Bermuda Direct, Possible Route Change

nick · March 07, 2008, 05:55:00 AM

Hi all,

I'm still sitting here in Gran Canaria, quietly freaking out about time. It's a long story, but I could be here another 2-3 weeks. My plan was to do go St Maarten for two months of work, and then move up to Bermuda, NYC and then Rhode Island. Now, I'm too late for that plan. I'm currently looking at going direct to Bermuda from Gran Canaria, making a big dip into the trades and then up again approaching Bermuda from SSE.

My question is for people with real local knowledge - I get a lot of answers from people who have theorised about this, but solid info is what I'm after, or links to it. I am looking at leaving on April 1st (no joke), and I estimate Bermuda will take me longer than the Antilles, and expect a crossing of 30+ days, arriving at the beginning of May. Can anyone tell me if they have sailed up from the Antilles at that time of year, or even been around Bermuda around that time?

Cheers fellow pocket cruisers! I'm really, really looking forward to hitting the States again. I've never been there by boat, and I'm practically wetting my pants at the thought of sailing past the Statue of Liberty, and also spending time around Rhode Island ;)

Nick

AdriftAtSea · March 07, 2008, 09:25:11 AM

Can't help you on the info part...but if you make it up to Rhode Island, hop over the state line into Buzzards Bay and come visit. There are a couple of us up there.

Bill NH · March 07, 2008, 12:37:10 PM

Hi Nick,

Bermuda high is beginning to intensify in early May, it's a real transition time. Generally the winds on the trip up from the Caribbean in the spring are much lighter than on the trip south in the fall, but you can still get a late season winter cold front coming through that kicks your butt... The trip from Bermuda to NYC can also have more frequent periods of light winds & calms in late spring. I'm sure I've put many more hours on engines spring northbound than fall southbound.

Your strategy to stay down in the trades as long as possible is the correct one. I'm guessing you'll have to get into the lower 20s to keep the steady trades, but I've never come across this late in the season. NE trades do intensify after Dec/Jan but I'm not sure if they shift N/S at all... If you have acess to real-time weather info (weatherfax, or even SSB) you can fine tune how far south you go and for how long. Bermuda direct will certainly take you longer than St Maarten, not just because of more miles but also the more variable conditions on the portion from the trades up to 32N. It'll be a long haul but no reason not to do it if NYC is where you're trying to get to! And from the SE is the safest way to approach Bermuda!

Good luck!

Godot · March 16, 2008, 01:58:26 PM

Hey Nick! Any luck with your solar panels? I'm guessing that by now the convenience of having some new panels has probably been greatly outweighed by the inconvenience of having to wait for delivery. I feel for you. Hope there is a little money left. I'm told Bermuda isn't cheap.

The inconvenience of getting the panels kind of gives me a business idea to help finance an extended cruise. Here in the US it is possible to pick up panels and controllers and other nifty devices relatively inexpensively (not that they are cheap). I wonder if there is value in stocking up and selling the stuff in out of the way places. It could be modestly profitable. Of course, the local bureaucracy probably would not look too kindly on unsanctioned retail activities in their waters.

Manannan · March 16, 2008, 02:16:24 PM

[The inconvenience of getting the panels kind of gives me a business idea to help finance an extended cruise. Here in the US it is possible to pick up panels and controllers and other nifty devices relatively inexpensively (not that they are cheap). I wonder if there is value in stocking up and selling the stuff in out of the way places. It could be modestly profitable. Of course, the local bureaucracy probably would not look too kindly on unsanctioned retail activities in their waters.
[/quote]
Sure it is a good idea. Problem is solar panels take some room and you need quite a bit to make the thing worth while. flexible and roll up ones are easier to stock but I think the market is in the rigid ones. I won't worry about local bureaucracy, they do not need to know, you can have as many solar panels on your boat as you want after all. Be discrete about the resale, watch out for gossip and discretion about the unloading process.... though there is other electronic smaller stuff that are a lot cheaper in the US and easier to carry. Advice from a former smuggler ;D

nick · March 16, 2008, 07:35:58 PM

Hey guys,

No luck on the panels - As of today, they're still in customs somewhere in Madrid. I've finally tracked down a phone number to call, and will be finding out what the heck is going on tomorrow. At the end of the day though, if they don't arrive by the 1st of April, I'm leaving.

