Association Forum - Ocean Sailing (esp. to Bimini/Bahamas)

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Ocean Sailing (esp. to Bimini/Bahamas)

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

pmcarman
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/23/2005 : 09:23:56

Greetings all! I've been reading quite a few books on the adventures of small(er) sailing vessels crossing the ocean - from an 18-year-old in a 26 footer circumnavigating the globe, to a 60 footer caught not too far off shore in the Atlantic sinking in a storm.

Granted the wind and the sea can be a tough mistress. I'm looking to possibly do a run between Florida and Bimini (by car I'm only a few hours north of West Palm and Miami), and I'm looking to learn as much as possible from sailors who:

a) Have sailed this particular route before, and
b) Ocean sailors in general

From what I've read, many, if not most people use our C25s for inland / close to shore sailing, and I'm wondering if making the trip to Bimini is feasible or wise.

As always, the forum's insights are much appreciated!

-Paul

Paul MacGyver Carman
'86 FK/SR #5195 "Althea"
Eau Gallie, FL

Edited by - pmcarman on 12/23/2005 09:24:54

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 09:40:39

A group of our members are making that trip this spring. Click on the following hyperlink for more information.

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10564& SearchTerms=cruise

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 09:42:31

Paul,

There was an article in the Catalina Mainsheet a couple years ago about sailing a Catalina 25 from Port Canaveral to the Abaco islands in the Bahamas. (I don't remember exactly which issue.) If you missed it, and you think it might be helpful , I could e-mail you the text of the article.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1009 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 11:34:19

IMHO it is a safe trip if you heed the weather. I am going to attempt the trip in the spring. There are a few considerations.

1. Weather. It has to be perfect. Light wind out of east or south.
2. Travel in flotila. Gives you options if you have a mechanical problem or decide to get off the boat for some reason.
3. Do the homework and have a backup plan if the weather is not good.

Just a few considerations.

Tom.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 11:41:27

One of our members has made the crossing and cruised the Bahamas... can't recall if he's posted in awhile. He may be out cruising right now.

IMHO: Make sure you have allowed for time to 'wait out' bad weather or have other contingency plans to deal with weather delays. Many sailors get themselves into trouble when they are pressed by time constraints to leave port when they really shouldn't.

Good forecast, well prepared boat, you should have a good time.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 12:42:09

I've cruised the Bahamas extensively in my power boat. I think the C25 would be a very good vessel to take over there, mind your weather carefully and pick the Gulf Stream crossing window with great care. The usual advice for low powered sailboats is to wait for gentle south winds and calm seas and either sail from Lake Worth to the Abacos or head down to Key Largo and sail to Bimini.

We sailed to Bimini from Miami and had an easy crossing after waitin g about 2 weeks for our window. We met some people sailing a boat much smaller than a C25 - it was a swing keel and about 20 feet. They could get into the best anchorages.

Check out our photos and log here

http://www.indiscipline.org/cruise2001/cruise2001.html

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 12:51:36

By the way, I've ocean sailed my C25 fin keel literally thousands of miles. Its well prepared and very well equipped. The boat is so simple there is not much to go wrong. At worst you face uncomfort. Make sure you have plenty of anchors and lots of chain and rode. Don't go to the Bahamas without a good depth finder or fish finder is better. Lots of skinny water. Check your rigging and carry spares and tools. A bosun's chair is a great thing to have on board, or be able to drop the mast at anchor. Beer, water, and fresh meat is very hard to come by over there. Rum is often cheaper than water.

With good planning I would not hesitate to take my boat back down the Exuma chain and even to the Out islands.

Must haves:

autopilot
GPS
fish finder
Fixed VHF
handheld VHF
portable Marine SSB receiver (NWS offshore weather forecasts)
boom tent
extra water
110 jib + main with 2 reefs (lots of wind over there)
cruising guides and charts
solar panels (at least 35 watts)
3 anchors + chain and rode (one oversize, at least 25 lbs).
dinghy or kayak

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 13:08:33

An old friend of mine, now in his mid-eighties, sailed his C25 to the Bahamas seven times.

Edited by - on

John P
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 12/23/2005 : 15:17:03

Leon, I would love to get a copy that article...

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.