Route Planning - Old Bahama Channel

[billyruffn]

Can anyone point me to good sources of info on the route from the USVI to Florida via the Old Bahama Channel?

Also, for any who've done it -- I'd appreciate any advice / comments you'd have on this route. Also, is April too early for a passage via this route? Friends have said April can be "unsettled" and that May would be better. True?

Thanks

[Yorksailor]

Nicest 3 days of downwind sailing we had in the last 10,000 miles, we donīt often get to go down wind with the current. We did it in April.

Just stay in deep water on the Bahama side, the Cuban Coast Guard and police have been known to be less than helpful in emergencies and there is a US Coast Guard base on Great Inguana who will assist outside Cuban waters.

Canadian yacht sinks off Cuba, boaters held - Cuba Travel News - Havana Journal

Do you realize that Billy Ruffn was the nickname of a British 74 gun ship of the line , Bellerophon, that transported Napoleon to England after his capture during the Napoleonic War in 1815?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bellerophon_(1786)

Phil

[billyruffn]

Originally Posted by Yorksailor

Do you realize that Billy Ruffn was the nickname of a British 74 gun ship of the line , Bellerophon, that transported Napoleon to England after his capture during the Napoleonic War in 1815?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bellerophon_(1786)

Phil

Phil,

In the Caribbean I will only answer the question, "What's the story behind your boat's name", when I'm seated comfortably in the inquisitor's cockpit with a rum drink in hand. Your comments and piloting advice are worth every bit as much as a tot of Mount Gay, so....

The original owner of BR named his first boat Bellerophon, after HM's ship of the line. He eventually shortened the name to Belle after confrontations in the Pacific with French customs officials who were well aware of Bellerophon's role in ending the empire. On building BR built he transferred the name Belle to her. We thought Belle to be a little too whimpy for a stout, steel hulled sailing vessel and so we chose the other diminutive of Bellerophon, the one given by her crew. Somehow it seemed more fitting.

Thanks again for your response.

Scott

[Yorksailor]

Enjoy the trip Scott, we did it beacuse of a broken engine and returning to Miami and anchoring under sail in Biscayne Bay was a safer bet than trying to beat into Luperon in the DR.

Your friend is right about possible adverse weather early in the year you can get head winds off the northern lows that can dip down into south Florida.

If you boat is 40ft or less and draws less than 6 ft you an go to the visitors mooring at Coconut Grove Sailing Club in Miami. There you will find my mate Billy Beavers who still has my copy of the book about the Billy Ruffin, if you go there get him to give you my copy.

Have a good trip Phil