Newbies need help Havana to Cancun

[BernBruce]

We need to sail our 32 ft Hake Yaght from Marina Hemmingway to Cancun asap. I look at different weather maps and get different info. If you could help that would be amazing. We have 200 miles to Marina Cabo San Antonio where there is no internet, so we must be careful to leave lots of time to do the other 100 miles from there to Cancun.
What is the wind range we should be looking for and caution is our main goal.
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Bernadette and Bruce

[Stu Jackson]

These folks did their research:

http://sundownersailsagain.com/when-...assage-report/

[travellerw]

I recently used this site to help passage planning from Cancun to Key West.
Weather and ocean forecast maps
Looks like the 7th may be a an "OK" window, but it will get spirited around the 9th.

If this is an ASAP thing, then I would suggest you look into Chris Parker. Our buddy boat used him and he helped a ton. Small price to pay for some professional advice.

[model 10]

So you have no way to check sea state from your boat? I would try to get a 3 day forecast for seas under 1 meter and little wind from anywhere for your crossing while you are still in Havana. If you can't do that, hang out in the mangroves a few miles east of Cabo till the seas calms down. It can get rough out there so figure out a way to wait till it's good to go.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Bernadette & Bruce.

[ryon]

It's raiiiininggg in Cancun, all week.

[jpstevens]

I agree with travellerw. Chris Parker has gotten it right for me more than once.
Give him a call and wait until he says go!

[LByers]

You can find info about Chris Parker's weather service here: https://www.mwxc.com/. I used him many times with great results. He'll tell you the best time to leave and what route will work best. Cheers.

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by BernBruce

We need to sail our 32 ft Hake Yaght from Marina Hemmingway to Cancun asap. I look at different weather maps and get different info. If you could help that would be amazing. We have 200 miles to Marina Cabo San Antonio where there is no internet, so we must be careful to leave lots of time to do the other 100 miles from there to Cancun.
What is the wind range we should be looking for and caution is our main goal.
Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Bernadette and Bruce

===

Generally speaking you'd like a forecast for northeasterly winds 20 kts or less and seas less than 4 feet. If you leave sometime in the next day or two, it looks like a pretty good window. I'd go straight line for Isla Mujeres after rounding western Cuba.

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by wayne.b

===

Generally speaking you'd like a forecast for northeasterly winds 20 kts or less and seas less than 4 feet. If you leave sometime in the next day or two, it looks like a pretty good window. I'd go straight line for Isla Mujeres after rounding western Cuba.

Aim south as you will be pushed by the current. I just finished the run to Key West and the current was REALLY strong! If you aim right at Isla you will end up 20 miles north. This is where the north easterly winds really help, although they will make it rough blowing against the current.

Again.. Chris Parker is worth it.

[vlathom]

We sailed a Passport 40 from Marathon, Fla. straight through to Isla Mujeres (island next to Cancun) several years ago. It was a rough passage once we passed Cuba, so be prepared for a possible big blow on the bow. It was rough enough that we needed to take down the jib, which wasn't a furling one. Very precarious undertaking in the dark.

If you are entering the Cancun area at night, be ready for what seems like millions of cruise ships and all their confusing lights. Unfortunately, we had not timed our arrival well and we had to sail up and down, killing time. The owner did not know how to heave to his boat.

The markers to enter Isla were confusing.

My suggestion is to make this trip in total daylight and not part of a long passage like we did.