Brazen Article is on the move south, on the Chesapeake at Deltaville right now. Norfolk the Elizabeth City in the next few days. Anyone else on this forum heading that way?
It might be interesting to meet other 36 owners heading to Florida or the Bahamas and I guess I've always been a bit envious of the cult of the Island Packet where they apparently have secret handshakes to go along with all the IP hats, shirts, facebook groups and other swag. (just kidding, no disrespect to IP or to cults)
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Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
No responses so far Denis, when do you plan on heading out and where from? This is my plan for next year.
Ed Dewsnap
Marion, MA
1984 Catalina
Hello Ed - I left the top of the Chesapeake on October 16 and have been cranking out miles almost every day. Tonight Im anchored in the Ashepoo River about 20 miles above Beaufort SC. Most days are about 50 miles of motoring or with luck a motor sailwith the jib helping.
The ICW is an interesting trip, especially if you stay ahead of the real cold weather. This year I added a full enclosure which is nice and warm and also seems to have doubled the living space onboard.
I made this trip a few times on my Catalina 28, this is my second season doing it on the 36. Brazen Article is a wing keel, I haven't had any issues but there are spots that would take special care with a fin keel version.
Aquamap is great for this trip since it has the Army Corps survey data installed. Many users on the ICW contribute to Active Captain and the Waterway Guide which are part of the program. I also have Navionics but really only use it for a big picture view of whats ahead.
Most nights I anchor out, every 5-6 days stop at a marina for fuel, water, pump out and some supplies (3 five gallon jugs of diesel augment the installed tank).
The weather has been great, if it holds I'll be in Fernandina Florida by next weekend, then a more leisurely trip to Vero Beach for a week or two on the way to the Keys or the Bahamas.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I am already in the keys, that's where I am based. But I am planning on making the crossing to the Bahamas in January for a month or two of cruising. Originally I was going to head to Bimini from No Name harbor. Recently a guy with a Catalina 42 who grew up in the Bahamas recommended avoiding Bimini and doing West End in the Bahamas. Apparently customs in Bimini has been having some issues recently. So I am examining a more northern crossing as an option.
Army Sailor - hope you didn't get beat up by Raphael as it passed the lower keys. Brazen Article is making good time, now on a mooring at Fernandina Beach and most likely out of here in the morning. Might change and hang around for breakfast or lunch, other than the paper mills this is a nice town.
My plan is to touch base with friends at St Augustine and then get to Vero quick as I can. Titusville has always been a nice stop but "more souther is more better". Vero Beach marina is great, oddly the only place I know that puts multiple boats on single moorings. I've been alone, rafted with one or rafted with two depending on the demand. It is a sight to look aft and see three catamarans - 60 of beam - on a big old mooring ball.
The team there knows what they are doing, everything from mooring to fuel dock to laundry and local bus link works well.
Once there I'll take a few days to consider a north transit from Ft Pierce or Lake Worth or starting further south to get to the Bahamas. No hardship going to No Name or even down to Rodriguez if the weather works better.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
Brazen, thanks for providing the detail. I assume you are heading for the keys.
Ed Dewsnap
Marion, MA
1984 Catalina
Thanks for the update. I will be leaving right after new years for the bahamas myself. I have done two winters in the keys and want to broaden my horizons.
I'll probably spend a bit of time on a mooring in Vero, maybe head home (up north) for a couple days over the holidays.
Over the next month or so I'll plan for some time in the Bahamas.
Last season I was in the northern Florida Keys waiting for good weather, it seemed almost every week or 10 days there were 3-4 days of high winds. To me that meant constant searching for the next good anchorage or sitting someplace waiting for the wind to subside.
ArmySailor, any Keys suggestions you have will be appreciated. I've been in Key West and Marathon, found both overcrowded. The Key Largo area is nice but land access is almost impossible without taking a slip.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
Just west of Marathon is Bahia Honda park. Between the new and old bridges is a nice spot to anchor right off the park beach. A section of the old bridge has collapsed so it is easy to get between the bridges from the south. Not a bad place to anchor. Indian key park has free moorings as well. When sailing up and down the keys I prefer to stay on the south side and usually use Hawk's channel. Another place to anchor is in Biscayne bay just south of Miami. Its a pretty protected bay and has several channels to get between there and Hawk's channel. Its about a day sail from Fort Lauderdale. I haven't been there but No name key has an anchorage that looks nice, and there is a marina right there as well, although I haven't been there myself.
I keep the boat at the navy base at Boca Chica near Key West, so its very cheap for me. However, there is an anchorage across the bay from me where there are a bunch of boats, some abandoned. But it is fairly protected and there is a boat ramp and dock area on right next to it where you can dinghy in to. Its on the west side of stock island, south of the bridge.
