Miami to the BVI

rockstrmkr · 03-08-2009, 09:51 PM

Hi -
Need input from those that have done this trip please.

A very good friend is planning to run from Miami to Nassau, then down the Leeward side to the Turks & Caicos. From there to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and on to the BVI.

Any advice would be very helpful. Especially places to avoid! Should we be concerned about any particular areas....piracy ???

Thanks in advance for any insight.
Hans

Capt Bill11 · 03-09-2009, 12:37 AM

Your friend might want to call ahead at the places he plans to stop for fuel to make sure they will have fuel when he gets there. Their cell phone should work in the Bahamas. But I would still take a SAT phone. And of course a registered GPIRB and a liferaft.

You can get stuck in the T&Cs waiting for a weather window to head East. You can also get stuck in Turtle Cove Marina on the North side of Provo in the T&Cs if the swell kicks up and you can't get out of Stellar's Cut back out through the reef. Of course with a boat like that they could fuel up on the South side and run across the banks.

Be aware that Ocean World marina in the DR is open to northenly swells and can become unuseable in those conditions.

If they go on the south side of PR the Ponce Yacht Club is a great place to stop for fuel. Great prices, nice people. Las Palmas is a nice stop on the East end.

Can the boat run well on only 2 engines? Might increase the range.

What time of year are they planning to do this?

I wouldn't worry about pirates. At the very least you can out run them.

rockstrmkr · 03-09-2009, 09:38 AM

Hi-
Thanks for the info!

We are planning to go right after Easter.
The boat can run on 2, however, it can be a challenge to get up on plane depending on the water conditions.
Is running across the banks on the South side the smarter way to go ?

How is the water on the North East side of the Dominican Republic ?
How's the water typically running from the DM over to Puerto Rico ?

We ran through some pretty snotty water when we ran the boat from Key West to Cancun ....

Thanks so much for the info...
Hans

Capt Bill11 · 03-09-2009, 11:52 AM

"Is running across the banks on the South side the smarter way to go ?"

I'd have to plot it but I think it would be shorter than going over the top or around the bottom of the T&Cs. It's shallow but I did it in a boat that drew 5 ft. so it shouldn't be a problem for you. But being shallow it can get choppy.

"How is the water on the North East side of the Dominican Republic ?"

You will be heading into the easterly trade winds so it can be rough with a big swell.

"How's the water typically running from the DM over to Puerto Rico ?"

The Mona Passage can be a bear. But if you stay above it or pick the right time to cross it, it can be settled.

Pick up a copy of: " The Gentleman's Guide to Passages South by Bruce Van Sant"

Now it's written for sailboats and slower power boats but it will give you a very good idea on the weather patterns for those areas.

As far as weather routing goes, look at Chris Parkers "The Caribbean Weather Center's Daily SSB Weather Net"

http://www.caribwx.com/ssb.html

While he broadcasts on SSB, I think you can call in for a personalized forecast. Or get it via Email. I'd bet he'd get a kick out of how short a weather window you'd need traveling at 60 mph.

If you want to do forecasting yourselves look at using OCENS weather software via your SAT phone. http://www.ocens.com/index.htm

And go with an Iridium phone.

Or do both. And there are other weather routers you could use as well.

Looking for any crew?

Capt Bill11 · 03-09-2009, 11:55 AM

Of course in that boat it could be a very long trip what with all the stops by the Coast Guard, DEA, etc., etc.

And I'd have at least one person sleep aboard at night at all your stops.

rockstrmkr · 03-09-2009, 02:59 PM

Capt.Bill -

Thanks so much for all the insight thus far.
Question? Would you elaborate on what specific concern you have when you suggest that someone sleep on the boat? Is this due to petty theft? Boat theft?
Kind regards,
Hans

Capt Bill11 · 03-09-2009, 05:04 PM

Yes, theft. Petty or otherwise. A boat like that traveling where you're going, will draw a lot of attention I would think. Some of it may not be of the good kind.

Manny · 03-09-2009, 06:33 PM

I wouldnt be able to tell you much about the areas between Miami and the Dominican Republic, but I can tell you this: extremely rough waters come right after the Dominican Republic. The infamous Mona Passage is a terrible place for even boats as large as 65ft. All the way to the BVI's starting from the Mona Passage will be really rough waters, and I'm pretty sure you're going to have to slow down to maybe 40 MPH or less. No piracy in these waters.

Capt J · 03-09-2009, 08:52 PM

I've done that trip a few times. I cut across and run the bank From Cat Cay to the tongue of the ocean. Then across to Nassau (this area can kick up a little bit). Then I run down the west side of the Exumas and cut through Galliot Cut(always calm) , which is north of Great Exuma. Long Island is a good place to stop if need be. I then cut across and stop in Green Turtle Cay in Provo. There down the west side of Turks and Caico's to Puerta Plata (Ocean World Marina). North side of DR is usually calm, the Mona Passage can be downright nasty (between DR and PR). The trick is to pick your weather and be at the very east edge of DR at sunup is usually the calmest I've found and then run like a banshee across before the wind picks up. As long as the wind is out of anywhere but Northern, DR and PR are usually calm because you're fairly close to the coast. San Juan is a good stop in PR. Then work your way down to the BVI's from there......

rockstrmkr · 03-09-2009, 09:17 PM

Thanks for all the info gentlemen!
Really appreciate it!

How would you compare the Mona Passage to the Straits of Yucatan ?

All the best,
Hans

rockstrmkr · 03-09-2009, 09:38 PM

Capt J -

What about running along the South Side of Puerto Rico ? Would the water be any better ?
The boat (it's not mine but I was on board for the run from Key West to Cancun) is incredible and handled some really really ugly water in the Straits of Yucatan perfectly well. Is the Mona Passage as bad or worse ?

Thanks again for all the info!

Hans

Capt J · 03-09-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstrmkr

Thanks for all the info gentlemen!
Really appreciate it!

How would you compare the Mona Passage to the Straits of Yucatan ?

All the best,
Hans

The Mona can be worse or usually is. The Yucatan you're dealing with waves usually from the South or one direction. Mona it's more of a washing machine. I've crossed it though and it's been 2ft or less in the early mornings a couple of times.

I've never run the south side of Puerto Rico, but to get there you'd have to go South through the Mona Passage to get there with more time in the passage, unless you go around Haiti and that's a whole nother story. You can run the West side of the BVI's from the eastern side of PR. The eastern side of PR can be very rough if you're heading south to St. Croix.

Capt Bill11 · 03-09-2009, 11:03 PM

"Green Turtle Cay in Provo"

I think you mean Turtle Cove Marina in Provo. http://www.tcmarina.com/

Running the south side of PR can be a good choice if the wind is blowing out of the north or has any northernly component to it.

I'd say the Mona can be consistently rougher than the Yucatan. But I don't know that for a fact.

Capt Bill11 · 03-09-2009, 11:13 PM

"We ran through some pretty snotty water when we ran the boat from Key West to Cancun ...."

I meant to ask this earlier. Why did you run into bad weather? I mean on that boat for that trip you only need, what, a 6 hour window of good weather?

Was it from localized thunderstorms or something?

Capt J · 03-09-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Bill11

"We ran through some pretty snotty water when we ran the boat from Key West to Cancun ...."

I meant to ask this earlier. Why did you run into bad weather? I mean on that boat for that trip you only need, what, a 6 hour window of good weather?

Was it from localized thunderstorms or something?

I've done that trip many times. There are many times I've left Key West with a great forecast and great weather. Once it was under 1' and then we hit the west end of Cuba and it was kicking 4-6'. The Yucatan has a lot of current that funnels through there and it can just be rough.......