On May 5, 5:09*pm, BeeRich wrote:
On May 5, 5:06*pm, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:





"Peter" wrote in message

...

Needless to say, your insurance company will either charge an arm and
a leg to endorse your your boat or will cancel entirely.

And, why do you think that is? Doesn't it tell you something about the odds
of success?

And even if one does succeed, is slogging 1200 miles (probably about double
that considering it's all a beat) to weather really sailing when one can
travel half again that far and do it comfortably and in a much shorter time
via the sailors route I suggested? What has "sailing" come to these days
when people totally disregard the sailing routes? Do they rely that much on
their oversized motors? It just shows they aren't interested in sailing,
have no concept of sailing and are uninformed dolts giving sailing a bad
name.

Wilbur Hubbard

Wow you really are misguided. *How about this for an answer: *Their
itinerary dictates that they have a destination first, THEN carry on
with fun sailing. *And yes, today's boats allow for tacking, not
worldwide adventure routes. *Sailing has come to whatever people want
sailing to be. *And motorboats are a very valid way of boating. *It's
pompous boneheads like you that insult others that give sailing a bad
name.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You know, Wilbur, I haven't posted very often on this forum, but I
have read a good many of the posts. If the number of miles you have
sailed equalled even half the number of negative posts that you have
posted, you might have a tad of credibility. I am sick of reading
your foolish trash. To respond to your ridiculous question, no it
doesn't tell me anyting about my personal odds for success. The fact
is that of those who sail in the Caribbean during hurricane season,
only a minority encounter any problems. As a matter of fact, I have
sailed in the Caribbean during hurrican season and intend to do so
again this year. The pontifications of armchair sailors like yourself
do not contribute anything to the discussion.

On May 5, 4:06*pm, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:
"Peter" wrote in message

...

Needless to say, your insurance company will either charge an arm and
a leg to endorse your your boat or will cancel entirely.

And, why do you think that is? Doesn't it tell you something about the odds
of success?

And even if one does succeed, is slogging 1200 miles (probably about double
that considering it's all a beat) to weather really sailing when one can
travel half again that far and do it comfortably and in a much shorter time
via the sailors route I suggested? What has "sailing" come to these days
when people totally disregard the sailing routes? Do they rely that much on
their oversized motors? It just shows they aren't interested in sailing,
have no concept of sailing and are uninformed dolts giving sailing a bad
name.

Wilbur Hubbard

"Peter" wrote in message
...
You know, Wilbur, I haven't posted very often on this forum, but I
have read a good many of the posts. If the number of miles you have
sailed equalled even half the number of negative posts that you have
posted, you might have a tad of credibility. I am sick of reading
your foolish trash. To respond to your ridiculous question, no it
doesn't tell me anyting about my personal odds for success. The fact
is that of those who sail in the Caribbean during hurricane season,
only a minority encounter any problems. As a matter of fact, I have
sailed in the Caribbean during hurrican season and intend to do so
again this year. The pontifications of armchair sailors like yourself
do not contribute anything to the discussion.


And therein lies the difference between you and me and ReeBitch.

1) You apparently have some offshore sailing experience in the area in
question. ReeBitch has none.

2) You apparently have some awareness of the danger of tropical storms and
the time of the year of hurricane season. ReeBitch wasn't even aware of
hurricane season and the frequency of hurricanes during peak months of that
season.

3) You are somewhat seasoned while ReeBitch has never sailed offshore. Lake
sailor at best.

4) You probably have a seaworthy vessel. ReeBitch has a small Hunter or
similar cheap, coastal only boat.

5) You don't sail on a schedule since you're experienced enough to know it
doesn't work. ReeBitch's main planning point is to schedule around a land
based itinerary.

6) I've been cruising and have lived aboard since 1985. I have more time and
miles aboard my boat than the combined total of so-called sailors in this
group. I know of which I speak. I have experienced aboard my yacht more
hurricanes than the lot of you put together. (Try a total of 28 tropical
storms and hurricanes each and every one with no or minor damage - and none
of them offshore where I would have died).

Unlike ReeBitch I have a very good grasp of the time and distances of what
might look like a hop, skip and a jump such as from Miami to BVI. I know it
is anything but. Many lubbers like ReeBitch have a lubbers idea of distance.
They judge distances by how far they can drive in a day. "Why," they yammer,
"1200 miles ain't nothing. That's only two days driving." Little do they
realize that against wind and current they will be lucky to cover 50 miles
toward their destination in a 24 hour period. That turns a 1200 mile sailing
trip into a 24 day ordeal and that's if the boat doesn't break which it
likely will. Offshore voyagers rarely subject their vessels to such abuse
and their vessels are probably ten times as stout as some Hunter type.