If you haven't been to the dry tortugas and visited Fort Jefferson, its worth going there. Its 70 miles west of key west. It's a neat old civil war era fort that basically encompasses the entire island it sits on. I usually take two days to get there and spend the night anchored by the marquesas going each direction. Then I anchor for a night or two by the Fort. A neat trip to the fort with some swimming and snorkeling.
Did you ever make it to the keys? I am there now getting ready to launch for the bahamas this weekend.
Checking the Chris Parker weather closely these days while getting ready to move. I spent the holidays on a mooring at Vero Beach, it is a nice spot, well protected for the boat and convenient to the beach, town and supplies.
The last few days have been spent restocking the boat and I have a diver coming to clean the hull tomorrow. My plan is to start heading south on Monday or Tuesday ready to head to the Bahamas when the weather looks good. If the winds are from the north I'll keep going toward Biscayne Bay and the upper Keys.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
Denis,
Nice Photo, safe travels, I see the weather is a bit cooler but very nice. Please keep me posted I am serious of doing this in the year to come in my 36 catalina.
Ed Dewsnap
Marion, MA
1984 Catalina
sounds great. I am launching in the morning for Ft lauderdale. I am picking up a passenger there wednesday. Will take me about 4 sailing days to get there. Then its a wait for the weather until we launch to west end.
Army Sailor, are you planning on going outside to Fort Lauderdale or up the ICW?
While returning last spring the wind was out of the north and blowing so I did the inside. There are ten or more bridges that need to open so with a fuel stop it took nine hours to cover the 32 nautical miles from No Name to Lake Sylvia anchorage.
Even with the bridges it was better than banging into wind and wave all day.
It looks like the cold weather up north is going to keep the outside pretty sporty for the next week, I'll probably sit on the mooring a few extra days rather than scramble for anchorage.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I will take the outside route. I hate waiting for bridges and fighting with other boats. We started out today and it was a tad rough. So far I think the trip is cursed. The windlass failed, it let loose and the aft end of the boat hit a bouy and wrapped the mooring line around the prop. I got it loose, we came around as dropped anchor again. Now it appears to be dragging. Twice. In an anchorage I have never had an issue in before. In the middle of the night in pitch blackness.
The journey of 1000 miles begins with a flat tire. Old chinese proverb.
With luck you may just be getting the inevitable assorted disasters over with right at the start. Fair winds, following seas and smooth sailing lie ahead. Somewhere.
The old timers here in Vero Beach claim January and February in the Bahamas too "rowdy" but most of the mooring field is looking for a weather window to go as soon as possible. I'll wait for this week's fronts to blow by and plan on heading either south or east next week. Lots of launches from Canaveral over the next few days and 70 degree days so life on the mooring ball is not unbearable.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I hope the disadters are over for now. Today was better although the wind and waves were less than pleasant today. Tomorrow shold be more favorable I am at a mooring at indian key tonight and hope to get into biscayne bay tomorrow.
Weather looks favorable for a saturday sail across the gulfstream to west end from Lauderdale.
The string of weather fronts coming down the east coast keep on, unfortunately bringing some cold way way down south. Vero Beach had some mid 40's overnight the last two days but the daytime is sunny and around 70 degrees. Looks like at least a few more days of this cycle. The weather from the north brings big wind, so boring and chilly as it is Brazen Article is sitting on the mooring. My version of big wind is sustained over 20, gusts in the 30's.
The "cold" has not been awful by northeast standards, funny to see hoods, scarves, serious foul weather ($$$) gear and at least one pair of LL Bean Duck boots deployed. News reports say stunned cold iguanas are falling from trees - danger!.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I saw the same forecasts. Today seemed the best day to go for it with a wind below 20 knots out of the due east. It was a little rough this morning, but no worse than we experience for two days leaving Key West. About noon the wind shifted to the south, we were able to put the sails out, and made it to west end before dark. Had a little oil leak incident right before we got here so I need to track that down and fix it before I go anywhere else. That is tomorrow's task though.
They say monday or tuesday may be the best day for a crossing.
Nice - glad to hear you made the dash over to West End with no major hassle. What time did you leave, did you go from Lake Worth?
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
We left from lake Sylvia in the fort lauderdale area. Its an easy dash under the bridge and out the channel to the ocean, then a 080 heading took us just about perfectly to west end. Although we were tracking about 055 over the ground in the gulf stream. We left at 5 AM and it took us just under 13 hours, so got into the marina right before dark.
Are you still waiting for a weather window?
We are headed to freeport tomorrow.
