Cruising route - Santa Marta, Venezuela to the BVI

[captainslady]

Can anyone give information about the best direct route from Venezuela to the BVI by sailing vessel. Time of year would be early summer.
Thanks,
Judi

[sgkuhner]

Why would you want to go from a safe harbor in Venezuela to the BVI in the beginning of the hurricane season?

[camaraderie]

It is an upwind or normally beam reach direct route. I would make some easting when possible and otherwise set off on a direct course, there is nothing in the way to worry about. It is about 6-700 miles so should be do-able in 5 days or so with the trade winds.
I argee with SGK that hurricane season is not the time of year to be doing this trip...especially going from totally safe latitudes to totally exposed latitudes. Check your insurance company requirements as many will not cover you in the BVI's for a named storm.

[captainslady]

Hi all: I appreciate the quick reply. I lived in the BVI continuously for 20 years aboard both sailing and motoryachts. Ran charters there all that time. I'll be honest; I'm hard aground now, my license expired, and envying all you guys who are out there where I would rather be. This information is for a book I am writing where the characters get to Columbia then Venezuela where they meet up with a down on his luck charter captain. They decide to charter his boat to get to the BVI. Just wanted the info to be accurate, and in early June, I think they'll be ok -- rode many of those hurricane things in the BVI at anchor and at the dock at Nanny Cay, but in spring they're mostly tropical waves. Perhaps I'll smack em with a good storm on the way, and I know there's no insurance on this boat.

[camaraderie]

Oh...in that case...let the Pirate's of the Venezuela coast have at them! Good luck...