Tortola to Dominica and the Saba Bank

[SV Demeter]

We're sailing or I should say will be motorsailing next weekend from Tortola to Dominica assuming the weather window stay open.

Looking for suggestions on transiting the Saba Bank as our other trips down island have been east of the bank via st Maarten etc.

Rhumbline from Tortola to Dominica passes over the bank. Thinking maybe we will go east of Saba but maybe the bank is not a big deal in current conditions.


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[CRM]

We sailed from Dominica to Antigua to St. Thomas in April. We passed east of Saba without any difficulty. Had some great sailing the whole way.

[SV Demeter]

Yes going north island hopping pretty easy to stay east of Saba. We will be beating from Tortola.


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[donradcliffe]

We sailed direct from St Croix to St Lucia once. We went over the Saba Bank, but wouldn't have known it was there if it wasn't on the chart--not a big deal.

[SV Demeter]

Good to hear. Just looks like it shoals up to 20m or less which would make me think it could get rough. What conditions did you have for the trip from stx to st Lucia? How long did it take and what sort of boat?


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[sailon46]

When I was crossing in my 52 ft Beneteau from Tortolla to St Martin it was in early January the NW wind was setting us towards Saba we actually got about 45 miles before correcting on a Tack for St Martin. Remember lots of Squalls. Going in the Spring from Guadeloupe to Satia via St Kitts and Nevis got about 10 miles from Saba could see it from Satia. But I didn't go there is no place to anchor there and a big hike up the rock. Have visited Dominica a couple of times its a cool place.

[donradcliffe]

Originally Posted by SV Demeter

Good to hear. Just looks like it shoals up to 20m or less which would make me think it could get rough. What conditions did you have for the trip from stx to st Lucia? How long did it take and what sort of boat?


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It took about 45 hours, and we had easterlies 12-15 knots most of the way. The boat was a Beneteau first 456 which goes well to weather. The bank may get a bit rougher than normal on the weather side, but a bit less rough than normal on the lee side, but it was a pretty pleasant trip for us. The biggest problem was checking into St Lucia without a Zarpe--they are used to that in the BVI and St Marten, but not further down island. They finally accepted a fuel dock receipt as proof that we had comedirectly from St Croix.

[SV Demeter]

Good to hear. Looking like we will get 15-18 from the east. Our boat is not so weatherly as a yours but we have a little better angle than st croix. We're hoping for 48hrs or less. I guess the US doesn't normally give outbound clearance papers unless you request them. We will have ours from Tortola. Dominica customs I recall being fairly strict as well. Thanks everyone.


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[Hud3]

The only issue I've had on the Saba Bank is the lobster pot floats. You need to keep a sharp eye out for them.

[SV Demeter]

Thanks. Looking like our rhumb line will be on the western edge of the bank and transiting during daylight so hopefully we avoid the pots!


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