Brian Whatcott wrote:

Wanted: A Sensible First landfall in the Caribbean for Inland Sailers.

My son and I would like to take a baby step offshore from Florida to a
Caribbean destination, in fair weather, aboard a SouthCoast 23
(A trailerable centerboard sloop) as a first voyage, next Summer.

I hope that this is not a question of the kind that if you have to
ask, you shouldn't be doing it.....
I would appreciate any and all advice on the topic.

Thanks in advance.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

As people have said - it will be hard to get to the actual Caribbean
from Florida in the time frame you have in mind. You can go to some
semi-tropical destinations though.

What facilities do you have on the boat? Can you anchor for extended
periods (i.e. can you carry provisions and cook), or do you want to be
at a marina? Can you beach the boat or will you need some transport
to shore like a kayak? What kind of ground tackle do you carry?

If you can be self sufficient for a week or 10 days without having to
get additional water, buy gas, or food, and with a large enough
holding tank or portapot, then I'd recommend going to the Marquesas
and the Dry Tortugas. But there is no way to buy any kind of
provisions and it is a no-discharge zone.

This is the start of our 2001 trip (sections linked together)
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/315ec/#TL

The Bahamas are perfectly do-able, and it will be a trip to another
country. You should have a passport though because it makes getting
back into the US a bit easier. You don't have to wait for the weather
on the boat - you can wait in a motel someplace like Marathon.

2001 from Miami to Bimini to Lucaya and back to Miami
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2abf0/#TL (4 sections plus a part
of another page)

2002 from the Keys to Bimini to the Berry Islands (2 sections)
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2abfc/

2002 coming back to the US from Nassau to Chubb to Grand Bahama and
back to Ft. Pierce http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2d917/ (3
sections)
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2d917/

Depending on how much time you have, you can go to Bimini or Cat Cay
to check in, and then from there you can go across the banks (which
took us 2 days) to the Berry Islands (Chub Cay, Frazier, Great Harbor
etc), and from there up to Lucaya in Grand Bahama. The problem will
then be in getting back to your trailer, because leaving from Grand
Bahama, the Gulf Stream will carry you north and you will have to work
your way south either in the ICW or outside..

Or you could do it the other way - go north with the Gulf Stream from
Miami to Grand Bahama (maybe check in at West End), and then go across
to Lucaya and down along the Berry Islands, and come back to Bimini.

You will have to pay to check in, and Cat Cay is a private island so
you have to pay for dockage while you do it.

The Bahamas has facilities and you can purchase fuel and water (water
won't be free).

If that is too complicated for you (and I think it might be for the
first time), I think I would just gunkhole around in the Keys for the
time that you've got. There's plenty to see and do there, and you can
get a better handle on the weather and the area - do some anchoring
and some snorkeling.

Whichever thing you decide to do - Bring mosquito repellant