I just got to thinking last night that perhaps I can sail to Abaco this fall instead of next. My wife graduates from Nursing School in December and I thought it would be nice for the family to come over for a couple of weeks around the holidays. I'd take it down the coast in late November and leave the boat there until February, three months at a marina.
By now, many of you know that I don't have a lot of experience, and some of you have saved me untold grief. I have cruised the boat for close to ten weeks this year, up and down the Carolinas and I feel like I know the strengths and weaknesses of my boat. I also have a handle on my experience level and have gained a lot of respect for wind and wave, enough so that I continue to make coastal passages in the best of conditions.
When I hear about people sailing to the Caribbean, like Russell for instance, I read about the extensive preparations for extended cruising. My boat and I are not ready for that extended cruise. The standing rigging should probably be replaced, I need a charging program, upgrade my ground tackle, SSB etc.
As I got to thinking about it, what I'm planning is more of an extended coastal cruise. I know the Gulf Stream is nothing to sneeze at, but with a wide enough window and in optimal conditions, how hard can it be? I mean, if Haitians can make long passages in tiny boats with no resources, shouldn't I be able to make it to Abaco with a nice forecast and a badass Cape Dory boat? I have no problem being flexible and scrapping the whole thing if weather dictates. Then I'll have made it down coast a bit and will enjoy that too.
What am I missing here? My question to all of you sailors who I respect a great deal is this:
What is the difference between coastal cruising and a hop to Abaco in good conditions? The caveat is that the captain does not have to get there but will only if the conditions are right.
My assumption at this point is that I would go offshore somewhere south of Charleston, perhaps West Palm. What I'd really like to entertain is leaving Beaufort if conditions permitted. I just don't know enough about it right now.
Any advice?
Chase
sailing to the Bahamas
Moderator: Jim Walsh
Gulf Stream
Full disclosure: I have not done this trip.
However, there is no reason in the world you can't make the trip with modest experience, provided you approach it with a healthy respect for what you are getting into. Crossing the stream is an "offshore" voyage. It is only a day's voyage, but things can get ugly. The problem is that the stream flows north at between 3 and 6 knots. A northerly wind will produce waves that can range from uncomfortable to terrifying.
You are sailing a good old boat in which you have confidence - do some homework on the crossing and you should be just fine - do not set out with the letter 'N' in the wind forecast and prepare yourself and the boat for the worst. In sailing as in life, people who do the latter are rarely faced with avoidable hardship.
Good luck!
However, there is no reason in the world you can't make the trip with modest experience, provided you approach it with a healthy respect for what you are getting into. Crossing the stream is an "offshore" voyage. It is only a day's voyage, but things can get ugly. The problem is that the stream flows north at between 3 and 6 knots. A northerly wind will produce waves that can range from uncomfortable to terrifying.
You are sailing a good old boat in which you have confidence - do some homework on the crossing and you should be just fine - do not set out with the letter 'N' in the wind forecast and prepare yourself and the boat for the worst. In sailing as in life, people who do the latter are rarely faced with avoidable hardship.
Good luck!
Hi Chase,
The Bahamas should present no special challenge to an intermediate sailor then it would to an advanced sailor for their first visit there. The greatest difficulty in sailing the bahamas is navigation. Much of the water is very shallow and lots of coral thats uncharted. Using your eyes to navigate is extreamly important here, and even someone who has been sailing in US waters for decadeds will have the same new things to learn when they get to the Bahamas as you will.
Get yourself the Explorer Chartbook for the area of the Bahamas you will be sailing in. Its by far the best charts of the area, and doubles as a decent cruising guide as well. Also buy yourself a good cruising guide or two. Read everything in both thoroughly. You cannot rely on GPS and electronic charts solely in the bahamas, your eyes and judgement will be extreamly important. Good guides will let you know what areas can ge tricky so you know when to keep an extra good watch, it will also warn you about cuts where currents can be an issue so you know when to wait for slack tide before going through.
