Panama to Ft. Lauderdale

[SvFree]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

From Colon, I recommend to head straight north. If that doesn’t work with the wind, then first go East. We found our wind angle to be okay from Portbelo.

s/v Jedi,
Good point. We have been pondering on exactly that - head E or NE for a while to setup for a for single tack course to Cyamans.

[Trvlmedic]

I'm currently in the middle of my Panama to Key West journey right now. Hanging out in Grand Cayman before Isla Mujeres. Like Jedi states, take a wide berth around the Nicaraguan Banks. I left Provodencia and travelled east of Rosalind Bank. On the same day, two other boats left Provodencia for Guanaja and were shadowed by a suspicious boat with aggressive behavior for 8 hours. This was just two weeks ago.

Regarding passage from Isla Mujeres to Florida, I will quote a recent email I have from Chris Parker whom I highly recommend you hire for your passage.

"Mexico to FLKeys....this can be a really tough slog, with prevailing ENE-E Trades.

We get breaks from Trades all winter (well into March) - but typically brief, and the FRONT which brings the mild weather just ahead of FRONT is often very strong and the windows for moving very short.

In May-June we can see a mix of persistent ENE-E Trades....with periods (sometimes long periods) of very light winds as the sub-Tropical RIDGE shifts S into area (lighter winds are more common in June or July than in May).

So the transition period of roughly April is when we often see brakes in the ENE-E Trades which are long enough for you to get to Florida without being clobbered by the next weather event.

Let's focus on April - May, and when you're about a week away from departure we can assess the prevailing weather pattern to determine if it's conducive for travel.-Chris Parker "

Hope this helps. I'll keep an eye out for you.

Don
SV Bonzai

[KBDick]

SVFree, a cold front was coming down the Florida coast so we had south-southwest winds after rounding western Cuba. We had some rough weather as we approached Key West with big swells and 20+ winds but we were making 6-7 over the bottom arriving Key West and out of the weather for a few days of R &R.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by SvFree

s/v Jedi,
Good point. We have been pondering on exactly that - head E or NE for a while to setup for a for single tack course to Cyamans.

Indeed, but I recommend to try and make the Windward passage and land in Great Inagua. This because it’s all downhill from there 👍

[Snore]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

The problem with that route is the piracy in the region. The last rally had navy protection there.



From Colon, I recommend to head straight north. If that doesn’t work with the wind, then first go East. We found our wind angle to be okay from Portbelo.

Jedi

Curious. I went that way a few years back. We cut through Cuban waters and had no issues. Was the piracy inside Cuban waters or open water or Mexican?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Indeed, but I recommend to try and make the Windward passage and land in Great Inagua. This because it’s all downhill from there 👍

Exactly. Depending on the winds and whether you stop in Jamaica or not you might have to beat a little to make the Windward Passage but from there back to FL it's an easy sail (assuming it's not winter and you don't catch a front coming down). The only down side, if you choose the shortest route to south FL down the Old Bahamas Channel there's not anywhere to stop except the north coast of Cuba which is once again is very actively discouraged by US authorities.

Going around the Yucatan side you will have a favorable current in places, especially once you approach the Straights of Florida but the wind will be against you 90% of the time. This means it will also be against the current which can generate some steep, pointy top waves that can be unpleasant to beat into. Been there, done that, rather not do it again if I can avoid it.

[Trvlmedic]

Originally Posted by Snore

Jedi

Curious. I went that way a few years back. We cut through Cuban waters and had no issues. Was the piracy inside Cuban waters or open water or Mexican?

I'm going to guess that he was referring to the Nicaraguan Banks and the Susie Too Rally that overnighted near Vivarillos with a Navy escort.

https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/

https://youtu.be/w6B7lPO25C8

https://thenakedcanadian.wordpress.c...the-caribbean/

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Snore

Jedi

Curious. I went that way a few years back. We cut through Cuban waters and had no issues. Was the piracy inside Cuban waters or open water or Mexican?

No Cuba is very safe. The pirates come from Nicaragua and Honduras and go far East because of all the reefs and banks. West of the line Colon-Caymans it’s not safe.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Trvlmedic

I'm going to guess that he was referring to the Nicaraguan Banks and the Susie Too Rally that overnighted near Vivarillos with a Navy escort.

https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/

https://youtu.be/w6B7lPO25C8

https://thenakedcanadian.wordpress.c...the-caribbean/

Indeed. We managed to avoid them but had a similar experience as the naked Canadian but that was in Venezuela years ago. We were armed and faster but do not wish to repeat the experience.

[carlosproa]

Originally Posted by SvFree

Thanks to all for your input, it is very interesting to see a wide range of experiences.







I thinks this sums it up. It seems like your experiences are ranging from nasty to nice. Perhaps the take away is that if you want a pleasant run, wait for favorable weather window. If you want to get there on some randomly determined time frame, you may be in for some rough sailing. Dah...



