When Is the Earliest / Best Time to Sail North ?

[JColdren]

I'm currently in GA and will be heading to the Caribbean next month but I was going to sail up to Massachusetts after that. I'd like to start sailing up as early as possible but I also don't want to freeze my arse off! Any advice on the trip would help I've never sailed that far alone before. Thanks, Jacob

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by JColdren

I'm currently in GA and will be heading to the Caribbean next month but I was going to sail up to Massachusetts after that. I'd like to start sailing up as early as possible but I also don't want to freeze my arse off! Any advice on the trip would help I've never sailed that far alone before. Thanks, Jacob

Need something else here... like minimum time you want to spend in the Carib...
Otherwise make the run up to Bermuda early to mid May... any later and you'll be potentially in the path of early storms..
Have a great trip...

[hanschristian38]

Below the Cape of Cod - May 1
Through the canal - June 1
Maine - June 15th.

[JColdren]

So starting to head up around march would be a bad life decision?

[ConradG]

are you planning to sail outside the gulf or do the waterway and in and out when nice? Check your pilot charts (downloadable free from several sites). And, yup, march in new england can be snowy....
Bermuda is 21 days on the entry without extending I believe. The later the better for new england water to warm but as Boatman said, much past may to bermuda and you're into named storm time.

[s/v Moondancer]

We sailed Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Halifax the first week in May, it was lovely trip but we were in full off-shore gear north of Boston.

Any earlier and it is cold north of Hatteras and any later and the wind gets names like Maria.