Miami to Bimini in Feb 2013

[mark0978]

Looking at towing the boat behind us down to Strictly Sail in Miami, then taking the Catalina 25 over to Bimini for a week or so after that.

Where do you get the best weather forecast for that area? Is this the best one? Figured I'd start looking at it regularly so I know what it's like normally.
http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/mflMarineWeek.php#tabs

Looking for a place to drop the boat in the water there as well, been looking @ Google Maps, but haven't found an easy spot yet. It's a Swing Keel, so fairly shallow (2'8") with the keel up.

This will be our first ocean "long haul", a little worried about water (21 gallons) and ice (chest is abysmally small).

What else do I need to be looking out for/thinking about?

Where can I find the prevailing winds charts I hear about (lake sailing doesn't seem to need them). What's the return trip like?

[Waterway Guide]

There are lots of wind forecast sites and apps, and they mostly are differing depictions from the same source (NOAA). I find I use windfinder.com the most, especially when trying to find a "weather window" for a passage, like from Miami to Bimini for example. Prevailing winds will be E - SE, and you know NEVER to try to cross the gulf stream in a 10+kn breeze with a "N" in it...it will create steep, dangerous seas for even a much larger vessel. Florida' FWC has a boat ramp finder site at https://public.myfwc.com/LE/boatramp...CountyMap.aspx. Crandon Park might be a good spot. You definitely want to start Miami or south so that you're not bucking the current, and you'll want to calculate how much the gulf stream will slip you during your transit so you can start out pointed the right direction (significantly south of your target). Have a great trip!

[DotDun]

I use Passageweather

Sailing Weather - Marine Weather Forecasts for Sailors and Adventurers - PassageWeather

[Vasco]

NOAA is as good as any for the jump across the stream. I look at Passageweather too butas, said earlier, NOAA is good enough. There is a good launch ramp at Crandon Park Marina on Key Biscayne.