carribean sailing

[PabloPicasso]

I'm turning 50 in 2 years time and would like to sail in the Carribean for a month (wouldn't we all) to help me cope with the trauma of hitting the half century. To take the kids it would likely have to be in july/august

I've read this is wet season. Has anyone cruised there during these months? I'd love to take my wife and two kids who'll be aged 6 & 5 by then?

 

[Chalker]

Pablo
July and August are in the hurricane season. Cruisers generally leave or plan appropriately late May / early June.
You could be lucky.
Google to find this year's history.
Grenada and southwards would probably be a safer choice than further north (note that I did not say safe). Insurance companies used to see Granada and southwards as being outside the hurrican risk area, many now see Grenada as being in the risk area since Hurricane Ivan.

The Med could be a safer choice with littlies on board.

 

[macd]

2012 a very benign hurricane season. Not very representative.

 

[TQA]

Charter out of Grenada or maybe Canouan. Great cruising during the summer as the charter boats are mostly absent.

Listen to the forecast every morning and be prepared to move at a few hours notice.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Charter out of Grenada or maybe Canouan. Great cruising during the summer as the charter boats are mostly absent.

Listen to the forecast every morning and be prepared to move at a few hours notice.

Ill have a look at that. But maybe the med would be better, or cruise shorter at another time of year, or try to sail my boat up the west coast of scotland instead. I just had this notion about the caribean...

chartering may well work out just too expensive anyway

 

[William_H]

Chartering July/August

Or you could go a little further and charter in North Queensland. (Whitsundays) It will be winter there which means perfect weather 28 degrees max each day cool nights steady winds. Fly into Cairns and drive down or fly down about 300 miles. Lots of good things to see and do as well as sailing. However Oz dollar has gone up in value so may be more expensive, good luck olewill

 

[Gargleblaster]

Panama has a lot to offer and is outside the hurricane area. The San Blas Islands are one of natures unspoilt paradises and you couldn't find nicer people. Lobster and Crabs for US50cents. Portobello is a great anchorage and has very historical links with Britain [It was sacked three times by famous Britains, Drake, Morgan and Vernon]. If you could slip across the water to Cartagena in Columbia historically it should be worth a visit.

I don't know what the chartering situation is however in that area. I don't think it would be conceivable to go through the canal in a charter boat but if you went into the Shelter Bay Marina there are always boats requiring line handlers to go through, and it is a wonderful overnight trip. Come back on the shortest great train journey in the world transcontinental in 40 minutes.

 

[MacD68]

Go for it

Hi,
I hired a Cat out of Grenada in mid July 2011, for two weeks, sailing North to the Tobago Qays and everywhere in between. We had a couple of rainy days, but otherwise the weather was beautiful, with steady winds each day. Relatively uncrowded at that time of year, and as it was low season the charter was quite a bit cheaper.
I would heartily recommend it.