So many boats heading for the Caribbean

Update from the Atlantic. We have 1011nm to go to Antigua. I think you can describe this a full trades kind of passage. I came on watch this morning to 30/33kts. No squalls. Clear sky. Gradient winds blowing hard.
We set our sails 7 days ago and apart from rolling some genoa in and out, we have had nothing to do in the sail department. The sail area is set to keep the boat speed below hull speed. This keeps her running true and straight. As soon as we do consistent speeds about 8 knots, she starts to squirm around, working the autopilot harder. 7kt average over the last 24hrs with every 24hr run above 160nm since we cleared the very large wind shadow of the Cape Verdes. It should calm down a bit later.
capnsensible said:
From what I've seen around the Canarian marinas with boats preparing, few have starlink. The chances of being anywhere near vhf range of anything over weeks is slim.

However, there are alternatives such as Iridium Go, etc that can be very helpful.
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We found that about 50% have starlink this year. We also have an Inreach that we have used for years. The starlink is great for weather updates.
 
geem said:
Update from the Atlantic. We have 1011nm to go to Antigua. I think you can describe this a full trades kind of passage. I came on watch this morning to 30/33kts. No squalls. Clear sky. Gradient winds blowing hard.
We set our sails 7 days ago and apart from rolling some genoa in and out, we have had nothing to do in the sail department. The sail area is set to keep the boat speed below hull speed. This keeps her running true and straight. As soon as we do consistent speeds about 8 knots, she starts to squirm around, working the autopilot harder. 7kt average over the last 24hrs with every 24hr run above 160nm since we cleared the very large wind shadow of the Cape Verdes. It should calm down a bit later.

We found that about 50% have starlink this year. We also have an Inreach that we have used for years. The starlink is great for weather updates.
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You're making me jealous.
Any fish yet?
How's the sargasso?
 
capnsensible said:
From what I've seen around the Canarian marinas with boats preparing, few have starlink. The chances of being anywhere near vhf range of anything over weeks is slim.

However, there are alternatives such as Iridium Go, etc that can be very helpful.
Click to expand...
I'm really surprised about that.
I think we were one of the last boats, amongst our cruising friends, to get Starlink.
I did actually quite like being disconnected for three weeks during our crossing. But recently we were using it on passage through an area of intense lightning and the ability to watch the weather radar on Windy was worth every penny.
 
capnsensible said:
Perhaps I should look harder!

Mebbe people only rig them up just before departure.
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Quite a few will only put them out when in use, especially the new mini. Despite how long they’ve been available, mounting is still a pain in the arse. Mine looks well mounted but it’s actually sitting in a rod holder with a hole in the bottom for a cable and it’s tied down with some cord that’s zip tied to the dish. We removed it for the Crinan so I’m in two minds about getting anything better.

Thankfully they’re worthless if stolen!
 
geem said:
There are so many different islands that there are different favourites for different things. Dominica has incredible jungle and plenty of trails where you see nobody or very few people even on a day long walk.
The French islands are very French with a twist of Caribbean.
Antigua is home to the classics regatta, Antigua sailing week and the Caribbean 600 as well as the arrival point for the 35 or so rowing boats coming across the Atlantic ( leaving la Gomera next month). Lots going on and a very yachtie island with a base for super yachts and all the maintenance that goes with them.
Lots of the the other islands such as Saba, Statia, Monserat see little in the way of visiting yachts. If you want to see the biggest collection of superyachts, there is normally 50 or more anchored of St Barts for new year.
Just a sample of stuff. I haven't even mentioned the stunning Grenadines and the busy Grenada during hurricane season
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yes, the rowing boats are lining up on La Gomera ready to start! (photo credit "WORLD'S TOUGHEST ROW")
worlds_toughest_row_2025-50645-X3.jpg
 
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lustyd said:
Quite a few will only put them out when in use, especially the new mini. Despite how long they’ve been available, mounting is still a pain in the arse. Mine looks well mounted but it’s actually sitting in a rod holder with a hole in the bottom for a cable and it’s tied down with some cord that’s zip tied to the dish. We removed it for the Crinan so I’m in two minds about getting anything better.

Thankfully they’re worthless if stolen!
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Our Mini just sits on the coach roof with a bit of line tied to the handrail. Sometimes we have to move it a bit for a better signal. Very occasionally we'll find ourselves on a point of sail where the boom obstructs it, and we'll shift it to the other side of the coach roof. We've sailed thousands of miles like this. I really don't think you need to overthink it.
 
