For Passport Guidelines visit Visitor Information. Weather; Sea Marks; Harbours; Tidal Scale; Sport Just ahead of the front it may die in the west. The archipelago displays more than fifty islands, of which 16 As you’re making easting in the Horse Latitudes, the Pilot Chart indicates a couple of notable features. If you want to sail to the Virgin Islands and beyond this season, say so. It can, however, be a handy shortcut when leaving Spanish Wells in settled weather, with good eyeball piloting skills and a bright, high sun. Those same cold fronts that you were avoiding just a couple of days ago in the Gulf Stream can now be a real asset. The main sailing considerations to take on board are the hurricane season, which runs from June to November, and places to provision and make repairs, as some islands (St. Maarten and Antigua, for example) are far more yacht-friendly than others. You do not want to consider these lightly. The consistent year-round conditions create a perfect Caribbean yacht charter: trade winds, friendly people, perfect weather and warm clear water! Here’s one instance where pros and cruisers differ greatly in their requirements. Most skippers make a night crossing of the Stream in order to arrive on the other side with daylight. Returned to Cloudy Bay mid-October for six weeks of intensive boat maintenance, then resumed sailing at the end of November, down to Florida. This leg of the journey can, however, require plenty of fuel and a healthy engine—or else the timely arrival of a seasonal norther’. Tor Pinney (www.tor.cc) is a former delivery captain and a lifelong cruiser with about 150,000 nautical miles logged under sail. The cruises all depart from Fort Lauderdale and dock at Piraeus—the main port of Athens. They seem to overlap. What with the ritzy city life, balmy wetlands, and swaying coco palms, what could be better? Brag about it to your friends. It is the delivery captain’s business to move a boat from point A to point B as safely, directly and quickly as possible. – How to Outfit the Modern Cruising Sailboat (Sheridan House), is available in nautical bookstores and online. Heading north from the Caribbean, there are three obvious routes to consider: 1) Sail the Thorny Path northward from the Virgin Islands 2) Sail offshore direct, or 3) Ship your vessel on Dockwise from the Virgin Islands. george@bwsailing.com There are only two ways to get to the Virgin Islands, by air or by sea. Map with JOSM Remote; View. If you’re heading for the U.S. Virgin Islands, leave Jost Van Dyke to port and carry on to St. John, which is a nicer place to clear in than St. Thomas. Just be sure your sails are reefed way down before the arrival of the actual front. The safest tactic is to remain within the lee of each island. George Day, Newport, RI Legend has it that the Horse Latitudes earned their name back in the days when sailing ships carried live horses as cargo bound for the New World. If the latter, head due east under power, then feel the gentle rise and fall of the Atlantic Ocean and count your blessings. The British Virgin Islands In the logbook of every sailor. Sailing the Caribbean. After clearing in with customs and immigration, take a stroll down the white, palm-fringed beach to Foxy’s thatch-and-bamboo beach bar for a well deserved rum punch. Blue Water Sailing Media publishes Blue Water Sailing magazine, Multihulls Today and other titles. The Virgin Islands is a sailor's paradise! The Azores route follows the prevailing southwesterly or westerly winds along or just north of the 40th parallel. Plan your perfect sailing trip! The best sailing route in the Caribbean that will allow you to savor most of the delights on offer is the Florida-Bonaire route. For the next 65 miles, you’ll be heading a point south of east in Northwest Providence Channel, a 30- to 50-mile wide, deep-water pass through the northern Bahamas. From here you sail due south, soon picking up the Northeast Trades if you haven’t already. Around 70 degrees west, start putting a bit of southing in your course so that you cross the 24th parallel around the 67th meridian. To enter Spanish Wells from Northeast Providence Channel, follow the Bahamas guidebook instructions carefully. After leaving the crazy that is the So. You really can’t have too much aboard. Later, somewhere around 68-degrees west longitude (depending on your latitude), you’ll cross the San Juan to New York shipping lane. There are, however, a few precautions that will ensure a smooth start to your voyage. 207-939-5802, © 2014 Blue Water Media. Give them a call on the VHF and say hello. This causes unsettled weather. Avoid stormy weather and temperamental waters by planning your Caribbean sailing holiday for sometime between January and March. The relatively flat Leewards do not interfere as much with wind direction and speed as the steeper ridges islands of St. Lucia, Martinique and Grenada. Last day of the year we finally made it to Bahamas. Caribbean Compass: Cruising the Coast of Colombia; Lourae and Randy Kenoffel, Cruising World: Sailing South? Nick Marshall is a UK-based writer specializing in trends and best-practice in the B2B sector. A determined attitude is a prerequisite to completing any substantial voyage. A short, breezy cruise from Fajardo puts you at anchor in the pristine bays and protected reefs of the area’s two principal isles, Vieques and Culebra, along with several picturesque cays that haven’t seen much of a crowd since the Spanish galleon This goes for