As for Bermuda not being cheap - You're right, but at least they have a free anchorage! Now I'm also struggling with Visa requirements... I'm getting information that I cannot show up in Bermuda without a Visa for the US already in my hands. Ie. they will not let me make the application in person on arrival. This leaves a couple of options... Either get down to the Caribbean and park the boat on dry land somewhere. Or do something crazy like go to Bermuda anyway and pretend blisfull ignorance... OR sail direct to Canada from Bermuda, where I think it will be easier to sail anyway, since Australia is also a Commonwealth country. I haven't investigated the Canada option, because arrriving by boat could be difficult, and may even require a Visa too. Argh! I don't know what to do!

As for panels being a good thing to sell on route - Sure. If you can invest a bit of cash in small electronic items to sell on route, I think it's a great idea. Consider items like charge regulators, which cost about 120euros for a basic 10amp capacity in Europe. I suspect you can find them cheaper in the USA... I think you'd also be very succesful with handheld GPS and VHF radios, which both cost a fortune over here, and both of which are easy to store.

nick.

Manannan · March 17, 2008, 05:48:45 AM

Hi Nick,
I have no doubt you did your homework and know your options. I know there is no US consulate in the Canary, but did you get in touch with the ones in main land Spain to get your visa from there ? Or at least get first hand informations. Informations I have about all that are dated and anyway I have dual citizenship with the US now so do not have this problem anymore :) My gallic blood will go for blisfull ignorance and take my chance. On all my experiences, arriving in a country by boat was and still is (in most of the places) a lot of easier than by land. Good luck, investigate more though.

Norm · March 17, 2008, 07:39:57 PM

Nick:
I have sailed from the Antillies to the North East USA in May a couple of times. I never stop in Bermuda since it is a waste (my opinion) of three days and a few hundred dollars. The weather is in transition at this time of year but not too bad until you cross the Gulf Stream. Calms will be more trouble than storms. At least you move in a storm. I find the East side of the Stream to be warm, favorably pushing me along, and not too stormy.

From the Gulf Stream to Canada is a long cold hard sail across some hard water, the Grand Banks. After two trips on the East side of Cape Cod, I have said, "enough."

The big yachts all leave Antigua in May to jump across to Europe. They say it is the best time with good winds. On a Swan 65, how bad can it get?

I don't know your full on plans for visiting the USA and Canada. But... don't enter the USA at a port without Customs: Norfolk, VA or Newport, RI are two good examples. New York is a headache since you wouldn't know where to tie up. I'd pick Newport, RI as the best bet. They know yachts. A dock master at any marina or YC will know exactly what's going on if you hail him/her on VHF 16. Do Not Go Ashore before Comdey and Irritation arrive.

Portland Maine C&I nearly threw me in jail for going ashore to telephone for clearance. They claimed I shouldn't have arrived in the USA without a US cell phone and C&I numbers. Buffoons. Scared the beeejeeepers out of me at the time. 'Struth.

There is a US Consulate in Barbados that can get you a Visa. I have a contact there if you need it. I have the consulate number in Barbados as: 246-437-7770. If it doesn't work, don't use my name... OK?

I hope that you will check in with us (Norm and Cubemonkey) if in Boston. Maybe we can get you squeezed into our marina or a safe anchorage. More on that later.

Best,Norm

nick · March 17, 2008, 08:29:14 PM

Thanks guys,

Today I think I've found my solar panels: Stuck in Las Palmas customs. No one has known where they are until today, and I have a phone number in my hand to ring tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

I also received an email from the Bermudan Embassy: They will not issue NEW visas. They can renew etc, but nothing else. I have emailed the Canadian embassy in Sydney to ask about whether an Australian can show up in their waters, but even so, as Norm has pointed out - It's a hairy sail. I've also heard horror stories about sailors turning up in the US without a visa and getting into enormous difficulties.