The Windward route appears to be more favorable than I expected, but since we can not do much better that 50deg effectively with the cat, I think this eliminates the Windward route.



So from Panama to Mujeres via Caymans is pretty much clear - trade winds are just what they are. It is also pretty clear that from Mujeres to FLL any 4-5 day E or NE'erly is pretty much a no-go. SW'erly is ideal, but may have to wait for days for it. NW'erly or SE'erly are tolerable. Does this sound about right?

Stop at Cayman Brac and pay homage to what is left of Teignmouth Electron trimaran circa 1968 (Donald Crowhurst). I am sure you know all about the Golden Globe race, etc.
Last I heard from Canadian Tony Bigras when he sailed his 16 ft catamaran Miss Cindy from Mexico, to Nicaragua, thru San Juan river to eventually Florida, the trimaran wreck was still there in Cayman Brac.

[carlosproa]

Originally Posted by carlosproa

Stop at Cayman Brac and pay homage to what is left of Teignmouth Electron trimaran circa 1968 (Donald Crowhurst). I am sure you know all about the Golden Globe race, etc.
Last I heard from Canadian Tony Bigras when he sailed his 16 ft catamaran Miss Cindy from Mexico, to Nicaragua, thru San Juan river to eventually Florida, the trimaran wreck was still there in Cayman Brac.

And yes, stay away from Nic and Hond east coast. I am actually flying there this wed try to see if we can revive projects stopped after the students revolt

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by mvweebles

I delivered a Nordhavn 57 trawler yacht to FLL. I left Dana Pt CA on Feb 25 2004 and arrived in FLL 25 days later on roughly three 7-day legs. North in the Caribbean was difficult with consistent 25-kt winds from NNE for several days that pushed me into coast at Nicaragua - the forecast wind shift never came. Given credible reports of piracy along Nicaragua these days, I would give this coast a very wide berth. If it had not been a delivery, I would hunkered down in Bocas del Toros for better weather. Given the same circumstances, I'd do some serious easting out of the Canal and try to lay a course to either Caymen or Provodencia.

Keep in mind this was a delivery of a seriously capable trawler yacht. Waiting for perfect wx wasn't really an option thus 7-daya from Canal to FLL. Those days are behind me now.

Likely caused by seasonal trade winds interacting with the Colombian Low. This can cause very nasty conditions off Colombia which can expand quite far West.

Mostly in early months (Jan-Feb) then tapers off as the regional windy season comes to and end around May. The Colombian low effect is usually mostly gone by April.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Trvlmedic

I'm currently in the middle of my Panama to Key West journey right now. Hanging out in Grand Cayman before Isla Mujeres. Like Jedi states, take a wide berth around the Nicaraguan Banks. I left Provodencia and travelled east of Rosalind Bank. On the same day, two other boats left Provodencia for Guanaja and were shadowed by a suspicious boat with aggressive behavior for 8 hours. This was just two weeks ago.



Regarding passage from Isla Mujeres to Florida, I will quote a recent email I have from Chris Parker whom I highly recommend you hire for your passage.



"Mexico to FLKeys....this can be a really tough slog, with prevailing ENE-E Trades.



We get breaks from Trades all winter (well into March) - but typically brief, and the FRONT which brings the mild weather just ahead of FRONT is often very strong and the windows for moving very short.



In May-June we can see a mix of persistent ENE-E Trades....with periods (sometimes long periods) of very light winds as the sub-Tropical RIDGE shifts S into area (lighter winds are more common in June or July than in May).



So the transition period of roughly April is when we often see brakes in the ENE-E Trades which are long enough for you to get to Florida without being clobbered by the next weather event.



Let's focus on April - May, and when you're about a week away from departure we can assess the prevailing weather pattern to determine if it's conducive for travel.-Chris Parker "



Hope this helps. I'll keep an eye out for you.



Don

SV Bonzai

Yes, the Nicaraguan Banks have unfortunately become a more security issue prone area. Definately a routing consideration.

See CSSN for reported events:

https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/

However, 2019-2020 so far show no reported events.

On the security subject its worth noting that in Panama over the past year there have been robberies in the Linton Bay anchorage (not the marina) and a couple of brutal assaults/robberies near Nombre de Dios (arrests made). A consideration if working East along Panama first.

[aeronautic1]

I have 15 transits of the Panama Canal and too many Caribbean transits to count. I am a delivery captain. The route I would take northbound is Colon to Port Antonio, Jamaica then Windward Passage to Matthew Town (Great Inagua) Bahamas then thru Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale. This will keep you safe from piracy and you won’t get it on the nose from Isla Mujeres to Key West.

You’re welcome.
YachtAide

[Tom Emery]

Sop at Providencia. Beautiful island. Wonderful people. The most magnificent color changes to the water on approach. Never seen anything so mesmerizing.