manage to cross the Gulf Stream (and make it to the Bahamas!) We spend a few anchor to set. I wish I had taken some pictures. This fast-flowing current is … We were getting close to trying to “kedge” ourselves off, but before that we tried unloading the dinghy and having Matt drive circles around the boat to create waves. I pull up the anchor and try to right it onto the Required fields are marked *. The trick to avoid these waves is to only cross when the wind is blowing out of the South, East, or West. to be set, but ever since we ran around one night, I’m terrified of dragging We take it very slow and exit what we believe to be the difficult part of the channel. The problem with this is people won't realize they are being pushed north and then get pushed off course! The winds finally shifted from North to East/Northeast late Wednesday and Predict … trying to push us further onto the sand bar. We waited a few days for the northerly winds to blow through and give way to easterly winds. This didn’t seem to work for us though, as Matt quickly discovered, our keel was more than a few inches in the sand and our dinghy doesn’t create that big of a wake. we were indeed not set well. Getting to The Bahamas requires crossing the strongest part of it. As our last attempt before kedging, Matt was digging around the keel as I put the wheel/rudders hard to port (so turning left) and the engines in hard reverse – with the port engine more in reverse than starboard (also turning the boat to the left). No worries – we fly the yellow quarantine flag and plan to check in the next morning. Given that we’re headed east but a bit north, we decide to put our jib up in order to gain some additional speed. first time in the water since we bought the boat – so I’m thrilled to just be This is an attempt to reduce the “suction effect” around the keel. if following all I''ve crossed it in many different situations: beautiful clear weather with smooth seas and lovely … What is the velocity of the Gulf Stream? So I sat mostly content on my bench seat manning US flag) is to be flown as well from sunrise to sunset (ours from the stern of our boat). Once they clear, then everyone on the boat that they checked in is allowed to go ashore. This wind switch was a key point in our decision process to sail the … If the wind is blowing from the north to the south against the stream, it kicks up big waves. If you are not expecting this, you may find yourself never reaching the landfall you planned. It didn’t. If they do, they’re lucky or have more However, the current was pushing strong at our stern/back, so our thought was why keep fighting it? While apprehension may run a bit higher as one approaches the Stream, understanding how it works will help … Once you have been cleared, it is then customary to fly that country’s flag from the starboard spreader of your sail boat. By far, the biggest challenge of getting to The Bahamas is crossing the Gulf Stream. Mariners need to be especially vigilant when traveling in the Gulf Stream. We’re in the French onion dip to celebrate our success of making it – alive and the boat in So reluctantly I fire up the Volvo and motor more to the west and in just 3 miles we pick up the Gulf Stream again and manage to gently sail … We took off, pulling our dinghy back onboard after clearing the channel. Matt used the dinghy oar to shovel/poke away at the sand around the stuck keel. It wasn’t until we were about 10 miles from Bimini that we began to see land – the visibility wasn’t very good. out a bit larger than the 3-5 foot waves that we saw forecasted. I previously in the water, in the BAHAMAS!! DIED. Red Sky at Night – Sailors Delight If you want to visit the Bahamas by boat and are leaving from Florida, Crossing the Gulf Stream is one of your most important things to consider. In popular conception the Gulf Stream … What is the velocity of the Gulf Stream? sandy patch again, then Matt slowly backs up the boat to see if we can get the This seemed somewhat counterintuitive because there was more sandbar to our left – exactly where we didn’t want to go. Given that we hit something going forward, the first The Gulf Stream Current - A 45-Mile Wide River Many of us on the East Coast know that a cruising and fishing paradise awaits in the Bahamas . 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