sw florida to cozumel

[buddhadawg]

hello all, I hope you are all doing well, with the Bahamas continuing to be off limits, we are considering an alternate route south. please share with us any info pertinent to a passage from sw florida to Cozumel. fairly well versed on winds and currents from se fl to Bahamas, but I know nothing about gulf stream thru the area around cuba, and on to mexico. it appears that mexico is still predominantly open to cruisers.. thanks and advise bill

[belizesailor]

Discussion of route Belize in thread below which covers same currents etc.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app

[buddhadawg]

thanks belize sailor, will take a look what is the current status in belize? still closed ?

[belizesailor]

To my knowledge Belize is still closed. Guatemala is for sure. Mexico...some cruisers have cleared in there within the past month, but I dont know up to date. Best to contact the Port Captain of your intended port of call before departure.

Some ports in Mx require papers from your last port...even if you are a USA citizen, on a USA boat, leaving the USA. Some can get quite nasty about not having such.

[buddhadawg]

thanks again,, what is approx. distance from dry tortugas to cancun? any rough idea?

[Dsanduril]

It's a shade over 300 NM from Dry Tortugas to Cancun proper, rhumb line. Getting around the tip of Cuba can be "interesting" (mostly covered in the other thread) so rhumb line may not be the way you sail, depending on conditions.

[belizesailor]

Since you asked specifically about currents. An excerpt explaining regional currents and related images attached.

"
...
Currents

The Western Caribbean has large complex current systems which dominate the area plus lots of minor local currents along each coastal area. Understanding these can be a big help in planning passages through the area.
There are several major ocean currents to contend with when transiting the region. These are the Yucatan Current, Gulf Loop Current, and the Florida Current. The Yucatan Current flows S to N off Belize and Mexico. It compresses between the Yucatan Peninsular and Cuba, then splits to form the Gulf Loop Current and the Florida Current. The Gulf Loop Current is highly variable both in speed and location. I've encountered it as far N as 160 miles S of Mobile Bay! It is important to have up to date information on the Gulf Loop Current when transiting to or from the USA.

The Florida Current is often also referred to as the Gulf Stream, but technically the Gulf Stream does not begin until the Florida Current exits the Florida Straits. The image below shows these major ocean currents.

Currents are discussed in more detail below by country.

Mexico & Belize

The Yucatan Channel Current is a major current which flows roughly N parallel to Mexico & Belize and then becomes the origin of the Florida Current and the Gulf Loop Current after it squeezes between Cuba and the Yucatan. As a result this area can become quite rough when a northerly wind sets up against the Yucatan current.

Along the Mexican coast the Yucatan Current runs quite near the coast. If heading south running very near the coast will avoid the main axis of the current and possibly pick up a favorable counter current.
Outside the Belize barrier reef the mighty Yucatan Current flows N. It is strongest further offshore and weaker closer to the reef. Running close to the reef will minimize the current and sometimes you will find a weak favorable counter current. You can run very close to the reef, but of course need to pay very close attention too (a navigation error here could be catastrophic). The 100 fathom contour follows close to the reef and if you stay in at least 100' of water you should be well clear. If running close, pay special attention in areas like Gladden Spit where the reef is not consistently close to the surface and thus less visible.
The image below shows the currents offshore of Belize and part of Mexico. It does not accurately depict near shore currents such as the one inside the Belizean reef. The primary current inside the Belizean reef flows S.


Guatemala

The Rio Dulce, and some other smaller rivers, flow into Amatique Bay. The resulting current collides and combines with the S flowing current from inside the reef in Belize, and these combined flows exit to the sea between the southern end of the Belizean Barrier Reef and Cabo Tres Puntas (Guatemala). As a result this area can get rough in a strong easterly wind.

...
"

...from "Western Caribbean Cruising Notes":

https://www.amazon.com/Western-Carib.../dp/B073BDLYQF

[garychurch]

Before you commit to going west you should know that you can transit the Bahamas with government permission. We have this permission and are leaving Sunday for the US. Our permission allows us to anchor overnight to rest as well as stop and get fuel at designated locations (now 5 different island locations). I believe the Bahamas as well as the Dominican Republic have extended their Coronavirus restrictions until June 1.