Brazen Article is still sitting in Vero Beach waiting for a longer weather window. I'd like to head from Lake Worth to Great Sale Cay, then on to Green Turtle to check in but that is a window of several days.
My worst case scenario isn't really bad - if the forecast is more cold fronts and North wind I'll head to Biscayne Bay and the top of the Keys to wait there.
Enjoy Freeport, fair winds to ya!
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
Denis, Army Sailor,
Thanks for sharing your journey, I landed in Tortola 2 days ago to check out the sailing in this area, heading out today hop around the islands, curious to know if my 36 catalina would do here. I will not hijack this thread but letting you know your experience is helpful.
Stay Safe
Ed Dewsnap
Marion, MA
1984 Catalina
Hijack away! We had a great day here in freeport today sightseeing. Tomorrow I am going to head back to West End for the night, then sail around the north side of Grand Bahama island and across to the Abacos. I intend to explore all the little villages and places I can find for the next two weeks, then head south to Euluthra.
For anyone looking for a good way to cross, I would highly recommend leaving from the Fort Lauderdale area and crossing to west end. For us averaging 6 knots, we took a heading of 080 and it put us almost perfectly into west end, although our ground track was more like 055 with the currents pushing us north. Took about 13 hours, we left at 5 AM and got in just before dark. The nice thing was we never fought the current. West end is easy to get into and customs there was simply. We got in after they closed so I just walked over the next morning and cleared. No issues at all.
Agreed - hijack away!
CHris Parker weather forecast isn't looking good right now. There may be a short window this weekend but more fronts rolling south after that. Not surprising this time of year.
OUTLOOK:
Squalls may increase late Sat18, especially N of Canaveral, due to the approaching frontal system. A series of fronts gradually push SE toward the FL/Bahamas region late Sat18 into Mon20 as brisk southerly flow gradually gives way to brisk northerly wind flow. Heavier squalls may accompany one or more of the fronts as they push into the region. Brisk northerly winds may persist Tue21, though there is some risk of strong winter storm to develop in the Gulf of Mexico and move toward the SE US around midweek.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I went from freeport back to west end harbor yesterday. Winds were strong and from the north. I was going to head to great sale cay today but the winds were way too strong and I decided to stay and work on a few projects on the boat. Tomorrow is supposed to be more mild so I will head that way tomorrow (thursday). Winds will be lighter. Then I hope to hit the Foxtown area in the abacos the next day. Hopefully those waters will be a little more protected.
Army Sailor, are you transmitting AIS? I've been following a few boats that left here last Saturday, they were anchored in Ginn Su Mer about two miles south of West End.
I've been imagining a bunch of boats leaving either Lauderdale or Lake Worth and all hitting Old Bahama Bay at once as the sun is dropping. Did you have a reservation pre made, or just take a chance and call them when you arrived?
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I do have AIS and it works, but it seems the reception is patchy here in the bahamas. My family back home said they lost me right before I got into west end on my way from freeport. Then they told me they saw me this morning heading north out of west end, but lost me before I turned east and headed to Grand Cay, where I am anchored now. I am starting the abacos portion of my trip tomorrow and heading slowly south and exploring the small islands for however long it takes me to get through all of them. I may spend tomorrow night at Great Sale Cay unless I leave here early enough to get to Foxtown, but I don't anticipate that.
Not sure if AIS will show up in the abacos much, although I did get a reply on navionics here at Grand Key of another boat coming into the anchorage, so maybe.
This is kind of turning into a travelogue, but what the heck. Yesterday I went from Grand key to anchoring off Foxtown. It was good last night, but woke up to strong winds, so cancelled my plans to go to Allen Pensacola key to hike. I stayed in place, and will go tomorrow.
So have guys managed to get over to the bahamas yet and check in?
Some folks like the travelogs, it beats pondering head hose replacement while stuck in the dead of winter!
I'm looking for a 3 day or so weather window to head east - that might as well be a unicorn with those storms up north sending wind our way. Windy looks promising at the end of this week but a lot will change in the next 7 days. It will be stormy here until Thursday so I'll just hang on the mooring a bit longer.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
Brazen, I see the last track on your AIS was 11/14 in the ICW.
Ed Dewsnap
Marion, MA
1984 Catalina
My original plan was to park the boat in Vero Beach from Thanksgiving to Christmas or right after the new year. The boat is on a mooring in a well protected field, the facilities and town are nice. It is easy to stay here, hence the nickname Velcro Beach. South of here I'd be anchored and most anchorages are crowded with boats waiting to cross, I prefer staying on the mooring instead of dealing with anchor alarms and potential dragging boats
The last few weeks the cold fronts from up north have resulted in some chilly and blustery weather. Wind from the north against the Gulf Stream churns up waves that can make the trip to the Bahamas nasty. I've been looking for settled weather for 3-4 days out there, most of the weather windows have been for a day or two.
