WATERWAYGUIDE.COM BAHAMAS 2015 39 W The Gulf Stream Planning to Cross the Gulf Stream Crossing the Gulf Stream in any kind of vessel can best be compared to the progress of an ant trying to traverse an airport’s moving walkway. You’re going to be heading offshore and crossing the Gulf Stream to get to the Bahamas. Gulf Stream Crossing to the Bahamas Art Deco Festival at South Beach, Miami by Joe Boulay: Decisions are made, unmade, questioned, pondered, remade and after a time settled upon when staging for an upcoming Gulf Stream crossing. The … We took a small jog around an 8.2 foot shallow, but in hindsight, this was probably not necessary. How to prepare for a cruising trip to the Bahamas – Provisioning – What should you take with you – The best weather and strategies for the Gulf Stream crossing – Our experience of the Gulf Stream crossing – Arrival to Bimini – How to check in to the Bahamas. The Gulf Stream current runs from South to North and the prevailing winds during the winter come from the Northeast creating steep, choppy waves with a short interval. I consider crossing the Gulf Stream something to get over with so we can enjoy the Bahamas, not really a pleasant day of sailing for its own sake. The actual crossing to the edge of the banks was about 130 miles and it took about 15 hours. Sailed our boat to the Bahamas. Crossing the Gulf Stream from Florida is not to be underestimated. To assist in our planning for a trip over to the Bahamas, we’ve decided to write out the ways in which we outfit our sailboat for crossing the Gulf Stream and what we do to prepare for visiting a new country. We were ready to go! Crossing to the Bahamas . This is "Gulf Stream Crossing to Bahamas Turf to Surf Sailing" by Tasha Hacker (Turf to Surf) on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people… We sailed a comfortable crossing under a first reef. on . Crossing the Gulf Stream to The Bahamas …. Bahamas Expedition—Crossing the Gulf Stream. It all depends on your planning, preparation and, above all, patience for the right weather window. We didn’t even turn on the engine until we were half way across the stream. … I'd go in that way to avoid any poor weather trouble getting through one of the passages. But crossing the Gulf Stream depends on weather, so you wait whether you like it or not. Clothing became optional at this point and Nick resorted to dousing himself in seawater every ten minutes. What makes a window to cross the Gulf Stream Crossing the Gulf Stream from Florida. Mother Nature is a tough teacher: She usually gives the test before the lesson. The following day was steaming hot and we struggled to keep cool. We still hadn’t caught any fish, but on the upside we had entered the Gulf Stream! Gulf Stream Crossing: Day 2. Boat clean, laundry done, last trip to the grocery store complete. That’s ok by me. We said our goodbyes to our friend and dropped her off at the nearby restaurant where she caught an Uber back to Coconut Grove. Accordingly, we researched boats that would be capable of the venture. This is "Crossing the Gulf Stream to Bahamas at dawn." January 15, 2019 / FloatsOurBoat. Short of having dead calm seas, and thus no wind for sailing, I don’t think we could have had a smoother trip. It was all beam winds (and beam waves & swells) at about 15 knots. Attempt #2. It’s not the same for everyone but we’ve done this a time or two now to know what we need to accomplish for a successful trip and know what we want to have along for the voyage. Off the east coast of Florida it flows … Favorable wind and waves were not predicted for the following week, however there was a two day window of reasonably calm seas and no wind. One thing that living on a boat is famous for: inability to plan. Basically it is like a giant river of warm water in the sea, averaging about 60 miles wide and 2500-4000 feet deep. Of course crossing the stream needs to have a good weather window. Our crossing of the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas Bank is shown below. As I start to write this, we are waiting in Nassau for a boat part. 3/22/2018 2 Comments How we sailed across the Gulf Stream—with Kids! Marinas aren't what boats are built for. Crossing the Gulf Stream to The Bahamas….. Attempt #1. Our trip was complete with a pod of pilot whales, lots of dolphin, a few close cargo and cruise ships, and our slowest sailing speed to date! When we decided to sell the ranch and buy a boat, the whole plan was to visit the Bahamas on the boat. After our pit-crew efficient 15-hour stop in Boot Key Harbor, we were on the move again. There are lots of ways across the Gulf Stream and lots of ways not to do it. After that it's just like any other blue water passage. Crossing the Gulfstream the 2nd Time. (There will be a video, too!) Crossing the Gulf Stream! September 25, 2019. Feb 21, 2019 - How to prepare for a cruising trip to the Bahamas - Provisioning - Our experience of the Gulf Stream crossing - Checking in to the Bahamas in Bimini. Anchor raised, we headed north, planning to leave the Hawk Channel at Angelfish Cut and aim our bow for Bimini. The real dangers in crossing the Gulf Stream aren't the rough sea conditions that prevail when there is bad weather, they are the real day to day man-made