Which way to Honduras?

[funsailthekeys]

Thought I'd add my 2 cents, I've made this trip 6 times and my next will be in April. I have taken the north route around Cuba any time from January through August. I have been to Cuba 7 times, the last being in November. The reality is that more likely than not if you want to stop in at Hemingway Marina in Havana nothing ill will come of it. There are Americans living full time there with out any problems. The crossing over from Florida will most likely be short choppy seas(4-6) feet. From the west side of Cuba hugging the coast it's a short hop(approx. 50 miles) to Cancun. I've only ever made this crossing once that the seas were 3 feet or possibly less. Staying about 10-15 miles off Cuba will keep you out of the current while you are heading west. A spinnaker will help save on fuel since you are in the most northerly Trade Winds. No book learning here just been there and done that (a lot). Since this is my back yard, I'm quite familiar with it. After all they cross the Atlantic in an open rowboat. Hope this helps.

[arbarnhart]

Buckeye,

I have been a quiet reader of this thread, because I am a small boat sailor and not really a blue water guy yet (someday). I think you are leaning toward a good answer, if you can find passage. You would get an opportunity to learn a lot and probably be a more informed buyer when you get back. My gut feeling, based largely on what I read and hear from others, is that your odds of it not working out as planned if you try to do it in the time alloted are kind of high. I am not a gloom and doom prophet who thinks you are going to get crushed by the sea. I am thinking about this as if I were contemplating it and with my level of experience (plenty of sailing, not that great at it, but no long cruises or big boats) and I would worry about accidentally damaging the boat or needed equipment by forgetting to do something at the appropriate time or trying to adapt my route to wind and current and having that not go as planned or whatever. If you read blue water cruising stories, you will find it is really common for people to have a long unplanned layover on thier first long trip, especially if they are pretty new to sailing. The failure I would be worried about is more likely to be disappointment than death (thought that would be fairly disappointing as well). If I understand correctly, even if things go well you won't have all that much time in Honduras.

[buckeyesailor]

Helps a lot Funsail.....thanks.......it's especially nice to hear from someone who's been there and done it.....

Arbarnhart.......thanks for your input as well.........

Time isn't really demanding........I'm self employed so if the trip takes 6 months that wouldn't really be too big of a deal......I had just penciled in three months to get back for the "work season"

[arbarnhart]

Hmmm - well then I will play devil's advocate to myself if time isn't that tight. If you find a ride, you will be on somone else's schedule. The perfect situation would be an experienced sailing companion (buddy boat or on your boat) that you could trust that would stay with or near the boat while you visited your daughter. I would still want to get the boat fairly soon to get used to the rigging and general handling to alleviate concern about accidentally boogering equipment on the trip. Not everyone does that, but it happens to a lot of us with the first boat. You forget to do something in sequence and break some fitting or block or whatever. It would not be that big of a deal if you are tooling around near well stocked marinas and your slip and your car.