Sailing to bermuda - resources - 30 foot sailboat

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

I’ve singlehanded there four times and was not able to make the trip this spring due to the epidemic. I leave Southern New England in late April and it has taken me six to eight days depending on the weather. I use windy.com and passageweather.com to decide when to make the jump offshore. I don’t have a satellite link or a SSB radio so I’m on my own. I do have AIS B and an AIS receiver built into my VHF along with my plotter, radar, and the usual complement of instruments. I stay for a couple months and head back in early July before the hurricane season kicks in.
Fill out this form Visiting Yachts before you head out to save yourself having to provide this info via VHF as you close with the island. You will be contacted by Bermuda Radio as you make your approach. This link is very helpful Bermuda Marine and Ports .
Those who advise that Bermuda is expensive don’t live in southern New England. I find things minimally more expensive in grocery stores and restaurants. Anchor out and stock up on food and boat spares to avoid any perceived financial shock. There are numerous places to drop a hook. Once you clear Customs you are good for 90 days.
Public transportation is readily available so avoid taxis which can be expensive. There are many attractions and museums for those so inclined. I enjoy the offshore passage and the destination equally.

True, "expensive" is relative. I find beer-nomics to be a pretty good measure. Compare the cost of a pint or a bottle of beer in the 2 venues in question.

I Iive in Panama, I can get a good bottle (16oz) of craft brew for about $2.50.

Re public transport, the public bus system in Bermuda is good and relavitely inexpensive.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by svsonora

Thanks so much everyone. Has anyone made the trip in the wintertime?

I do have a few rescue devices. PLB and a Inreach. Each crew can have one on at all times.

Fortunately, I have not...all in May-June and still encountered some sporty weather.

[MicHughV]

in all my trips to Bermuda....going there and returning....I have only ever seen one ship.....and one sailboat out " there".....being self-sufficient is key doing this trip....

like the above poster mentioned.....you will likely encounter some " sporty" weather....somewhere along the trip..the worst weather I have ever been in 35 years of sailing was leaving Bermuda, about 3 days out...

but...I'd do it again.....it's a fun trip and a fun destination

[svsonora]

Thanks. I might switch my destination to Bahamas. Norfolk to Bimini or something. I better do a lot of reading!

[psk125]

The weather and conditions on my trips to and from Bermuda have been different every time. We've had smooth, four-day reaches at a steady 8 knots, and days of beating into 8' chop, with the rain being driven by 20 knots of breeze. Day-long flat calms with only the tails of thresher sharks breaking the surface every 200 yards or so. And 40 knot squalls. Shifty winds that called for gybing the spinnaker three times a watch. Thunderstorms. One time we had three waterspouts in sight at once. Essentially, the Gulf Stream can throw anything at you, so it pays to be ready for everything.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by svsonora

Thanks. I might switch my destination to Bahamas. Norfolk to Bimini or something. I better do a lot of reading!

You will still have to cross the Stream and the Bahamas are expensive too! Though not as expensive as Bermuda. Read up on the Bahama's entry fee too.

Upside to the Bamahas is that once you are there you have hundreds of square miles of cruising ground to explore. Bermuda is just a dot.

[davil]

looking for cruising resources like Waterways Guide and cannot find any.
For some reason I thought seen a printed guide on Bermuda but a Google search, Amazon etc. turns negative.

Thank you

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by davil

looking for cruising resources like Waterways Guide and cannot find any.

For some reason I thought seen a printed guide on Bermuda but a Google search, Amazon etc. turns negative.



Thank you

Ive never seen a cruising guide to Bermuda...it would be a brief book indeed given Bermuda's small size (only about 14nm long). There are only a few areas where cruisers normally anchor and a few more local anchorages. Take a look on Google Earth, you can see where the boats are clustered.

You can find some more basic info on www.noonsite.com and cruiserswiki.org.

For ashore info a good travel guide should suffice.

[davil]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Ive never seen a cruising guide to Bermuda...it would be a brief book indeed given Bermuda's small size (only about 14nm long). There are only a few areas where cruisers normally anchor and a few more local anchorages. Take a look on Google Earth, you can see where the boats are clustered.

You can find some more basic info on www.noonsite.com and cruiserswiki.org.

For ashore info a good travel guide should suffice.

=========================================
thank you belizesailor

not sure what I have seen? and as you describe is really small place, seems once you find a spot for the boat there are not many places or reason to move the boat?
planning? sometime first or second week of May? been following their Covid stats and seems encouraging
take care

[Hoodsail]

there is and i have the "Yachtsman's Guide to the Bermuda Islands" by Michael Voegeli. BUT it was published in 1977 thru 1982! It is a fun read during the Winter as it was developed with the dept of tourism. Attaching images of the guide's cover and table of contents. Found this at one of our local used books stores in Mystic, CT.

[davil]

Hoodsail
well at least was not entirely my imagination
thanksDavid

[Orion Jim]

Just in case you haven’t seen this....
https://www.gotobermuda.com/article/...private-vessel

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Hoodsail

there is and i have the "Yachtsman's Guide to the Bermuda Islands" by Michael Voegeli. BUT it was published in 1977 thru 1982! It is a fun read during the Winter as it was developed with the dept of tourism. Attaching images of the guide's cover and table of contents. Found this at one of our local used books stores in Mystic, CT.

Aha, so one does exist! If a wee bit dated. Looks like than managed to squeeze out over 150 pages too!

[davil]

since you are looking at these posts have a question regarding the checking in,
Is it mandatory to tie up at their dock or could drop the anchor instead? and dingy ashore to their office?

thanks
David

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by davil

since you are looking at these posts have a question regarding the checking in,
Is it mandatory to tie up at their dock or could drop the anchor instead? and dingy ashore to their office?

thanks
David

They insist you tie up at the Customs dock on Ordnance Island in St. George’s harbor.