And if they stop and wait for "weather windows" that don't occur during the
time of the year they wish to travel their 24 day ordeal will likely turn
into a six month debacle. There are very few weather windows in the Trades
in the summer. About the only thing that turns the prevailing winds is a
hurricane. Do you "work" hurricanes? Do you suggest others try it? I doubt
it.

So try to consider that ReeBitch is a rank, ignorant, novice who is totally
clueless when it comes to offshore voyaging. You've heard the sad saga of
the captain and crew of the "Red Cloud" no doubt. The captain had years of
offshore experience or so he claimed. But, he was done in by a little ole
cold front in the Gulf of Mexico that had sustained winds of only 45-50 or
so knots. And you think lamers like ReeBitch have any chance of success at
all voyaging hundreds of miles offshore at the height of hurricane season in
a flimsy Hunter? Why do you encourage such irresponsible behavior?

Wilbur Hubbard

On May 5, 4:50*pm, Peter wrote:
On May 5, 7:46 am, BeeRich wrote:

Hiya folks.

Anybody done this trip? *Any recommendations, cautions, stories? *I'm
wanting to take a sailboat with a crewmate from Florida to BVI via
Abacos, along the islands.

Any input appreciated.

Cheers

Yes, this is doable. *Yes, it is against the prevailing winds most of
the time. *Many have done it, I have done part of it. *The secret is
to have no schedule and to be willing to wait--sometimes for a week or
more or even more yet--for the proper weather windows. *The most
common route is via the Exumas, Long Island and Mayaguana to Turks and
Caicos, then to Dominican Republic, then Puerto Rico and finally the
Virgins. *A really good book to study for this trip is "The
Gentleman's Guide to Passages South" by Bruce Van Sant. *You can go
directly to the Virgins from the Bahamas, but you need a really good
weather window. *Which ever route you choose, be prepared to motor or
motorsail. *Also, even though it is hurricane season, many people
still sail. *Hurricane holes do, but you have to plan carefully.
Needless to say, your insurance company will either charge an arm and
a leg to endorse your your boat or will cancel entirely.

Ah, someone with some experience. Thank you for the post.

The outer Abacos to begin with, then the route you suggest. I wasn't
sure about DR and PR, so I was thinking maybe a close route, but
avoiding those islands altogether.

We have no hard schedule, and obviously we are secondary to favourable
weather. I thought that was usually the case.

Our goal is to get to BVI then settle down and then take some time out
for some alternate visits, but returning to BVI or USVI. I just
remember it being a good location to base out of, so it's our primary
destination as it stands.

First of all delay departure until November when the risk of hurricanes
drops. Then you have two choices. Motor sail out to between 68 and 65 West
and turn south. That takes about 10 to 12 days out of Charleston. Probably
the same out of Miami as the wind is not as favorable that far south. That
route is very dangerous before late November because the majority of
tropical storms and hurricanes veer north through that area.

The other is the Thorny Path through the islands. Van Sant's book is the
bible for that route. That breaks it up into a lot of day sails and a few
over nights but you have to play the weather to get easting so it can take a
month or more. Possibly a little faster that time of year as the fronts
start coming off the continent more often. You can bash into it and make it
in two weeks but you will likely be ready to sell the boat as soon as you
get there. If you can't take that much time all at once you can leave the
boat in George Town for a while. There is a pretty active group of cruisers
who have lost their taste for open water sailing there that watch each
others boats.

Again though, August through early November is a very bad time. There are
no good hurricane holes until you get to the north coast of the Dominican
Republic.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"BeeRich" wrote in message
...
Hiya folks.

Anybody done this trip? Any recommendations, cautions, stories? I'm
wanting to take a sailboat with a crewmate from Florida to BVI via
Abacos, along the islands.

Any input appreciated.

Cheers

I've done this route three times, two to Roadtown and one a little
further on to St. Marten in a 40 foot cutter. Each time it was 11 to
13 days overall, starboard tack for first 6 days or so, then port tack
on in. Did them in Feb, Mar, and April. Might try it in early June,
but no later. Will be sailing in early June, Lauderdale to the
Abacos, and then hanging it up until November. Suggest you time your
trip accordingly.

On May 5, 7:46 am, BeeRich wrote:
Hiya folks.

Anybody done this trip? Any recommendations, cautions, stories? I'm
wanting to take a sailboat with a crewmate from Florida to BVI via
Abacos, along the islands.

Any input appreciated.

Cheers