This really leaves one more viable option: If I can get my panels in the next two days (ugh, the Easter break is coming up ..) and leave next week, I could go to Barbados, sort out my visa requirements there, and shoot up to somewhere near NYC as soon as possible. I have a very possible berth in Long Island (I said Rhode Island somewhere else on this forum, typo), so that would be my ultimate destination.

Thanks Norm for the number - I wonder if there is a way I can speed the visa process up from here... As I've heard it can take two weeks, and I will be arriving in Barbados at the beginning of May, which means I will leave for higher latitudes by mid-May. I am also trying to organise a work sponsor in the states so I can get a seasonal work permit. I need to earn as much as I can to pull off the overland trip by November!

nick

atomvoyager · March 17, 2008, 09:56:07 PM

Nick,

We had an easy passage from Culebra Is. directly north to Bermuda in late May. Winds were generally light trades to about 25 degrees North and then variable and calm to Bermuda. At least there were few headwinds.

Also, I found staying south of 20 North on the crossing from Canaries pays off in steady winds. If you had the time, running west along 15 North from Cape Verdes gives you the steadiest winds. On that particular passage I confirmed it by participating in a SSB net with several other boats further north of us who all reported a few days of variables while we had steady trades every day. You'll have to decide how many extra miles to the south you want to add to your trip for those favorable winds. Below is a link to the April Pilot Chart:

http://www.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/APC/Pub106/106apr.pdf

James B

CharlieJ · March 17, 2008, 10:31:30 PM

Quote from: Norm on March 17, 2008, 07:39:57 PM

Portland Maine C&I nearly threw me in jail for going ashore to telephone for clearance. They claimed I shouldn't have arrived in the USA without a US cell phone and C&I numbers. Buffoons. Scared the beeejeeepers out of me at the time. 'Struth.

Be advised that several countries are now insisting on 48 hour advance notice of arrival , BY telephone. VHF isn't enough. Australia being one of them as someone recently discovered by winding up IN jail and having some heavy fines. So it isn't just the US.

maxiSwede · March 18, 2008, 05:06:06 AM

James/Atom

PilotCharts on line, that's cool. Is there a website to download all of them?

Thanks a lot for your own website BTW, really inspirational

fair winds

Magnus

nick · March 18, 2008, 05:48:14 AM

A nice suprise getting a response from you James, I had no idea you were even on the forum! Great news to hear you've had a prior succesful voyage in late May, this gives my Barbados route a better chance of success over the others.

My course will definitely be set for Cape Verde, and then West - I won't be stopping there, but this appears to be the best route, and looking at the Pilot Chart confirms it.

@CharlieJ I think Australia may be far worse than the US! I've heard five day call-aheads being required... And really big fines, which is disappointing as an Australian. As far as I'm concerned, if you're an EU, American or Commonwealth flagged vessel, you should be able to sail in and out with freedom, just as EU boats can within Europe. I hope one day soon, things will change.

nick.

AdriftAtSea · March 18, 2008, 07:07:15 AM

Quote from: maxiSwede on March 18, 2008, 05:06:06 AM
James/Atom

PilotCharts on line, that's cool. Is there a website to download all of them?

Thanks a lot for your own website BTW, really inspirational

fair winds

Magnus

Bill NH · March 18, 2008, 10:23:40 AM

Hey Dan, thanks for the hard work putting all the links to the reference material up... grog ta ya! ;)

AdriftAtSea · March 18, 2008, 10:41:51 AM

Glad to help. :) Considering that for us in New England, the season is about to arrive, I thought it might be a good thing to have the Sailing Directions and Coastal Pilots for people to look at when planning their voyages for the season. :)

Bill NH · March 18, 2008, 10:46:35 AM

... or even for dreaming and scheming of future voyages!

Oops, seems like some of the links are putting an extra http in the url and not working... might need a bit of an edit.

AdriftAtSea · March 18, 2008, 12:34:38 PM

Sailfar was adding a "http://" to each of my urls... UGH... fixed now though.

maxiSwede · March 18, 2008, 03:20:11 PM

WOW, Thanks a looot Dan. That must have taken you a while...

GROG TO YA' as they say around here!

;D ;D ;D

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Bermuda Direct, Possible Route Change