offshore sailing Cat-22

[John R. Fleming]

I am investigating using my cat-22 to travel to a port on the Caribean side of colombia.
From Florida, straight line would be south along coast. through Keys to cuba. around cuba then south again.
Perhaps it would be safer to shoot across to Yucatan and skirt the coasts to Turbo.( this is the pattern pirates used in the past).

John Fleming

 

[Joe]

Good luck on your investigation.... let us know what you find out and what you decide to do.

 

[Kemo Sabe]

Interesting! The boat will make it, no doubt, if the weather is cooperative! Big seas would make a 22 get mighty small fast. But, what an adventure. I'll be watching for your plan progress! Good luck!

 

[agprice22]

I think I would try to find charts of average winds, directions, temps, and seas (wave hts) for the time of year I want, for the areas I plan to travel, especially areas where I will be furthest from shore. I imagine this kind of info would be compiled somewhere on the internet these days. If not, you may have to write to get historical data directly from the places.

Early Summer is usually better than late Summer in the Carribean, but storms can blow up any time, and if you are off-shore, yikes.... Check out youtube for some of the exciting Carribean sailing adventures.

Andrew

 

[CaptDon01]

We've done some fairly long ocean passages and I feel the C-22 should be capable, BUT, I would sure watch the weather. We've done trips out of San Diego south and around all the Los Coronado's Islands in Mexico,(82 miles), Two Harbors on Catalina Island to Oceanside,(62 miles), and Long Beach to Mission Beach,(80 some miles). Personally, I would insist on a fixed keel version, and an autopilot.

Sounds like some of the trips we're planning after I retire,

Don

 

[StanFM]

Don, Love that photo... and the one where you can just see the other boat on the other side of the swell. Was that on the way to Catalina?

Stan

 

[Joe]

You need to find copy of Jimmy Cornell's "World Cruising Routes" There might be one in the library....or check google for some downloads.

 

[FourPoints]

You need to find copy of Jimmy Cornell's "World Cruising Routes" There might be one in the library....or check google for some downloads.

I happen to have that on my bookshelf, over 600 pages of good advice! Since there are at least 6-8 full pages covering the logistics behind this route choice, I second the suggestion to get the book, but will give you a few tidbits out of it so you can think it over while you wait for your delivery from Amazon.

April to May, and Nov to Dec the suggested route is between Cuba and Haiti

December to May the suggested route is west of Cuba, past the Cayman Islands and then south.

There is some overlap there, so dependig on when you leave you may have the option to choose either route, or neither route! That being said, Leaving from northern / eastern Florida the eastern passage by Haiti is preferred due to more favorable wind and current, if the weather allows.

 

[CaptDon01]

Stan,

No, so far our trips back and forth to Catalina Island have been fairly calm. These photos were taken during our trip out of Mission Bay out into the ocean and around Pt Loma into San Diego Bay. I've hosted a trailer-sailor weekend the past 4 years in San Diego Bay and we sail around the "horn" because we're too lazy to trailer the boat down to the South Bay. My buddy is in his Potter-19. It's really not as bad as the photos make it appear,(but it does make for some interesting story telling).

Don

 

[StanFM]

It looks awesome Don! San Diego is not that far away from me! Gotta pick up a spare tire and rim for the trailer, and a reliable 4-stroke, and I could venture forth to the big coast!

Stan