Also, I would say a nessesity is a SSB Receiver, like the Grundig YachtBoy, they are not to expensive, about $200, you certainly do not need a full blown SSB rig which can cost thousands and be a pain to install. The receiver is fine and you will need this for getting good weather reports. Most everyone goes by Chris Parkers reports in the Bahamas and while I was there I found them to be the most accurate reports I had ever heard. If your interested in learning more about weather pick up Chris Parkers book as well, a great read and learning experience while you sit on the hook contemplating that next cold front coming through.
You do want good ground tackle, if your going to stay in the Abacos then you will rarely use more then 1 anchor, in the Exumas and other areas sometimes you need 2 anchors due to currents. But I would carry 2 anchors anyways, when an especially strong cold front comes through there is a chance you might need 2.
As for your rigging, yours might be just fine. Get a rig inspection done by a professional, ussually about $150 or so. Keep in mind the rigger inspecting your rig is interested in selling you stuff! But he will certainly point out the worst stuff that needs replacing ASAP. Unless your rigging is in especially bad shape or very old, I doubt you need to replace it all. In the bahamas you will not do any overnighters other then the crossing to get there and to get back and probably one overnight to skip past the GA portion of the ICW. Weather forecasting is so good in the area that its unlikely you will find yourself underway in a serious blow. So no need to go seriously overboard spending money on shiny new rigging if its not needed.
As for your charging system, if you go without refridgeration I doubt you would need anything other then the stock altenator that is on your boat now. With refridgeration at the very least you want an altinator that can top you batteries up in no less then an hour of running per day. Judge how important other charging systems are by how long you will be cruising and how important that extra convience will be. Charging systems like solar and wind cost money, you need to weigh if its worth it for how much your using the boat. If your not living aboard for months at a time it may not be worth it.
As for hopping across the gulf stream. Dont sweat it, just be patience and wait for the right weather, listen to chris parker every morning and he will cover the stream specificly for those attempting to cross to the Bahamas, dont leave until you feel good about the weather, this could take over a week of waiting. You could go on an iffy day and your boat could handle it, but why torture yourself and the boat like that? As for your leaving point, Beufort does not make much sense at all, you will buck the gulfstream for far too long, unless you cross it right away headed strait east, then once past it head south to the Abacos, this is an okay approach, but now your dedicating yourself to a longer and unnessisary passage reasonably far out. I highly recommend leaving from no furthur north then Palm Beach. From NC you can take the ICW through most of NC and SC and jump out at Charleston, Georgetown, etc doing coastal hops. I recommend skipping GA ICW all together and doing a hop past georga to FL, not a bad overnight run. Get some good ICW books that go into detail on the inlets and anchorages, some of those inlets are definately not for use by sailboats! Skipper Bobs books did well for me, the Waterway Guide is nice to have as well for some extra info about the areas you stop in.
When considering what people like me and others invest in preparing our boats, remember that I am on a very long long cruising trip, 5 years at least, which will include several ocean crossings, long passages and my boat being my home for a very long time. The things I felt I needed for my boat for this is far different then what I would have done if I was just heading to the bahamas for a season. Dont go overboard spending money on fancy gear, I assume your bringing the boat back to the US after the winter, after your first long cruise you will know better what you personally would like to have added to your gear.
I would be glad to offer up any insight or information you want, having just gone through that whole area recently.
The Bahamas should present no special challenge to an intermediate sailor then it would to an advanced sailor for their first visit there. The greatest difficulty in sailing the bahamas is navigation. Much of the water is very shallow and lots of coral thats uncharted. Using your eyes to navigate is extreamly important here, and even someone who has been sailing in US waters for decadeds will have the same new things to learn when they get to the Bahamas as you will.
Get yourself the Explorer Chartbook for the area of the Bahamas you will be sailing in. Its by far the best charts of the area, and doubles as a decent cruising guide as well. Also buy yourself a good cruising guide or two. Read everything in both thoroughly. You cannot rely on GPS and electronic charts solely in the bahamas, your eyes and judgement will be extreamly important. Good guides will let you know what areas can ge tricky so you know when to keep an extra good watch, it will also warn you about cuts where currents can be an issue so you know when to wait for slack tide before going through.
