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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
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#3
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
I notice that the Navy site I used to check the Gulf Stream has disappeared.
Anyone have a URL for the weekly positions of the Gulf Stream? -- Dennis Gibbons dkgibbons at optonline dot net "Sherwin Dubren" wrote in message ... The gulf stream is somewhat like a river in that it never stops flowing. What does shift is the location of maximum current. Along the coast of Florida it is at a low speed, increasing towards the Bahamas and then falling off again as you approach Easterly closer to the islands. If it is a calm day, you won't even notice the stream unless you take a Easterly heading to say Bimini harbor and watch your boat move Northeast. I have a slow 22 footer and will steer a somewhat SouthEast course across the stream heading East, and although I start somewhat South of Bimini, I will usually hit Bimini right on the nose after a half day crossing. If you have a GPS, you can check your 'course made good' and also see the effects of the current. If you have been crossing in high speed power boats, the effects of the stream would be much less noticeable, but still there. Sherwin Dubren JAXAshby wrote: I been sailing for 46 years trying to find that elusive Gulph Streem. It moves around ya know? JAX (anchorlt) wrote in message . com... I have long wondered why some people appear to fear the Gulf Stream and build such large myths and worse about crosssing it. I have crossed the Stream, from north of Ft. Lauderdale, to the Banks south of St. Isaacs Light on the way to Abacos and south, to Exumas, Long Islaand and even further south, and north, to extreme NE Bahamas, more than 30 times, all without incident or concern. If you have a reasonably well founded boat with good navigation gear and good charts, wait for weather window and then "Go," keeping a sharp lookout for other boats and ships. (Ships travel near western wall when headed south and near the eastern wall when headed north.) Devils and other boat-eating monsters do not dwell in the Gulf Stream. Gulf Stream is like any other waters with a moderately fluctuating intensity of current. Be assured that if you are on a boat that is, in all resoects, up to date, you will even enjoy the passage. And when you first spot a Bahamian land mass on the distant horizon, you will be pleased with yourself and your boat. |
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#4
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
Try http://www.deos.tudelft.nl/altim/gulfstream/
-- Keith __ Everybody should believe in something: I believe I'll have another drink. "Dennis Gibbons" wrote in message et... I notice that the Navy site I used to check the Gulf Stream has disappeared. Anyone have a URL for the weekly positions of the Gulf Stream? |
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#5
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
I have that one, I'm looking for the larger scale one with more detail.
-- Dennis Gibbons dkgibbons at optonline dot net "Keith" wrote in message ... Try http://www.deos.tudelft.nl/altim/gulfstream/ -- Keith __ Everybody should believe in something: I believe I'll have another drink. "Dennis Gibbons" wrote in message et... I notice that the Navy site I used to check the Gulf Stream has disappeared. Anyone have a URL for the weekly positions of the Gulf Stream? |
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#6
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
Dennis Gibbons wrote:
I have that one, I'm looking for the larger scale one with more detail. For my money (IOW this isn't free) this cannot be beaten: http://users.erols.com/gulfstrm/ Clark's site is the granddaddy (or is it "grandmamma"?) of Gulf Stream references. -- Good luck and good sailing. s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/ |
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#7
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
Sherwin, you might just wanna take a look at a temp chart of the waters between
Florida and Newfoundland to see just how much of a well-defined "river" the Gulf Stream is. On the average, it "gets there", but there is not much "average" about it. The gulf stream is somewhat like a river in that it never stops flowing. What does shift is the location of maximum current. Along the coast of Florida it is at a low speed, increasing towards the Bahamas and then falling off again as you approach Easterly closer to the islands. If it is a calm day, you won't even notice the stream unless you take a Easterly heading to say Bimini harbor and watch your boat move Northeast. I have a slow 22 footer and will steer a somewhat SouthEast course across the stream heading East, and although I start somewhat South of Bimini, I will usually hit Bimini right on the nose after a half day crossing. If you have a GPS, you can check your 'course made good' and also see the effects of the current. If you have been crossing in high speed power boats, the effects of the stream would be much less noticeable, but still there. Sherwin Dubren JAXAshby wrote: I been sailing for 46 years trying to find that elusive Gulph Streem. It moves around ya know? JAX (anchorlt) wrote in message .com... I have long wondered why some people appear to fear the Gulf Stream and build such large myths and worse about crosssing it. I have crossed the Stream, from north of Ft. Lauderdale, to the Banks south of St. Isaacs Light on the way to Abacos and south, to Exumas, Long Islaand and even further south, and north, to extreme NE Bahamas, more than 30 times, all without incident or concern. If you have a reasonably well founded boat with good navigation gear and good charts, wait for weather window and then "Go," keeping a sharp lookout for other boats and ships. (Ships travel near western wall when headed south and near the eastern wall when headed north.) Devils and other boat-eating monsters do not dwell in the Gulf Stream. Gulf Stream is like any other waters with a moderately fluctuating intensity of current. Be assured that if you are on a boat that is, in all resoects, up to date, you will even enjoy the passage. And when you first spot a Bahamian land mass on the distant horizon, you will be pleased with yourself and your boat. |
