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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

745.0. "Info on Boston to St Croix" by CSSE::GARDINER (No more Monkeys, PLEASE!) Wed Feb 17 1988 10:25

    I am planning a trip from Boston to St.Criox, US Virgin Islands,
    and am looking for information on the sail between Bermuda and the
    Carribean.  I have made the Bermuda trip several times so I am familiar
    with that, but would like to have info on the second half.
    
    What are the conditions like?  Weather?  Currents? Prevailing Winds?
    Traffic (both small boats and ships)?  and potential risks in the
    area (i.e.; pirates, submarines, whales)?
    
    I realize that the trip is down one leg of the Bermuda Triangle,
    but I am not supersticious.  If I was I sure as hell wouldn't be
    a sailor.
    
    Thanks,
    Jeff Gardiner     DTN 276-9416

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
745.1	One person's experience	TILLER::SEARS	Paul Sears, SHR1-4/D27, 237-3783	`Thu Feb 18 1988 13:14`	41
	Having made the trip only once, i can not offer generalizations, only personal observations, and some hints. o Make sure the trip is not durring the winter storm period (late nov through mid april i think), and the hurricane period (late aug through mid october). o Plan your trip to include Bermuda from the begining. We started w/ St Thomas as the destination, and had to put into BDA for some equipment repair. The difference in overall trip milage isn't that great, and it's fun to stop beating your head against the wall for a little while. o Make as much easting from BDA as eaarly as possible. We had a couple of storms right out of St. Georges with the wind out of the NE. We could have made bitchen easting, but we kept right on the rum\xxx\rhumb. 200 or so miles or so from Antigua, we had to tack into the then pretty developed trades for a day or so. We had been set west. Moral, it's easier to get easting before entering the northern part of the SE trades, then after entering them. o Make sure you have a pilot chart. The northern fringe of the SE trades varies seasonaly. o If the boat doesn't have the proper saftey equipment, take your own, within reason (e.g. take a personal EPRBI, saftey harnes, hanheld VHF, etc), but you might draw the line at a lifraft. The owner should have one of those. o Watchout for the passage between St Martin and the BVI's. I can't remember it's name, but it's dangerous. Tripple check your position starting at least a day out from your ETA. o Take along some reading material. It's a delightful trip. The furthest out i've been (and i was in college in the sixties!). We baked bread every other day, had cocktails at 5, weathered a couple of storms (35kts or so), saw huge neverending waves in the trades, hove to for a half day or so to rest (there were 4 of us delivering a gulfstar 41), and in general had a great time. I can't wait to do it again. Have a good time!
745.2	Watch out for Anegada Is.	CAM2::DAMON		`Fri Feb 19 1988 08:57`	14
	Jeff, I agree with .1. One other thought. As you approach from the NE be careful of Anegada Is. Your route could take you close to it, and being low and mostly (if not entirely) dark, could be a hazard in your path. Stay at least 20 mi off it by night. Enjoy God's country! Pete