Also, I would say a nessesity is a SSB Receiver, like the Grundig YachtBoy, they are not to expensive, about $200, you certainly do not need a full blown SSB rig which can cost thousands and be a pain to install. The receiver is fine and you will need this for getting good weather reports. Most everyone goes by Chris Parkers reports in the Bahamas and while I was there I found them to be the most accurate reports I had ever heard. If your interested in learning more about weather pick up Chris Parkers book as well, a great read and learning experience while you sit on the hook contemplating that next cold front coming through.
You do want good ground tackle, if your going to stay in the Abacos then you will rarely use more then 1 anchor, in the Exumas and other areas sometimes you need 2 anchors due to currents. But I would carry 2 anchors anyways, when an especially strong cold front comes through there is a chance you might need 2.
As for your rigging, yours might be just fine. Get a rig inspection done by a professional, ussually about $150 or so. Keep in mind the rigger inspecting your rig is interested in selling you stuff! But he will certainly point out the worst stuff that needs replacing ASAP. Unless your rigging is in especially bad shape or very old, I doubt you need to replace it all. In the bahamas you will not do any overnighters other then the crossing to get there and to get back and probably one overnight to skip past the GA portion of the ICW. Weather forecasting is so good in the area that its unlikely you will find yourself underway in a serious blow. So no need to go seriously overboard spending money on shiny new rigging if its not needed.
As for your charging system, if you go without refridgeration I doubt you would need anything other then the stock altenator that is on your boat now. With refridgeration at the very least you want an altinator that can top you batteries up in no less then an hour of running per day. Judge how important other charging systems are by how long you will be cruising and how important that extra convience will be. Charging systems like solar and wind cost money, you need to weigh if its worth it for how much your using the boat. If your not living aboard for months at a time it may not be worth it.
As for hopping across the gulf stream. Dont sweat it, just be patience and wait for the right weather, listen to chris parker every morning and he will cover the stream specificly for those attempting to cross to the Bahamas, dont leave until you feel good about the weather, this could take over a week of waiting. You could go on an iffy day and your boat could handle it, but why torture yourself and the boat like that? As for your leaving point, Beufort does not make much sense at all, you will buck the gulfstream for far too long, unless you cross it right away headed strait east, then once past it head south to the Abacos, this is an okay approach, but now your dedicating yourself to a longer and unnessisary passage reasonably far out. I highly recommend leaving from no furthur north then Palm Beach. From NC you can take the ICW through most of NC and SC and jump out at Charleston, Georgetown, etc doing coastal hops. I recommend skipping GA ICW all together and doing a hop past georga to FL, not a bad overnight run. Get some good ICW books that go into detail on the inlets and anchorages, some of those inlets are definately not for use by sailboats! Skipper Bobs books did well for me, the Waterway Guide is nice to have as well for some extra info about the areas you stop in.
When considering what people like me and others invest in preparing our boats, remember that I am on a very long long cruising trip, 5 years at least, which will include several ocean crossings, long passages and my boat being my home for a very long time. The things I felt I needed for my boat for this is far different then what I would have done if I was just heading to the bahamas for a season. Dont go overboard spending money on fancy gear, I assume your bringing the boat back to the US after the winter, after your first long cruise you will know better what you personally would like to have added to your gear.
I would be glad to offer up any insight or information you want, having just gone through that whole area recently.
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
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Mike Pinto
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Jul 13th, '05, 05:30
- Location: Typhoon weekender,"NIPPER", Ocean City NJ
Crossing to Abaco
Chase, I,ve spent 12 winters there and have never had a bad crossing. Mainly because I have no deadline to meet and I'm patient when it comes to weather windows. I would tell you to leave from Ft. Lauderdale or even Miami so that you are reaching or broad reaching and it makes for a much more comfortable ride in a S or SW breeze. Leave around 6 or 7 pm so that you arrive at sunup. The BEST book is Cruising Guide To Abaco by Jon and Jeff Dodge it has Photos, charts, tide tables, and any info needed to hang out for the winter. Hope you follow thru with your dream and experience the Abacos. Mike
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Andy Denmark
- Posts: 630
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 11:38
What Mike said
Hi Chase,
The Port Everglades-to-West End route is much kinder and usually faster (though longer in distance) that anything further north. For a first timer it's worth the hassle of an extra day playing bridge roulette on the ICW south of St. Lucie. The postive currrent vector makes a huge difference. It is also important to understand the rotational pattern of the weather system as it relates to your departure and crossing times.
