BVI to Miami

[loudon]

Hi all,

Looking into bringing a 50' mono into Miami from the BVI in mid January. We are planning a non-stop cruise because we would be short on time... How much time should we plan?

Thanks for your advices!

[speciald@ocens.]

8-10 days

[Sailor954]

7-10 days should prove plenty assuming no problems / delays.
To be safe, I would suggest a little more because there are always fronts coming down, things break,,,, The fastest we've ever made the trip was 6 days under ideal conditions.

[Hud3]

We did that trip in our IP 380 last November. It took us seven days for the part from St. Thomas to Miami. That included one cold front blowing through, requiring some beating into the wind, but to make up for it we had almost perfect weather for the Gulf Stream crossing.

[s/v Moondancer]

It is about 1000 nm so plan 8-10 but should do it in 6-7 as it is usually down wind down current unless you run into a northen low dipping down to the Caribbean which can cause winds from the west and the north.

I would do it along the north coasts of PR and DR and then through the Old Bahama Channel north of Cuba and into the Gulf Stream up to Miami. I stay on the Bahama side of the OBC as far from Cuba as possible.

Last time we ran through the OBC we averaged 175 mile days.

[loudon]

thanks for those quick reply!

I will without doubt ask more precise question soon.

[loudon]

S/V Moondancer,

When you say stay as far as possible from Cuba, how far can you really be when you are in the OBC? The channel doesn't seem very wide along the Cuban cost.

Thanks!

[Hud3]

The OBC gets a lot of ship traffic. You'll need to be on one side or the other of the channel's centerline to avoid it. I imagine Moondancer is suggesting that you favor the northern (Bahamas) side--good advice.

BTW, don't be surprised if you're intercepted and boarded by a Royal Bahamian Defense Force team after dark as you pass through the OBC.

[Euro Cruiser]

Concur with the general duration and route (we did it last in 2008) but suspect the wrinkle will be a strong front at some point during that 7-8 days since in January they are ~ weekly and can be strong. We found the shipping (+ charter fishing & work boat traffic) to not be a significant factor. There are not many hidey holes along the OBC route so it makes sense to stay ahead on the f'casts so you don't lose the option of using one if it makes sense.

Jack

[loudon]

When saling in the OBC, on the northern side, how far will you be from the Cuban coast, on the Garmin charts, the "deep" parts of the the OBC doesn't look very wide. Are you entering Cuban waters?

Everything seems to fall in place to depart Tortola on the 7th of Jan.