Sea Change said:
Our Mini just sits on the coach roof with a bit of line tied to the handrail. Sometimes we have to move it a bit for a better signal. Very occasionally we'll find ourselves on a point of sail where the boom obstructs it, and we'll shift it to the other side of the coach roof. We've sailed thousands of miles like this. I really don't think you need to overthink it.
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We have had some boisterous conditions. Very glad I fitted our Mini to a rail mount. The outboard is mounted on the stern rail bracket. Twice a wave has spun the propeller. That prop is a foot above the deck!
 
geem said:
We have had some boisterous conditions. Very glad I fitted our Mini to a rail mount. The outboard is mounted on the stern rail bracket. Twice a wave has spun the propeller. That prop is a foot above the deck!
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There might come a time when our casual 'fling it on the coach roof' approach reaches its limit. We shall see.

Some boats do put a huge amount of thought, time, and money in to their Starlink mounting. We saw a Gunboat that had an elegant, curved and tapered carbon mast for theirs. It was a work of art, and probably cost a significant percentage of the value of my boat 😂
 
capnsensible said:
Generally, boats sail down to the Canaries any time during the summer up to late autumn, early winter. Most leave end of November to early December when post hurricane season insurance window opens. There are always exceptions, but this is fairly standard. Gives the most time in the Caribbean for those staying for one season.

March is a typical month for those heading for the Panama Canal and onwards through the Pacific.

From what I've seen...and done :cool: lots of boats head back to Europe, often via the Azores, anytime from late April until we'll into June.

This is a big generalisation, some stay in the Windies for years, heading south for hurricane season.
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We stayed more or less 4 years in the Canarias islands we love so much. Last year, we were a little bit fed up by prices rising so much in marinas, also it was more difficult to book a berth for our 60' trawler and wesuffer lack of anchorages. But for an european traveller not living aboard 100% of the year, it is the best plan: no hurricane, no violence, no mosquitoes, no jet lag when flying. So last year we came back to french atlantic coast for some more easy refit for me ( not very fluent in Spanish...). After one month cruising the pertuis d'Antioche,La Rochelle, Ile de Ré Les Sables d'olonnes ( best place for refit and maintenance ) and to finish the story, a severe french customs control ( it would not have been worst in USSR during the 70'), we have decided to come back to the Caribe.Currently in the BVI, I can tell weather is definetly better than in my Normandy. Concerning slips avaibility in the marinas here, forget it, go to directly to anchor or mooring buoys. Will start south the voyage to south and will tell after 35 years when I did my first passage with my Fisher 37
 
balder said:
We stayed more or less 4 years in the Canarias islands we love so much. Last year, we were a little bit fed up by prices rising so much in marinas, also it was more difficult to book a berth for our 60' trawler and wesuffer lack of anchorages. But for an european traveller not living aboard 100% of the year, it is the best plan: no hurricane, no violence, no mosquitoes, no jet lag when flying. So last year we came back to french atlantic coast for some more easy refit for me ( not very fluent in Spanish...). After one month cruising the pertuis d'Antioche,La Rochelle, Ile de Ré Les Sables d'olonnes ( best place for refit and maintenance ) and to finish the story, a severe french customs control ( it would not have been worst in USSR during the 70'), we have decided to come back to the Caribe.Currently in the BVI, I can tell weather is definetly better than in my Normandy. Concerning slips avaibility in the marinas here, forget it, go to directly to anchor or mooring buoys. Will start south the voyage to south and will tell after 35 years when I did my first passage with my Fisher 37
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We never go into marinas in the Caribbean. So much cooler at anchor with a nice breeze. Why the need for marinas?
 
balder said:
I forgot to mention I am unfortunately not a 100% liveaboard and need for family reason fly back every two months to Europe. To do that, you need a secure slip in a secure marina...
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It perhaps depends on location, insurance requirements, and your perception of risk.
Lots of people leave their boats on moorings in e.g. Grenada for a few weeks, or even the whole summer. But you have to do your homework to check that the mooring is good, and not all insurance companies would necessarily cover you.
 
Sea Change said:
It perhaps depends on location, insurance requirements, and your perception of risk.
Lots of people leave their boats on moorings in e.g. Grenada for a few weeks, or even the whole summer. But you have to do your homework to check that the mooring is good, and not all insurance companies would necessarily cover you.
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no danger of theft or people trying to jump aboard and stay?
 
balder said:
no danger of theft or people trying to jump aboard and stay?
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Petty theft from boats left on mooring for the summer has been a problem in Grenada. It's soon becomes obvious which boats are not occupied. They are easy targets for hard up cruisers or locals.
 
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