emnick
regular
Reged: 30/09/2003
Posts: 181
Loc: Essex
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When you get to the West indies, what do you do for the hurricane season? do you find a bolt hole and hope for the best or 'migrate' to a place where they are not supposed to hit. Do you keep sailing through out the season and keep a very close eye on weather.
Looking forward to spending time there in about 2-3 years but would want to stay longer than for just one season.
Are you happy to leave boat in these places, not just for hurricane but security if coming home?
Thanks for any info
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KellysEye
regular
Reged: 23/07/2006
Posts: 737
Loc: Curacao
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We get down below the hurricane belt. We stayed our first year in Trinidad, second year in Venezuela, third in Curacao. I wouldn't stay in Grenada.
There's nowhere really to sail in Trinidad except going up one of the Orinocco tributaries. If you stay around the Venezuela/out islands/ABC's area you can sail through hurricane season but have somewhere to run to - Chichirivichi or Morocoi national park on the Venezuelan coast
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jonic
regular
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 912
Loc: Balearics
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Kellyseye (or anyone else)
We are going back to the Caribbean this year in November and were then going to head to Panama.
However as we have two young children on board we are wondering about joining the 2009 Bluewater Rally from Panama onwards. They will be coming through in early 2010, so the question is where to go at the end of the season in 2009. Are the ABC's a good place to wait from the end of the 2009 season in May until then? I doubt Trinnidad could keep us occupied for long enough but any suggestions appreciated.
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www.JRyachts.com
specialising in Dufour yachts and long distance cruisers
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KellysEye
regular
Reged: 23/07/2006
Posts: 737
Loc: Curacao
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OK I make it that you arrrive in the Caribbean December 2008 and want to be in Panama (say) Feb 2010. Perfect timing to see a lot.
My instinct would be to sail the island chain until early June 2009. Then start heading south and west. Route: Grenada, Los Testigos, Margarita (duty free).
Then you have a choice of ducking down to the Venezuelan mainland (Puerto La Cruz perhaps) or heading down the out islands: Blanquilla, Cayo Herradura near Tortuga, Los Roques, Los Aves. Bear in mind that in all the out islands there is only one badly stocked store on Gran Roque. You can also go Puerto La Cruz cayo Herradura etc.
Then it's on to Bonaire and Curacao. (Note if a hurricane passes north of Bonaire the wind reverses and Bonaire is untenable. Be prepared to leave for Curacao, a day sail).
We think Aruba is not particularly nice, so a short stay there to jump off to Cartagena, either direct or it is safe to day sail the Columbian coast. It is not safe to sail parts of the Venezuelan coast. Get the latest updates when you are out here.
Timing is important leaving Aruba. Late Sept/early Oct is fine. Much later there are big seas and severe gales around the headland at seventy something west (sorry boat is being painted can't get to the charts).
Plan to stay a fair time in Cartagena (it's beautiful) and then on to the San Blas islands (Kuna Indians) and Panama. You've got plenty of time and should really enjoy the trip.
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jonic
regular
Reged: 12/03/2002
Posts: 912
Loc: Balearics
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Kellyseye
Brilliant, thanks very much indeed for that. Much appreciated.
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www.JRyachts.com
specialising in Dufour yachts and long distance cruisers
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Foxy
regular
Reged: 08/03/2006
Posts: 128
Loc: Cruising
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Hiya
Other aspects depend on whether you are insured and leaving the boat or staying with it. Pleant of places to leave the boat tied down and on cradle (insurance stipulation as all of carib including Venezuela etc now seems within hurricane belt according to most insurers) but expect to pay about £230 per month for a 40footer - based on Grenada. Happy to leave her there but as ever there is always the risk of getting caught in a big un.
Many people sail through however and warnings seem generally long enough to get yourself somewhere safe. Hot and sticky in summer though!!
As above from Kellyseye, they will doubtlessly know the best form for where to go and how to make the best of a summer there afloat.
Cheers
Patrick
M
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Troutbridge
regular
Reged: 19/03/2007
Posts: 333
Loc: Cruising, mon, cruising
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Have a look at the Caribbean Compass website. They have some cruising notes about the Columbian Coast which avoids the need to make the offshore jump from the ABC's to San Blas/Panama. Also check out the Panama Guide by Tom & Nancy Zeidler. There is also a Canadian Book about Panama, sorry can't remember the name, (find it at www.nauticalmind.com) which is better [a chum has a copy]. The Torro Bocas (spelling?) area looks great.
Spanish Water at Curacao is sheltered, but I found it didn't seem like a Caribbean Island (not so laid back), people were OK though and most spoke English (as opposed to Dutch or papiento~spelling again?). Sarifundes in Spanish water seeemed to be the meeting place for yotties.
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Some see the glass as half full, some see it as half empty. I see it as too damn small.
http:/blog.mailasail.com/troutbridge
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