage making and so weather is always a top priority. Going with it is much nicer than going against it. Getting to Nassau will bring you across lots of open water from, say Bimini. Across the bank it is shallow, but exposed. Once past the NW Providence Channel light towards Nassau you again (or continue to be) will be in open water, but it will be very deep. If you go to West End from Florida, then a trip over the Grand Bahama Islands to the Abacos will put you in a lot of Cays where you can find shelter. Once around Marsh Harbour you will be on the inside of the sea of Abaco (and off the Atlantic) where you are very protected. If you go on the south side of the Grand Bahama Island, there is no place other than Newport Lucaya for shelter and then nothing after. From the Abacos,if you go around the east end and south to Nassau or the Exumas past the Hole in the Wall you will be in open ocean again and again you have to watch wind and sea conditions. The exumas provide more protection all the way down to Georgetown. Leaving the Exumas toward Nassau again (Hybourne Cay) across the yellow and white banks put you in open water again, but the distance is only about 30 or so miles. But, you want to watch your wind and weather. Many sailors charter boats in the BVI's and get a taste of ocean sailing. It is a wonderful vacation and very comfortable cruising grounds for the most part, but hardly an example of sailing from Florida to and around the Bahamas. This is a much more serious endeavor. Of course, you can do this during a windless month and wonder what the big deal is. But do it for a month when the wind and seas are crazy, it is a different event. I have motored to the Exumas due to no wind and I have seen 18 foot seas on the ocean too. People who have enjoyed chartering boats in the Marsh Harbour area of the Abacos (say the Moorings) enjoy simular vacation to the BVI's. They don't let you outside the reef where the trouble is. But, I encourage you to plan and go. Have fun, but be safe and watch the weather.
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