professionals and cruisers alike. The best of the Caribbean can be found in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a trio of tropical destinations with white-sand beaches, top snorkeling opportunities, and pristine water in endless shades of blue. The prevailing winds here are from the east and southeast—exactly where you want to go (naturally), but as a norther approaches it sets up a veering wind pattern. It’ll pay off. Few areas in the Caribbean offer a better contrast in tempo, culture and activities. Fly from Florida on JetBlue, Delta, American Airlines and more. The trouble is, any more direct route will pit you against prevailing tradewinds and currents. In November 2007, I sailed as crew aboard the sailboat Night Heron on a trip from Portsmouth, Virginia, to the island of Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. The Bo… Four Americans claim they are being held like “hostages” in a British Virgin Islands hotel room after they accidentally sailed into the territory’s waters … Published by Blue Water Sailing Media, a division of Day Communications, Inc., Middletown, RI. They pass this way while traveling between Europe and Panama. The prevailing winds are east or southeasterly in summer, northeasterly in winter, so the easiest route is to head south, keeping the wind off the beam. However, this is deceptive. If you’re heading for the U.S. Virgin Islands, leave Jost Van Dyke to port and carry on to St. John, which is a nicer place to clear in than St. Thomas. The Pilot Charts show us that the northern limit of the Northeast Trades is roughly on the same latitude as Miami at that time of year. Here you can enjoy the sights of opulent waterfront mansions and fancy yachts in the sun-kissed Latino-flavored decadence. Farther north, the Virgin Islands are scattered over a short distance and include some magical smaller islands, such as Jost van Dyke, that are only accessible by yacht. During hurricane season, heading south from the East Coast of the United States to the islands involves pitting one’s wits and expertise against frequent storms. If it blows really hard, the Stream can become extremely dangerous for even the stoutest vessel. For the next several hundred miles, you’ve got to resist the temptation to head southeast toward the Virgin Islands. The trick is to enter the trade wind belt when you’re north—or just a little west of north—of St. Thomas. Want to look at some other popular sailing areas? The next step is provisioning. If sailing to the Virgin Islands from USA has always been your dream - here we are - ready to make it come true. Most yacht delivery and cruising sailboat skippers heading for the Lesser Antilles from Florida or the U.S. Gulf Coast choose Miami (or a little south of there) as their departure point. This is why the Bahamian port of Georgetown, Exuma (nicknamed “Chicken Harbor”) is crowded with Caribbean-bound boats that won’t make it the rest of the way this year. Re-fueled and rested, it’s onward to the Caribbean. Great Isaac Light boasts a 23-mile visibility range. Croatia – explore sailing routes among more than 1000 islands and islets in the regions of the Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Šibenik and Kvarner and Istria. In the absence of a norther, the likely alternatives are beating into steady easterlies, or motoring into light easterlies. But I have assisted with moving power yachts down the islands and have many power yacht friends who have done the route with very little difficulty. 401-847-7612, Scott Akerman, Portland, ME In reality, for a seaworthy sailboat in normal conditions, crossing the Gulf Stream is no big deal. Keep your resolve to go east. In the fall these perennial winds blow most often from the east-northeast through east-southeast at 15 to 25 knots, sometimes harder. It was a good time to catch up on some editing and get boat chores done. Provisioning a cruising sailboat is a project that ought to be completed before leaving the mainland. Sailing the Caribbean in a yacht is the type of bucket-list activity that is far more affordable and easy to organize than people might assume. THE PASSAGE The consistent year-round conditions create a perfect Caribbean yacht charter: trade winds, friendly people, perfect weather and warm clear water! At first blush, it appears that it would be easy, straightforward and safe to leave south Florida and “island-hop” southeast down through the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. You and your crew have earned it! The Mediterranean - The Mediterranean doesn't really have a storm season, although the weather is most unsettled in late summer when the water and land temperature is highest and the air temperatures drop. From here you sail due south, soon picking up the Northeast Trades if you haven’t already. Internet and SSB weather services like Chris Parker (http://mwxc.com/services.php) are also excellent sources. Fort Lauderdale is an ideal place to do this, with many stores and services that cater to yachts. | Admin. If you want to spent a winter cruising the Bahamas, that’s fine. Option 1 is the most popular method with the greatest variety of cultural and sailing attractions. School of Sailing published a great piece on navigating current in the Straits of Florida here. Cram every locker, compartment and crevice with non-perishable foods and supplies. A radar can help clarify things, but be certain you have reliable position fixes. Since the objective is to avoid going east against the