Bahamas crossing question: On forums that are more geared to sailing,

Son of a son

New Member
May 24, 2020
22
Boat Info
'99 450 Express Bridge
Engines
Cummins 6CTA 8.3
The question is frequently asked about heading to the Bahamas from St. Augustine rather than doing so from South Florida. Invariably the advice is that fighting the Gulf Stream at that heading makes no sense. Much better to cross with the stream on your side than in your teeth.

My question is whether the same applies for power boats cruising at much higher speeds than a sailboat can manage. Obviously cutting over farther north will make for a longer run at sea, but assuming your crew is ok with that, is the effect of the Gulf Stream such that even power boats will find it significantly more efficient to cross further south?
 
We make the trip from Cape Canaveral to Walkers routinely; it's about a 150 mile journey crossing the gulf stream at about 120 degrees Mag make the closest location at the Bahama banks. The state of the seas determine the speed of crossing, the direction, and fuel budgeting. We have vectored a straight shot to Walkers, an easterly direction across the gulf stream then downward (curved) and a southerly direction on the west side of the gulf stream then curved easterly across and tracked fuel every time. A 2 to 3 knot gulf stream ends up incidental on a direct vs curved trip for fuel and time in a plaining boat or at powered displacement speeds. The reason we did this is to determine if we can make Spanish Cay without refueling which, to date, we don't meet the fuel margins and end up going into West End which sets our nominal course southerly then across. Remember coming back you gain the benefit of the current.
 
So you have found the best option to be to continue south to . . .where?
Lake Worth or that area before crossing? Or are you saying you set a straight shot southerly course from Canaveral to West End?
 
We make the trip from Cape Canaveral to Walkers routinely; it's about a 150 mile journey crossing the gulf stream at about 120 degrees Mag make the closest location at the Bahama banks. The state of the seas determine the speed of crossing, the direction, and fuel budgeting. We have vectored a straight shot to Walkers, an easterly direction across the gulf stream then downward (curved) and a southerly direction on the west side of the gulf stream then curved easterly across and tracked fuel every time. A 2 to 3 knot gulf stream ends up incidental on a direct vs curved trip for fuel and time in a plaining boat or at powered displacement speeds. The reason we did this is to determine if we can make Spanish Cay without refueling which, to date, we don't meet the fuel margins and end up going into West End which sets our nominal course southerly then across. Remember coming back you gain the benefit of the current.

Interesting. From where do you make your best crossing.
I'm planning a trip; well if things loosen up a bit here and there
 
Interesting. From where do you make your best crossing.
I'm planning a trip; well if things loosen up a bit here and there
If weather is going to be bad or questionable we run the boat down the ditch and out Ft. Worth inlet.
If weather is excellent and seas are rather good we run right out of Cape Canaveral follow the coast line then about Stuart start making a gentle arc towards West End where we clear in and fuel up. This is the best for fuel.
If weather is good but seas are a bit big (uncomfortable for the girls) we will do the ditch to Sebastian inlet poke out and make the crossing to West End.
If seas are flat, wahoo biting, and time is no concern we will do 10 knots straight to walkers from Cape Canaveral.
 
@ttmott, is Walker’s open now? I wasn’t sure how the hurricane last year affected their plans to rebuild the marina and reopen. Curious to learn from your boots on the ground. We went over last spring before the hurricane and stayed at Rosie’s as I don’t think any construction was started/completed at Walker’s?
 
@ttmott, is Walker’s open now? I wasn’t sure how the hurricane last year affected their plans to rebuild the marina and reopen. Curious to learn from your boots on the ground. We went over last spring before the hurricane and stayed at Rosie’s as I don’t think any construction was started/completed at Walker’s?
No, but rumors abound; not too many years ago we cleared in through customs there but they move customs to Grand / Rosies. If coming in the North way we typically come in at Lily Bank and cross under Walkers or over Walkers and come through the rocks at Tom Brown Cay . I had heard that a group of Texas folks bought Walkers and are renovating but that's it. Every time I've been in Rosie's something disastrous has happened, bad fuel, bent props, no beer, no fuel, etc - so I bypass and head straight to Double Breasted for the first night then off to West End to fuel and clear in. I think next trip I'll carry an extra 20 gallons of fuel and see exactly how much we have coming in to Spanish. We will see...
 
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