menaces. By . Because of all that, we were being particularly careful watching for the perfect weather window to make the jump. PREPARATION The first step toward accomplishing any goal is to make the mental commitment to do it. Crossing the Gulf Stream - Bahamas Bound! After a night in marine stadium we moved the boat to anchor outside of No Name Harbor, where we planned to wait for our weather window to cross the Gulf Stream. Crossing the Gulf Stream can be as easy as a day trip on Long Island Sound or Chesapeake Bay, but it can also be a challenging undertaking that can have unfortunate consequences. So we need a south or west wind, and low swell. Um, that last little tidbit is my least favorite. Date Posted: 2016-03-10 Source: Waterway Guide Cuba Bound . Because it’s a significant current, if the wind has any northern component, it kicks up a rough swell. But the stream is only 45 nm off St. Augustine and then about 50 to cross it so a 24 forecast gets you to the other side. But after listening to Chris Parker’s marine weather forecast on the short wave radio at 6:30 … We’ve been waiting for a weather window for our Gulf Stream crossing to the Bahamas. If you’re planning to make the crossing, make sure that you prepare your gear by following some helpful tips from our friends at BoatUS. There are lots of “old timers” who love taking newbees across and showing them the “right” way to do it. Sailboat Crossing the Gulf Stream to Bahamas January 19, 2017 - Ricochet, a Gemini 3400 catamaran, crosses the Gulf Stream from Miami, FL to Bimini, Bahamas. All the work and prep and planning and we had done it. The first place we can check in is West End, we’d have to leave about 2am for that. Certain appealing models were eliminated because of concerns about whether they could handle crossing the dreaded Gulf Stream. I just recently heard that “cruising is just doing maintenance and repairs in a warmer climate”. Another option has just emerged, and Robertson is enthusiastically recommending it to clients. If there’s an east wind, we can’t sail. Posted: Feb19,2019 | Modified: February 19, 2019 | by Dean Massey. Actually, the 12-hour trip over to Bimini, Bahamas is pretty simple. Updated July 17, 2018. John & Jane. The Gulf Stream is a warm swift Atlantic current that runs from South, originating in the Gulf of Mexico, to North. As a passionate retired science teacher, the Gulf Stream is one of the natural wonders of the world. While many small boaters are intimidated by large expanses of open water, crossing the Gulf Stream is easy and safe as long as you are properly prepared. We take a nice weather window shortly after arriving in Key Biscayne to cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. It was also going to be one of our longest offshore crossings. There are multiple boat ramps, marinas, hotels, and parking options to choose from when going to the Bahamas, after doing our research, this is the ones we choose and recommend. by Valleycat on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Soon after New Years, we reluctantly pulled ourselves away from the pleasures of Key West and headed north along the Florida Keys. If you want to sail to the Virgin Islands and beyond this season, say so. In the past, charter clients aiming to avoid an extended Gulf Stream crossing had to fly to Nassau, Bahamas, and either meet their charter yacht there or take a regional flight to a smaller airport in one of the out-islands. Crossing the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas After a couple weeks in Marathon we were itching to go sailing. In my last post, I documented a bit of our second crossing. For those who have been following this journey, we finally made it to the Bahamas. While crossing the Gulf Stream (that wicked current that rips up the east coast) was definitely one of our biggest obstacles in getting to the Bahamas, and we approached it with a healthy fear, we were thrilled to make it safely across when we checked into West End and realized we had just done it. Fortunately we aren’t traveling with any deadlines or time constraints, which allows us to pick the perfect weather window for crossing the Gulf Stream. Crossing the Gulf Stream - Keys to Cuba. It’s only a little over 50 miles, and there are usually several boats that make the trip together. Apr 22, 2015 - Well, we did it. 3 days should get you to the Little Bahamas Bank. Crossing the gulf stream is not a joke, and you need to be well-rested, alert, and sharp. The ant might well have wanted to make a direct crossing; but, inevitably during its transit, it will be taken beyond its target. It provides a better angle for crossing the Gulf Stream’s strong current than Fort Lauderdale farther north, while to the south the Florida Keys curve away to the southwest, which only adds distance to the transit. The Bahamas Journals – Chapter 1: The Gulf Stream Crossing, The Flats and Nassau. Others were considered even… Just outside of No Name Harbor, near the tip of Key Biscayne, we had anchored the night before. Isn’t that dangerous? Dec 23, 2018 - January 19, 2017 - Ricochet, a Gemini 3400 catamaran, crosses the Gulf Stream from Miami, FL to Bimini, Bahamas. Crossing the Gulf Stream. 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