relentless head winds likely to be encountered south of that latitude, knowledgeable sailors head east from Miami, through the Bahamas, and then continue due east or even a shade north of east into the Atlantic. closer to 8 knots and I am there on the 6th day - and this is what I Option 1 is the most popular method with the greatest variety of cultural and sailing attractions. Passage making from Florida to St. Thomas November 14 – 29, 2010 Meet Captain Jeff and Captain Jean Captain Jeff & Captain Jean enjoy sailing together as a team. Heading north from the Caribbean, there are three obvious routes to consider: 1) Sail the Thorny Path northward from the Virgin Islands 2) Sail offshore direct, or 3) Ship your vessel on Dockwise from the Virgin Islands. The BVI consists of over 60 islands and cays. That way the trades become your ally as you reach southward across them on the home stretch to the islands. The Windward Islands are the southern Caribbean part of the chain that starts in Martinique and ends in Trinidad off the coast of Venezuela, including the popular cruising grounds of the Grenadines and the Tobago Cays. An article by Caribbean Compass observed that “the 400 miles between Aruba and Cartagena ... ranks among the top five worst passages around the world.” The easiest alternative is to focus on the shorter distances between Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, three delightful islands with great scenery, ample history and well-protected wildlife. The routing is slightly different for a power yacht than a sailboat. Late hurricanes generally develop to the west, making a passage via the Cape Verde islands more attractive. Delivery skippers, setting sail as soon as the wind goes south, use these favorable wind directions to make a few hundred miles of “free easting” into the Atlantic. It not only allows enough rest, but also rotates the watch schedule, giving each crewmember their fair share of sunrises at sea. With almost constant northwesterly winds, cruising in this area follows a simple path up and down the chain, much gentler on the Caribbean Sea side than the Atlantic Ocean side. From here you sail due south, soon picking up the Northeast Trades if you haven’t already. Passage making from Florida to St. Thomas November 14 – 29, 2010 Meet Captain Jeff and Captain Jean Captain Jeff & Captain Jean enjoy sailing together as a team. The closest ports of entry are in the Bimini islands, or you can sail on to ports in the Abacos, the Berry Islands, or Nassau. First, the wind shifts to the south, then southwest. The most popular was the Mona Passage, and the more unusual choice was the Windward Passage. current will nudge the boat westward. They’ll report approaching cold fronts at least 24 hours in advance. If the wind won’t give them a boat speed of four knots or better, the engine will. Since we spent months here last season, we weren’t in any rush to sightsee. Also, a little R&R ashore for the crew is a good morale builder just prior to the offshore leg of your trip. For the delivery crew, provisioning is simply a matter of loading up with a few weeks worth of food, figuring on a 10-day average passage and then doubling the amount to cover unexpected delays. Yacht delivery crews have debated that question over many a cold Heineken in the watering holes of St. Thomas. This meridian, called “I-65” by some of the regulars, marks the last leg to the Virgin Islands and the best part of the trip. The best place to start your trip is in Florida, the Sunshine State. Here the Great Isaac lighthouse marks your first waypoint. All rights reserved. The same goes for equipment, spares, tools and cleaning supplies. Pick any one of these areas and you can enjoy a series of short sails between anchorages. There’s no excuse for getting caught by a norther’ your first night out. You’ll spot it off the port bow before dawn and round it by sunrise. scott@bwsailing.com The trip from Miami, Florida, is a little more than 1,100 nautical miles. Check the weather forecast again. The first step toward accomplishing any goal is to make the mental commitment to do it. Work out current vectors based on your boat’s speed, allowing for the current’s gradual increase and then decrease as you cross. For the most relaxing conditions with a following sea, the best bet is to start in Antigua where marine and provisioning facilities are excellent, then head directly to St. Maarten or stop off in St. Kitts and Nevis. Ah, the Lesser Antilles, irresistible as a Siren’s song. Previously published in BWS by Tor Pinney. While waiting for your cruise to set out, hop into a car and head down to Fort Lauderdale – the Venice of America. If the aim is to spend as much time as possible at anchor rather than tackling longer bluewater passages, the Bahamas are perfect. It provides a better angle for crossing the Gulf Stream’s strong current than Fort Lauderdale farther north, while to the south the Florida Keys curve away to the southwest, which only adds distance to the transit. Tor is presently revisiting the Caribbean aboard his 42 foot ketch, Silverheels. They’ve claimed countless unwary vessels over the centuries, and still manage to snag the occasional yacht today. Give Great Isaac a wide berth as you round it; at least a few miles. It may be useful to review professional delivery skippers’ boat preparation, route planning and passagemaking techniques for the 1,100-mile, Miami-to-the-Virgins crossing. 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