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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. |