Planning a route around the Caribbean

[SY Kelpie]

Originally Posted by Michael Cobbe

ride out hurricane season in Grenada.


Grenada was hit by Hurricane Ivan and yachts were damaged. We know two who had insurance with Pataenius, the surveyor arrived on the the first plane in and the insurance was paid in one weeek. The only safe place is Trindad it has mountains along the north coast so the hurricanes bounce off it.

Yes I've noticed that hurricanes seem to be hitting Grenada more often nowadays. But it sounds like a much nicer place to spend a bit of time.
Grenada and Trinidad are less than a hundred miles apart... is it realistic to be based in Grenada but hop down to Trini in advance of an oncoming depression?

[theDangerz]

Originally Posted by SY Kelpie

Yes I've noticed that hurricanes seem to be hitting Grenada more often nowadays. But it sounds like a much nicer place to spend a bit of time.
Grenada and Trinidad are less than a hundred miles apart... is it realistic to be based in Grenada but hop down to Trini in advance of an oncoming depression?

Anyplace can be hit by a hurricane... but generally Grenada is very safe (statistically) which is why most insurance companies allow it during the season.

What you describe is exactly what most of us have done or used as a our backup plan.
Sit in Grenada for the season because it keeps us insured and lots to do both above and below water and IF a storm approaches you have the ability to run even further south.

This season was odd as the only named storm to come anywhere close was Gonzalo and unlike you would expect it actually turned south toward Trini... meaning those who had left to be uber cautious actually got the worst of it (which luckily wasn't all that bad).

[tradrockrat]

Maybe we'll see you down there Kelpie.

My wife and I are planning the same sort of season. We're heading down from Maryland in November next year to the Islands and then the Pacific.

We're planning on Bermuda first, but then we're looking at the same issues and concerns as you. We want to see it ALL, but we also want to get to the Pacific.

Our current thinking is to hop the islands from November to January and then head for the Canal. That means lots of places missed, but we both think there's a high probability we'll retire to the islands to remain close to the USA and family obligations when we're done sailing our circumnavigation.

Of course all of this is based on the hope that by next year, vaccines have safely been made available, borders are open-ish, and we have increasing options on where we are allowed to sail.

If not, we'll probably stay in the islands until April / May then head back to Maryland or down to Grenada until hurricane season is over, then go straight to the canal at the end of 2022