I would also recommend a leisurely trip down the ICW for anyone able to do the trip. The natural beauty and wilderness along this route is rapidly going away as development encroaches. Your circle of sailing friends will certainly expand as you meet others taking this route.
On another note, I enjoyed your visit while we watched the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. It took a few Dark and Stormies but the magic worked! I will be happy to get back home and off this hydrocodone/diazepam diet. With luck that will occur next week! Meanwhile, you know you're always welcome down in Broad Creek (the "other" Broad Creek).
________
Yamaha yz125
The Port Everglades-to-West End route is much kinder and usually faster (though longer in distance) that anything further north. For a first timer it's worth the hassle of an extra day playing bridge roulette on the ICW south of St. Lucie. The postive currrent vector makes a huge difference. It is also important to understand the rotational pattern of the weather system as it relates to your departure and crossing times.
I would also recommend a leisurely trip down the ICW for anyone able to do the trip. The natural beauty and wilderness along this route is rapidly going away as development encroaches. Your circle of sailing friends will certainly expand as you meet others taking this route.
On another note, I enjoyed your visit while we watched the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. It took a few Dark and Stormies but the magic worked! I will be happy to get back home and off this hydrocodone/diazepam diet. With luck that will occur next week! Meanwhile, you know you're always welcome down in Broad Creek (the "other" Broad Creek).
________
Yamaha yz125
Last edited by Andy Denmark on Feb 13th, '11, 03:25, edited 1 time in total.
instant gratification
Gentlemen,
I am in your debt for timely, good counsel. Thank You!
Andy, I am very glad to hear from you. Ron has kept me posted on your recovery and I hope you get home soon and your back continues to get stronger. I also enjoyed our visit and look forward to more. The trip to Ocracoke was a BLAST and I have been meaning to report on it here for some time, but farm and domestic life has got me running.
Russell, your guidance is very much appreciated and I may trouble you in the future for a detail or two, thanks for the offer. I really felt like I could do this with what I have and not go into too much debt buying equipment. I''ll have my rig inspected in the Oriental area this fall. I'll also add a YachtBoy to my inventory and I'm ordering the chart book and guides today.
Lots to learn now, I'm looking forward to it. Thanks again for all the advice. Keep it coming if anyone has anything to add.
Best,
Chase
I am in your debt for timely, good counsel. Thank You!
Andy, I am very glad to hear from you. Ron has kept me posted on your recovery and I hope you get home soon and your back continues to get stronger. I also enjoyed our visit and look forward to more. The trip to Ocracoke was a BLAST and I have been meaning to report on it here for some time, but farm and domestic life has got me running.
Russell, your guidance is very much appreciated and I may trouble you in the future for a detail or two, thanks for the offer. I really felt like I could do this with what I have and not go into too much debt buying equipment. I''ll have my rig inspected in the Oriental area this fall. I'll also add a YachtBoy to my inventory and I'm ordering the chart book and guides today.
Lots to learn now, I'm looking forward to it. Thanks again for all the advice. Keep it coming if anyone has anything to add.
Best,
Chase
Re: instant gratification
You really can do it without breaking the bank. People sail the bahamas in bare bones boats that one might think look hardly seaworthy. Its all about your own personal comfort levels. I met a German single hander there who sailed across the atlantic and was cruising the bahamas. His boat was in great condition but he had almost no gear. No refridgeration, autopilot, roller furling or anything like that. He had a depth sounder, a windvane, very old charts and a handheld GPS which he said he rarely used, he favored his sextant(not in the bahamas though, he mostly used his eyes and DR).farmerchase wrote: Russell, your guidance is very much appreciated and I may trouble you in the future for a detail or two, thanks for the offer. I really felt like I could do this with what I have and not go into too much debt buying equipment. I''ll have my rig inspected in the Oriental area this fall. I'll also add a YachtBoy to my inventory and I'm ordering the chart book and guides today.
