Crossing the Gulf Stream - experiences?

bbilly

bbilly

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Hi,

I need to plan Florida to Havana in a 40' sailboat with a deckhand (my son) and this entails crossing the GS. I've been told it can get a bit "snotty". Is there a recommended route, is it better via The Bahamas? What are the prevailing winds in Nov-Jan. Personal experiences. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Billy
 
Definitely nothing with an N in the forecast. However it is only about 90 miles at the shortest so a good eye on the forecast should see you across without too much difficulty. The biggest problem is being on any kind of a schedule.
We got caught in it when travelling north from Cape Canaveral to Savannah. We had a great south easterly forecast when leaving, so decided to further out and ride it across the corner on a more direct route. Around midnight the wind turned to the North and the seas picked up very quickly. All sails down, engine on, and just try to keep from broaching in the very confused seas. Hard work for 17 hours when we could run for cover in Jacksonville. By the time we got to the sea bouy, it was 15-20ft waves and the only time I had ever heard swmbo say,'are we going to die now'. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
No experience (yet) but what Bejasus said - only cross when there's no north in the wind at all. Shortest crossing is Florida to Bahamas (70-ish miles I think) and normal strategy is to hang around for days/weeks until the wind is nicely from the south and then make a mad rush leaving late at night along with a million other boats to arrive in the shallow Bahamas in the morning, so you can find your way in through the thin bits in the daylight.

At least, that's what I've been told by people who've done it - the GS is no place to be when the wind opposes the stream.
 
That really is the gist of it. We were on a schedule and left on a marginal forecast, there and back. Both times the wind swung round to the N NNE and the result was a miserable, wet, bumpy ride. Worth the trip though, especially for the US warship who shadowed me for four hours, came up on the radio for a polite security check, but then couldn't give me confirmation that the large grey warship next to me was him as that was "classified sir".

Errhh but I can see you I said. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Wait for a good no North wind window and It'll be fine.
 
[ QUOTE ]


Wait for a good no North wind window and It'll be fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks that's the consensus. Anybody done Key-West - Matanza it's 90 nm. Does the stream embrace all that are between Cuba and the Keys. How can I judge the width and distance offshore when it comes into effect?

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
'How can I judge the width and distance offshore when it comes into effect?'

There is a dramatic rise in the water temperature as you enter it and vice versa. I have travelled down the edge of it and marvelled at the suddenness - there was also a change in colour but this was not as obvious as the temp. change.

Isn't it shown on charts ? If not it should be or does it vary all the time ?
 
Yes, the temperature difference is the main thing.

NOAA has some "charts" of the Gulf Stream, with forecasts of its expected behaviour over 24 and 48 hours. There's one here but it's not the one I remember - and I've lost the link! Inconveniently, this one stops at the interesting part near southern Florida and the Bahamas.
 
I crossed from Long Key to Cat Key (Bimini)in 2005;I waited for a S.E. wind; this wind dropped to nil by the time I was 20 miles out. So I had to motor on a flat calm sea; the only wave I saw was from a Cruise liner 10 miles off my bow. Came back from Memory Rock; anchored for the night in 8ft of water and no land in sight; had a light E. wind and a long swell of 3ft. The stream was close in to Florida and the only slight worry was getting out of the stream and making Ft. Pierce. Not much help, try Cruisersnet.com its an American forum. Calm seas and fair airs. Peter
 
I crossed it into NY - It was about 12nm wide, and bumpy as hell. Once I was over it, it was like I'd just crossed the street into another ocean. Quite a dramatic change. You will notice it as you are pushed, so I guess if it's down in Florida, you'll go N/NE. As mentioned previously, you can get infrared maps of the stream from NOAA. I got in an eddy for a couple of days, going in circles - Not sure if that happens down there though. Best to check the heat maps first I guess.

Enjoy, nick
 
OK First prevailing winds - East except when a cold front comes through. Then the wind will go round to the North West and you definitely do not want to be out in the stream then.

I have never tried the trip down to Cuba but you are going to be bucking the stream most of the way there. However it is doable but I suspect that choosing a quiet night and motoring might be the way to go. Watch out for lots of traffic enroute, some of which will NOT be showing lights.
 
Hi Alan, nope we are still in Savannah since swmbo suffered a sever leg break 3 weeks before we were due to leave. We have put off the trip until next year, but are hoping to get down to the Exumas for xmas/new year.
 
Re: Crossing the Gulf Stream - experiences? Some crossing rules!