Of course the question is if you get permission to transit the Bahamas where do you go?

[BigNut]

Originally Posted by garychurch

Before you commit to going west you should know that you can transit the Bahamas with government permission. We have this permission and are leaving Sunday for the US. Our permission allows us to anchor overnight to rest as well as stop and get fuel at designated locations (now 5 different island locations). I believe the Bahamas as well as the Dominican Republic have extended their Coronavirus restrictions until June 1.

Of course the question is if you get permission to transit the Bahamas where do you go?

Please say how you got the permission.

Thanks [emoji120]

[garychurch]

In response to the inquiry of how to get permission to transit the Bahamas please see the below.

https://blog.bahamasmarinas.com/2020/04/14/bahamas-government-protocols-for-boating-in-the-bahamas-april-2020/

[reneaston]

Hello

I am not sure if you are aware of a service from Chris Parker. He will plan a route for you and take into account both the weather and the tides. The service for a trip is $50 but it is well worth the fee. We made the journey from Marathon 3 years ago using his plan.
He was able to give us waypoints along the journey so that we could have an exact route and timing. Everything worked out perfectly for us.

We started off in Marathon and sailed to the Dry Tourtugas, where we remaine for 2 nights for a storm to pass (the anchorage is open now but you cannot step foot on land) and then we set off on a journey to Isla Muheres.

Chris’ route was spot on as it was tailored to our boat speed. We even picked up a back current that helped us travel south.

When making a long journey, it is helpful to seek expertise. Here is his website. https://www.mwxc.com/

I expect that Belize and Guatemala will remain closed for a considerable time as many of their COVID 19 cases were from individuals from foreign lands. Just a word of warning about Mexico. The rate of new cases is about 1,000 per day.

You will need to plan your journey carefully as boats have been turned away from anchorages.


Rene Yapp

Aboard Sea Mist

[BigNut]

Originally Posted by garychurch

In response to the inquiry of how to get permission to transit the Bahamas please see the below.



https://blog.bahamasmarinas.com/2020...as-april-2020/

Thank you.

[jpstevens]

belizesailor is right. Perhaps you already know that you are required to have a "TIP", temporary import permit to enter a Mexican port. Local authorities tend not to be relaxed about that. Also, since the Covid-19 is not yet under control in Mexico, perhaps you should check if the marinas are open, and also asses your personal risk.

[model 10]

You really need to find out what is happening in Isla Mujeres these days before you head there. There may be more boats than you can count in the anchorage. There are very few places in MX to anchor and wait out this deal, it might be a mess. Remember it's an island that lives only on tourism.

[Montanan]

The US / Mexican border and seaports are closed to all but essential travelers. The U.S.-Mexico border has been shut to all non-essential travel first on March 21, the bilateral order is was extended by 30 more days to remain in place until at least May 19. Mexican officials said the decision, which extends the border clampdown through May 19, was reached "after reviewing the development of COVID-19 propagation" in the two countries.

Yesterday's news is not good. Mexico has now entered into Phase 3 of the coronavirus lockdown, the highest level mandated by the government as the spread of the virus intensifies, with nonessential businesses shuttered and social distancing measures and movement restrictions in place until at least May 30.

Covid-19 is ramping up in Mexico, not leveling or ramping downward.

Cases have soared in Mexico, to 16,752 as of Wednesday, from barely 1,000 at the start of April. It’s the fourth highest case count in Latin America behind Brazil (74,493), Peru (33,931), and Ecuador (24,258), according to Johns Hopkins University. Mexico’s death toll of 1,569 is second only to Brazil’s 5,158 in Latin America.

Best check on how Covid-19 progresses in Mexico and Latin America

But officials have suggested the true number could be many times that; some private hospitals in Mexico City have reportedly reached capacity, and have had to turn away patients due to a lack of ventilators.