Bahamas Offshore Trip

SwiftRanger · Post by **SwiftRanger** » May 23rd, '10, 11:46

Hey there,

I think I can assume that there are many Chesapeake members here... I am soon to be one as well. My wife and I are currently on the hard at Reedville Boatyard in Virginia but we are planning a refit this Sept. and eventually a trip to the Bahamas again. However, we are currently in Denver, CO.

We will be heading out of Hampton Roads - or Beaufort, we can't make up our minds - to cross the stream and head south for Marsh Harbor in or around November 1st. I think the Carib 1500 rally did this trip this year, not sure. Just checking to see if anyone is planning on the same trip, it would be nice to do it with another boat.

Thanks!

Patrick

SwiftRanger · Post by **SwiftRanger** » May 30th, '10, 11:16

For anyone who was reading this, we have been reading Jimmy Cornell's world cruising routes and he has made us re-consider this trip from the Chesapeake. He claims that anything north of Hatteras will be pointing too far west (the actual direction is essentially due South) to make this trip very current-friendly. He recommends leaving Beaufort and then heading East for 100 miles to pass the Gulf Stream before changing course to SSE to the Bahamas.

This is the trip we are planning for as of now with a tentative leave date of late oct / early november.

Patrick

MFC · Post by **MFC** » Sep 28th, '11, 13:48

Patrick -
Did you two make the trip? If so, I'd love to hear details either on or off the board.
Thanks
Matt (same goes for anyone else who has gone this route)

SwiftRanger · Post by **SwiftRanger** » Oct 1st, '11, 14:27

Matt

We are postponing it another year unfortunately. It was a little too hard to take a break from our jobs this year. But next year, no doubt!

I did read up a lot on the trip, including a pretty good study of various pilot charts. It seems that your chance of hitting a early winter storms are pretty slim but certainly possibly if you depart sometime around November. The majority of small boat cruisers who make this trip do it in late April or early May when the weather is consistently good.

Not sure if that helps, we'll make sure and document the trip well next year.

Cheers,
Patrick

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Oct 1st, '11, 16:15

From the Chesapeake you can take the ICW south to Beaufort or Moorehead City then head out to sea from there.

The Cape Dory Board

Bahamas Offshore Trip

Bahamas Offshore Trip

Update?

Just take the ICW to Beaufort....