Recommendations for crossing the gulf stream

The current affects every boat whether power or sail. During summer we usually wont start fishing until we are well into the Gulf Stream.

After waiting for days for the best possible crossing date I depart.

Recommendations for crossing the gulf stream. The advice to cross in a south wind rings true. As it was an east wind crossing the current sideways didnt help much either. Another hazard is due to the Gulf Streams warm waters which can create its own weather particularly thunderstorms with lightning heavy rain and strong winds.

The current affects every boat whether power or sail. For crossing the Gulf Stream as fast as possible your heading should never be any amount south of due east on the way to the Bahamas or south of due west on the return. It was very eye-opening to us to turn literally two degrees south of due east and see our speed over ground drop over half a knot a few degrees more and it dropped nearly a knot.

Effect and maximize the positive lift of the Gulf Stream. The simplest way is three easy steps. Take your distance to run and divide it by your average speed to get your passage time.

Multiply the passage time by 25 the average speed of flow of the Stream. The result is the distance the Gulf Stream will take you north off a direct course. When you are crossing the Gulf Stream keep your heading at 90 degrees and you should end up almost right where you want to.

The southern end of Key Largo is a great place to leave from when you want to clear in at Bimini port of entries are at North Bimini South Bimini and Cat Island before heading to Nassau the Berry Islands Andros Island or the Exumas. Choose the wrong time when a strong wind is out of the north blowing against the current and youll find this a dangerous place to be in any size boat. But with careful planning preparation and patience even small center-console boats can and do comfortably make the trip across the Gulf Stream current.

To plan a safe efficient and comfortable crossing of the Gulf Stream you need information. Heres how to find it. Florida to Bahamas Gulf Stream Map.

Check out Gulf Stream Location Speed and. If your vessel is slower you must figure compensation more accurately and ensure that your departure port is far enough south. The goal is to use the Gulf Stream to your advantage not fight it all the way across.

There are various ways to calculate crossing tactics to minimize the negative effect and maximize the positive lift of the Gulf Stream. Trawlers want little wind and flat flat flat seas that have been flat for at least 24 hours prior to departure. Planning the crossing reminded me a lot of waiting for a babys delivery.

Multiple times a day we checked multiple weather sites listened to weather. It was a beautifully calm day with light winds crossing the Gulf Stream on March 6 2015. It was so nice to share the passage with Heather and Stuart on our buddy boat Overdraught.

The waiting and analyzing paid off and we had a great crossing this year arriving at West End at 3 pm. The Future of the Gulf Stream. There has been evidence that the Gulf Stream is weakening and slowing and there is growing concern about what impacts such a change would have on the worlds climate.

Some reports suggest that without the Gulf Stream temperatures in England and northwestern Europe could drop by 4-6C. So a large part of the crossing will be in the gulf stream However if youre going from FT Pierce to Freeport or further north west like Marsh harbor its about 160 miles keeping in mind you have a 25 knot current pushing you north at a rate of 25 nautical miles per hour therefore it is necessary to steer a more southern course to arrive at the preferred point. Boaters who cruise across the Gulf Stream are treated to a tactically demanding but quick passage from Floridas Atlantic Coast to the nearest of The Bahamas islands.

Bimini and Grand Bahama specifically the town of West End. Crossing the Gulf Stream by Boat. Crossing the Gulf Stream from Florida is not to be underestimated.

I am a beginner sailor planning a trip down the East coast of the US to the Caribbean. I understand that the crossing of the Gulf Stream when sailing from Florida to the Bahamas can be quite difficult if you dont choose a proper weather window. S2E1 Gulf Stream Crossing.

Sailing Satori Its been a long time coming but we finally did it. Our first ever international crossing. Sure it may only be a 10 hour jump to the Bahamas but this was a huge mile stone for our cruising adventure.

In the first episode of season 2 we break free from Florida and cross the Gulf Stream. After waiting for days for the best possible crossing date I depart. Leaving from the south side of Key Biscayne my trip across to the Bahamas was a roug.

Secrets To Cruising In Small Boats. Sketch by Matt Layden June 2001. The real dangers in crossing the Gulf Stream arent the rough sea conditions that prevail when there is bad weather they are the real day to day man-made menaces.

You have to realize that there is a lot of commercial and pleasure boat traffic traveling up and down the coast. Our gulf stream crossing on our 30 foot sailboat a Catalina 30 named Whisper. We have a great time and make it to the paradise islands of the Bahamas.

The west wall of the Gulf Stream can be anywhere from 5-20 miles offshore while dolphin fishing during the summer. Dolphin prefer blue water and strong current. During summer we usually wont start fishing until we are well into the Gulf Stream.

The edge of the stream can also be. Guidelines we like to follow for Gulf Stream crossings. Dont cross Gulf Stream with winds that have any Northerly Easterly component greater than 15 knots and we prefer 10 kts.

Autumn fronts come fast and furious as November rolls in. The part of the Gulf Stream where we will be crossing is about 75nm wide. After much examination of the weather information discussion with our weather router and talking through we decided to depart the morning of Sunday 23 October estimating that we will average a robust 7kts and arrive in Bermuda midday Thursday 27 October.

Guidelines we like to follow for Gulf Stream crossings. Dont cross Gulf Stream with winds that have any Northerly Easterly component greater than 15 knots and we prefer 10 kts. Autumn fronts come fast and furious as November rolls in.

The Crossing For Cystic Fibrosis is a long-distance endurance paddle challenge and international championship that takes paddlers 80 miles across the Gulf Stream from Bimini in the Bahamas back to the Florida mainland in Lake Worth. The event was inspired because of the incredible health benefits of the Ocean for those living with cystic fibrosis. Travis Suits daughter Piper was diagnosed.