i have been searching for an up to the day flow of the gulf stream as it enters the gulf through the yucatan. we are sailing from new orleans to belize next week and need to see the current flow to chart our course. what does y'all use?
need gulf stream flow through yucatan
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Forecasts are highly
Forecasts of the Gulf Stream are highly inaccurate at best. The same goes for the Gulf Loop Current forecasts which you also need to concern yourself with. The best you can do is to look for the seasonal averages from the link in reply No.1. The only site that I know of that has accurate Loop Current and Gulf Stream forecasts is Wilkens Weather and their subscription rate is $2500/month above the regular weather subscription. This is way out of the question for me. Tony B
Forecasts of the Gulf Stream are highly inaccurate at best. The same goes for the Gulf Loop Current forecasts which you also need to concern yourself with. The best you can do is to look for the seasonal averages from the link in reply No.1. The only site that I know of that has accurate Loop Current and Gulf Stream forecasts is Wilkens Weather and their subscription rate is $2500/month above the regular weather subscription. This is way out of the question for me. Tony B
Unpredictable
As Tony said, the forecasts not very reliable. Since that is a fairly sort distance through there it isn't going to effect your total time a lot. If I was doing this trip, I would not worry too much about the current forecast. But watch the winds. A stiff breeze, blowing against the current down there, can make for some pretty nasty conditions. I would stay west of 90degrees until I hit the northern Yucatan coastline, which should keep you out of the worst of the loop. Then hug the Yucatan coast going through. Once through your home free. Are you going to do a turn around, or planning on spending hurricane season down there. Have a wonderful trip, and wish I was going too.
As Tony said, the forecasts not very reliable. Since that is a fairly sort distance through there it isn't going to effect your total time a lot. If I was doing this trip, I would not worry too much about the current forecast. But watch the winds. A stiff breeze, blowing against the current down there, can make for some pretty nasty conditions. I would stay west of 90degrees until I hit the northern Yucatan coastline, which should keep you out of the worst of the loop. Then hug the Yucatan coast going through. Once through your home free. Are you going to do a turn around, or planning on spending hurricane season down there. Have a wonderful trip, and wish I was going too.
thanks for the input
I am going to help a friend take his boat down. I am going just for the passage experience. He is staying for two months diving. He has several people flying in to dive with him. We are going out the MRGO and trying to decide if we need to continue east and hit the eddies that form on the sides of the stream or veer off to the west and try to stay out of it. eight days of fighting current could be fun.
I am going to help a friend take his boat down. I am going just for the passage experience. He is staying for two months diving. He has several people flying in to dive with him. We are going out the MRGO and trying to decide if we need to continue east and hit the eddies that form on the sides of the stream or veer off to the west and try to stay out of it. eight days of fighting current could be fun.
Chuck
This time of year, the currents are not as strong as in the summer months. Like I said earlier, just use the typical for this time of year. The currents are much stronger than you might think at times. The current could be as strong as 5 knots. I know sailors that have used the currents in their favor and claimed speeds of up to 12knots. You may only feel 7 knots, but the current dragging you along is moving at 5 knots. this also works in reverse. If you work against the current with a 5 knot current and you are doing the equivelant of 6 knots, you are only making 1 knot good toward your target (ask me how I know). Dont get too freaky in avoiding the current, just be aware of whether it is helping you or hindering you and make appropriate course changes. Tony B
This time of year, the currents are not as strong as in the summer months. Like I said earlier, just use the typical for this time of year. The currents are much stronger than you might think at times. The current could be as strong as 5 knots. I know sailors that have used the currents in their favor and claimed speeds of up to 12knots. You may only feel 7 knots, but the current dragging you along is moving at 5 knots. this also works in reverse. If you work against the current with a 5 knot current and you are doing the equivelant of 6 knots, you are only making 1 knot good toward your target (ask me how I know). Dont get too freaky in avoiding the current, just be aware of whether it is helping you or hindering you and make appropriate course changes. Tony B
Tough call
Chuck, thats a tough call. There do appear to be some eddies, and possibly a little north to south current if you go east, but this will having you bucking the max. flow when you come back west through the channel. And I know for sure that through the Yucatan channel, the currents can really be tough, and it can get nasty with the wind against the current in there. Let us know what you decide, and how it works out. And of course, the best of everything to you.
Chuck, thats a tough call. There do appear to be some eddies, and possibly a little north to south current if you go east, but this will having you bucking the max. flow when you come back west through the channel. And I know for sure that through the Yucatan channel, the currents can really be tough, and it can get nasty with the wind against the current in there. Let us know what you decide, and how it works out. And of course, the best of everything to you.
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