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#8
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
Subject: Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
From: (JAXAshby) Date: 03/20/2004 17:12 Pacific Standard Time Message-id: Sherwin, you might just wanna take a look at a temp chart of the waters between Florida and Newfoundland to see just how much of a well-defined "river" the Gulf Stream is. On the average, it "gets there", but there is not much "average" about it. There are areas of the "Gulf Stream", and then there are areas of the Gulf stream. Since it's been awhile since I've seen charts and pilot charts of the East Coast, things may have changed. However, when I first started running with and against the stream, the charts at that time showed a course which approximated the main axis of the stream, generally to some point NE of Hatteras. At that time, it was a given that the "stream" moved inshore at some points of the year, and offshore at others (can't remember which and only remember that it was a winter summer thingy). Having said all this, we noticed the strongest current when running the Fla. coast, which diminished slightly when north of the Bahamas, and diminished again, North of Hatteras (where it tended to spread out). Most of the information used as a basis for this information, was based on experience from those who had gone before. Surprisingly, once we started getting more modern up to date info on the main axis of the stream, and tried to follow it, it was frequently surprising how often we found ourselves out of the stream in areas that with the old methods, we would be in the "stream", and if heading South, vice versa. For those who are racing, I would definitely suggest paying close attention to daily predictions, but for those cruising, I'd say watch the "old" main axis you can find on various charts and if possible, compare and make a "big picture" use of the more up to date predictions ..... i.e. don't ignore the old, whether you are just trying to use it, avoid it, or cross it. Shen |
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#9
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
shen says, "Don't believe it if you want to know where the Gulf Stream is", but
"don't believe it is you need to know where the Gulf Stream is". anyone know what the heck shen is trying to say _really_ say? Sherwin, you might just wanna take a look at a temp chart of the waters between Florida and Newfoundland to see just how much of a well-defined "river" the Gulf Stream is. On the average, it "gets there", but there is not much "average" about it. There are areas of the "Gulf Stream", and then there are areas of the Gulf stream. Since it's been awhile since I've seen charts and pilot charts of the East Coast, things may have changed. However, when I first started running with and against the stream, the charts at that time showed a course which approximated the main axis of the stream, generally to some point NE of Hatteras. At that time, it was a given that the "stream" moved inshore at some points of the year, and offshore at others (can't remember which and only remember that it was a winter summer thingy). Having said all this, we noticed the strongest current when running the Fla. coast, which diminished slightly when north of the Bahamas, and diminished again, North of Hatteras (where it tended to spread out). Most of the information used as a basis for this information, was based on experience from those who had gone before. Surprisingly, once we started getting more modern up to date info on the main axis of the stream, and tried to follow it, it was frequently surprising how often we found ourselves out of the stream in areas that with the old methods, we would be in the "stream", and if heading South, vice versa. For those who are racing, I would definitely suggest paying close attention to daily predictions, but for those cruising, I'd say watch the "old" main axis you can find on various charts and if possible, compare and make a "big picture" use of the more up to date predictions ..... i.e. don't ignore the old, whether you are just trying to use it, avoid it, or cross it. Shen |
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#10
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Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
Subject: Gulf Stream Myths and Worse
From: (JAXAshby) BG Didn't think you'd be able to understand a simple KISS principle. OK, just for you, Jax .... Don't rely exclusively on the predictions you get from various sites regarding eddies and various minor changes in direction. Know the "basic axis" of the stream, where possible get updates on this. If possible, get information on the "walls" of the stream (older sources used to give this distance from the main axis). When route planning, never lose sight of the "basic axis" and use those updating predictions for eddies, etc. to fine tune your courses when possible (noting the varying nature of the eddies, etc.) while maintaining contact or distance from the "basic axis" of the stream. Hmmm, probably still beyond you since it involves some basic navigation. Shen shen says, "Don't believe it if you want to know where the Gulf Stream is", but "don't believe it is you need to know where the Gulf Stream is". anyone know what the heck shen is trying to say _really_ say? |
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