I have sailed across the Gulf stream from Florida to the Bahamas several times, most recently last November.
If you intend to do this there are several clear rules and issues to get right!
The GS kicks up dangerously hard whenever the wind is against it ie in a northerly wind. In no circumstances should you set out if that circumstance exists or might arise. The seas are short and very big by any standard even for very large vessels.
The wind will be in the northern sector predominantly. When a depression comes off the US coast the wind will clock through to the south and eventually (often quite quickly and too quick to make a crossing) blow strong from NW until going back to NE again. The speed of this progression should be well forecast. These depressions arrive every 5 to say 7 days - normally.
The ideal time to leave the Florida coast is after the wind has been in the southern sector for about 12 hours during which time the seas should calm down sufficient to contemplate a crossing. Provided a forecast giving a sufficient period of winds not reaching NW before you arrive at the Bahamas has been given and conditions are otherwise OK for the ongoing voyage you should then proceed at best speed with engine to cross. Make a course with an offset which allows for an average current of about 3knots,; this of course means that with a wind from the SE it may still be well ahead of you!
Once you decide you want to cross the GS you must look closely for these opportunities and be ready and prepared to go at short notice.
Some guides recommend anchoring at night on the Banks - this is not a good idea as it seldom remains calm enough. It is quite safe to proceed at night depthwise but beware small commercial vessels with no/poor navigation lights. If you can pick a full moon period it is an even more amazing experience.
Chris Parker of the Caribbean Weather Net (Google it) gives excellent forecasts various times from Florida on various SSB frequencies each morning - except sunday.
If going to the Bahamas in my opinion it is best to leave from Miami or even further south - this gives widest range of opportunities which may arise for crossing in various forecast wind scenarios.
If you want to visit Northern Cuba why not do so direct from the south of the Florida Cays. You will not get much local (US) advice on this as US citizens cannot visit! Or, if they do they cannot return. A non US citizen could return to USA via the Bahamas
Good luck!
 
Re: Crossing the Gulf Stream - experiences? Some crossing rules!

[ QUOTE ]
I have sailed across the Gulf stream from Florida to the Bahamas several times, most recently last November.
If you intend to do this there are several clear rules and issues to get right!

[/ QUOTE ]The crossing between Key West or Marathon and Havana is rather different from that between Miami or Ft Lauderdale and Bimini. Further south, the GS is (in my experience) much less of an issue in terms of sea state. Its a fairly easy passage in the prevailing E/NE winter trade winds, about 90 miles which should take less than a day.

The main concern with northerly winds is that Marina Hemingway in Havana has quite a tricky entrance through a narrow cut in the reef which I for one would not like to attempt in a 25+kt breeze with any north in it.

One must also beware of northwesterly 'busters' ('frio frentes' in Cuba) coming off the Texas coast in winter, which bring gales into NW Cuba.

As you say, US residents and US registered yachts are not permitted to sail to Cuba. US CBP will also do their utmost to dissuade foreign yachts going direct to Cuba, which is why many go via Mexico or the Bahamas. But it can be done!
 
I've shifted my scheduled crossing from December to late Jan or February and consequently I'll probably do Key West - Havana. Having only 1 inexperienced deck hand I'll wait for optimum conditions and then make the crossing. As written the crossing to Havana seem less of an issue than to the Bahamas so that's the probable route and being my final destination (for a month or so) anyway.

Thanks to all who repied for your time and the invaluable info disclosed.

Billy /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
This year I regularly slapped across the GS from Florida to the Bahamas and in Feb took the route South past the Keys and Cuba making first stop in the DR and on the way back up took the stream all the way to Hatteras and onward making fantastic SOG! Sometimes it was a little lumpy and other times it was flat calm.

The water temp rises significantly, your COG will reflect the current, sometimes there's alot of marine life on the edges where the temperature gradient is. Best of all there's some great fishing to be had in the stream so get the rod out.

Plan you weather carefully and avoid any wind against stream in the part you decide to cross. I see you're in the lower Keys where the stream starts with alot of E in it as it exits the Gulf of Mexico. To get any W normally means leaving immediately before an impending front and these can be pretty far between. It also seems that your experience and crew would be better suited to the lighter SE trades but guaranteed you'll be beating. If you make the direct crossing to Matanzas and offset for some current you'll be on a heading that should allow one tack most the way. Then pick your way down the coast where the beating is not so unpleasant! Not sure why you'd consider a trip through the Bahamas, this seems a little out the way from where you are.

Stay inshore if you have to make ground against the stream and a very good point from TQA - watch out for unlit vessels inshore on the CUBA side... everything from fishermen to armed patrols at night!

Finally don't worry, trust your seamanship, and enjoy.
 
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