How long are you spending there? If its all season I highly suggest you venture beyond the Abacos, I found the Abacos to be my least favorite (though I did not stop in Nassau which I am sure I would have liked even less). The Exumas are crowded with boats, but more interesting and less touristy, the outer islands though I found the friendliest locals, the least crowds of boats (I was often the only one) and zero tourism.
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
Bahamian adventure
Hi Russell, thanks for the inspiration. My boat sounds a lot like the German's minus the windvane and sextant and the sailor to adjust the sails/vane and take noon sightings. The boat is solid, though.
My boat will stay in the Bahamas tied up until I can get it home in February. I will only be down there for a short period after I arrive there, a two week cruise at holidays and when I leave there in Feb. with another two week window to depart.
I have never been to the Abacos but I have a particular interest in visiting there. I'm a Bahamian citizen by birth and my children are as well because of my status. I'm interested in exploring some options for farming down there and will really only have a couple of weeks there altogether.
We have considered relocating down there one day. It would certainly put me in a better position to visit some of the islands I really want to visit, like Dominica, ST. Johns USVI, Cuba, etc. It's all talk right now, it really depends on how we all like it. I'd not live in Nassau if it were the last place on earth. I still have a couple of cousins in Nassau but that place is ridiculous. I was born on Grand Bahama; it has little appeal to me as well.
Cheers,
Chase
My boat will stay in the Bahamas tied up until I can get it home in February. I will only be down there for a short period after I arrive there, a two week cruise at holidays and when I leave there in Feb. with another two week window to depart.
I have never been to the Abacos but I have a particular interest in visiting there. I'm a Bahamian citizen by birth and my children are as well because of my status. I'm interested in exploring some options for farming down there and will really only have a couple of weeks there altogether.
We have considered relocating down there one day. It would certainly put me in a better position to visit some of the islands I really want to visit, like Dominica, ST. Johns USVI, Cuba, etc. It's all talk right now, it really depends on how we all like it. I'd not live in Nassau if it were the last place on earth. I still have a couple of cousins in Nassau but that place is ridiculous. I was born on Grand Bahama; it has little appeal to me as well.
Cheers,
Chase
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Andy Denmark
- Posts: 630
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 11:38
More Bahamas stuff
I've been making the crossing since 1971 and did a single handed Walker''s Key-to-Beaufort Inlet nonstop in a CD-25 using only a Benmar RDF for navigation on the passaage up. It was a blast. You don't need anything sophisticated as far as electronics goes but it is nice to have a ham rig to catch the Waterway Net every morning at 0745 on 40 meters (7268 for anyone who cares to listen in). As Russell indicates, your eyes and common sense are your best nav tools while there although there are now some cruising guides that have good GPS reads on pertinent nav aids and landmarks.
The old back is substantially reinforced with enough titanium to build a small submarine! I'm better with every day and looking forward to PT. I'd like to be ready to head south myself late this fall. Bill Watson (CD-28 Kittiwake) and I have discussed travelling together and may be doing the Bahamas, too. At least you won't need a Passport!
Your boat is probably good to go as she is. I know a couple who crossed over and cruised the Abacos in a Flying Scot, camping under a boom tent. That's way too extreme for me but shows that anyone can do it if the weather is right..
My 10 minutes of "sitting" is up so I've gotta' go.
________
BUY EASY VAPE
The old back is substantially reinforced with enough titanium to build a small submarine! I'm better with every day and looking forward to PT. I'd like to be ready to head south myself late this fall. Bill Watson (CD-28 Kittiwake) and I have discussed travelling together and may be doing the Bahamas, too. At least you won't need a Passport!
Your boat is probably good to go as she is. I know a couple who crossed over and cruised the Abacos in a Flying Scot, camping under a boom tent. That's way too extreme for me but shows that anyone can do it if the weather is right..
My 10 minutes of "sitting" is up so I've gotta' go.
________
BUY EASY VAPE