So many boats heading for the Caribbean

geem

geem

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 Apr 2006
Messages
8,911
Location
European side of the pond
Visit site
This year feels exceptionally busy with boats heading for the Caribbean. You just have to look at Marine Traffic around the Canaries and it feels like a mass exodus.
With Brexit making the Med less favourable, the Caribbean is an obvious choice for Brits but there are so many French, German and Swedish boats here, all heading crossing soon, it's going to be very crowded on the other side
 
geem said:
This year feels exceptionally busy with boats heading for the Caribbean. You just have to look at Marine Traffic around the Canaries and it feels like a mass exodus.
With Brexit making the Med less favourable, the Caribbean is an obvious choice for Brits but there are so many French, German and Swedish boats here, all heading crossing soon, it's going to be very crowded on the other side
Click to expand...
Nothing to do with the ARC then?
 
I can understand the interest and excitement of crossing to the Caribbean what I don’t have clear is what do you do once your there apart from sailing in steady warm breeze under the lmplacable sun.From the pictures there are hundreds of European and American yachts anchored off islands that don’t have much to offer except for expensive food .Is there a relationship with the local people how are the days filled…doing maintenance,eating ,drinking…..
 
Wansworth said:
I can understand the interest and excitement of crossing to the Caribbean what I don’t have clear is what do you do once your there apart from sailing in steady warm breeze under the lmplacable sun.From the pictures there are hundreds of European and American yachts anchored off islands that don’t have much to offer except for expensive food .Is there a relationship with the local people how are the days filled…doing maintenance,eating ,drinking…..
Click to expand...
We don't all have to like the same thing.
I've done three Caribbean seasons and the things I like are:
- consistent winds which make the next island a day sail away on a 15-20kt beam reach. It's a sailor's paradise.
- spacious anchorages with sand bottoms and little risk of sudden changes in conditions.
- clear, warm, water. You can snorkel, spear fish, check your anchor, scrub your hull, change your anode. Sometimes I chuck the dishes overboard for the fish to clean and go down and get them the next day. I love it when my world extends to what's in and under the water.
- meeting fascinating people who have put in the sea miles to get there, usually with interesting stories to tell. It's also far and away the best place for us, as a family, to meet other sailing kids. And the linear nature of the island chain means that you will keep bumping in to the same people, which is really nice.
- the relaxed and easy going attitude that most locals have (they seem pretty chilled to me, and I'm a Hebridean!)
- beautiful landscapes, beaches, jungles

I can't wait to go back.
 
Sea Change said:
Is that still standing? I thought it would have been Beryl-ed.
Click to expand...
We are hoping to re-visit in the next few weeks.

The shade is likely gone, but it is still a wonderful cruising area (see the image below).

We enjoyed cruising the UK for very different reasons. The snow and wildlife in Scotland were a particular highlight.

IMG_8966.jpeg
 
Sea Change said:
We don't all have to like the same thing.
I've done three Caribbean seasons and the things I like are:
- consistent winds which make the next island a day sail away on a 15-20kt beam reach. It's a sailor's paradise.
- spacious anchorages with sand bottoms and little risk of sudden changes in conditions.
- clear, warm, water. You can snorkel, spear fish, check your anchor, scrub your hull, change your anode. Sometimes I chuck the dishes overboard for the fish to clean and go down and get them the next day. I love it when my world extends to what's in and under the water.
- meeting fascinating people who have put in the sea miles to get there, usually with interesting stories to tell. It's also far and away the best place for us, as a family, to meet other sailing kids. And the linear nature of the island chain means that you will keep bumping in to the same people, which is really nice.
- the relaxed and easy going attitude that most locals have (they seem pretty chilled to me, and I'm a Hebridean!)
- beautiful landscapes, beaches, jungles

I can't wait to go
Click to expand...
In my limited ocean voyaging I had as you say great times meeting up with fellow voyagers and enjoying a different life but I also spent time with the local people …..does that happen in the Caribbean orare you just meeting fellow travelers ?
 
I will say it’s very nice and very quiet now. I am not looking forward to the crowds you predict. I hope you are wrong.
 
WoodyP said:
Nothing to do with the ARC then?
Click to expand...
No. Nothing to do with the ARC. The marina we were in in La Gomera is full of none ARC boats. Plenty left already but still plenty getting ready to go. Friends in Mindelo said the anchorage was busy then they kicked out all the boats from the marina to make way for the ARC+. Anchorage was then crazy busy. Lots of boats left yesterday from Canaries and there will be a lot leaving tomorrow. Have a look at Marine Traffic. I have never seen it so busy
 
geem said:
I think living in Europe in winter is in decline😅
Click to expand...

More truth in that. As the great retirement looms for many post boomers, so called Gen X, who had the final salary pensions, inherited parents
house boom homes, benefited from the 80’s boom years, they are now retiring early. Most of my peer group, friends, family, associates, have all taken early retirement.

Some have bought boats, some have bought campervans, some have moved to warmer climes. If just a fraction of those from the Northern European countries go sailing, it’s easy to see how there could be a wave of people heading across the pond. Not all are Gen X either, some younger.
 
RunAgroundHard said:
More truth in that. As the great retirement looms for many post boomers, so called Gen X, who had the final salary pensions, I berried patents house boom homes, benefited from the 80’s boom years, they are now retiring early. Most of my peer group, friends, family, associates, have all taken early retirement.

Some have bought boats, some have bought campervans, some have moved to warmer climes. If just a fraction of those from the Northern European countries go sailing, it’s easy to see how there could be a wave of people heading across the pond. Not all are Gen X either, some younger.
Click to expand...
I retired at 50. That was 11 years ago. I have only spent 2 winters in the UK since. That was 2 too many😅
 
I am so glad I went through the islands when I did.

The yottie mainstream mags were just getting into the ‘must do,Atlantic circuit, essential tick box, bucket list’ streams of publishing. And the numbers grew exponentially along with the expectation and the marinas and cash cows ..

But of course every generation will be mumbling the same thing😂

Old Christopher Columbus too on his latter voyages I expect: “ Have you seen the price of coconuts senor?”

I have photos somewhere of Mindelo with ladies walking around effortlessly with produce in buckets on their heads , and paltry small piles of veggies laid out roadside on a bit of cloth.
 
There have been noticeable changes as the wealth of the world has grown…..here in Galicia in the early 1980s very few had a car or pet they shopped in the local markets…….now the place is jammed full with cars there are more pet shops than you can shake a stick at plus vets and animal sanctuary’s for mostly abandoned dogs……..and roads ,miles of empty motorways going nowhere important!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top