Windy and Chris Parker weather look good around the 27th, fingers crossed the forecast holds.
According to the old timers here the end of February is the best time to head over, many of them are planning to leave then.
I turned the AIS transmit off while on the mooring.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I wanted to cross in one day so that's why I left from lauderdale. We waited till the winds were out of the east instead of north. It was still fairlty rough though, probably a little rougher than I would have liked, but we survived.
It has been cold and windy over here in the abacos. Yesterday I was on pensacola cay and it was the one warm sunny day so after hiking across the island the quarter mile to one of the most beautiful beaches I had seen, I decided to jump in and take a swim. It was cold water but it felt good. Today it rained. I motor-sailed down to green turtle key. I did have to put up the sails right after leaving pensacola cay as the engine started to overheat. I shut it down and let the autopilot sail while I replaced the alternator belt. Fortunately, I had spares and it was a quick easy change. I also checked the impellor to make sure it was good.
Tomorrow I plan to take the waverunner around green turtle cay, and then sail through whale passage around the shallows and into the southern half of the abacos.
Denis,
Agreed, your plan sounds solid, on 1/13th I left Boca Raton after a 4 day stay and was surprised by the cold seeing I flew down from Boston then flew directly to the BVI to charter, in the BVIs the water was 80 and daily temperature steady between 77 to 80. Winds were light to occasional 18 kts. I got to figure out a way to stay in the BVIs for the winter and back to cape cod for the summer, I do not pretend to be a blue water sailor. The biggest risk in my plan is to my liver hanging in the BVIs.
Ed Dewsnap
Marion, MA
1984 Catalina
Hey all,
I jumped from the abacos to Eleuthra on monday. It was a good trip with a following wind. The seas were not too rough. Spent the last few days enjoying the beautiful weather down here.
Wondering if you guys ever made it across the gulfstream?
Brazen Article is in Key Largo for a couple days visiting friends, probably back up the Key Biscayne by the end of the week.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
Brazen Article made it across the Gulf Stream on Sunday, from the Port Everglades sea buoy to West end in about 11 hours, arriving just before 5 PM.
I left Lake Sylvia at 4:30 am, once under the 17th Street Bridge I had to wait for 2 giant cruise ships to clear the channel.
Outside the channel wind was mostly out of the E about 15 knots early and tapered off through the day. Close hauled with the engine running I made good time to the GS currents, then it was flying along at 8 knots for a couple hours.
As Army Sailor suggested, steering 80 degrees had me right on track to West End and the Old Bahama Bay Resort Marina. From Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades) there is a better angle on the current than leaving from West Palm (Lake Worth).
Aqua Map works well for planning and traveling, it shows the Gulf Stream currents, wind and wave forecasts. Transferring data from an iPad to an iPhone is a two click process. I have a Raymarine Axiom with Navionics at the helm but find it annoying on just about every level. For my needs Aqua Map is much better, and it uses the Explorer Charts for the Bahamas which have a lot more information than the navioncs charts.
Old Bahama Bay Marina makes it easy to arrive. I topped up the diesel tank, went to a slip (fixed docks - be aware of the tides) and checked in with the on site Customs and Immigration office well before sunset.
Here is a quick clip from early in the day
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
Congratulations and welcome to the bahamas! I headed from long island to Great Exuma island yesterday. Hanging out around georgetown for a few days.
Where are you going from West End?
I'm making my way to Green Turtle Cay, figure I'll explore this area on my way back. Beyond GTC there is no real plan, suggestions of places to check out will be appreciated. Anchored for the night at the top of Manjack Cay.
Here is a short video clip from crossing Little Bahama Bank.
Denis
Brazen Article #1925
2001 Catalina 36 MKII
I headed south through the abacos from Green Turtle Cay, then jumped to the spanish wells area of Eluethra. If you go down that way make sure to check out the queens bath south of spanish wells, and do spend a night at alabaster bay just off the governors harbor airport. Beautiful quiet bay with the best beach. I also think the exumas area has an awful lot to see and do. Georgetown is like Quartsite Arizona. Instead of RVs in the winter it fills with anchored boars. I left there this morning and left about 200 boats anchored there. Every morning is the 45 minute cruisers net with all the local events and events of the day broadcast, as well as people needing stuff and offering stuff. A real community. I am heading up to Staniel Cay in the morning to shop, snorkel, and see the swimming pigs for a couple of days.