Crossing Back Over

Now comes the watching of the weather window....those days where the wind and waves are favorable to cross the Gulf Stream.....generally south winds and less that 2 foot waves...and a day or two of calm to let the previous waves and swells die down.

We will stage in the northern Bahamas around West End, maybe Mangrove or Great Sale Cay tomorrow night....that's a day's run of 60 miles to Great Sale, and another 28 miles to Mangrove. And then no more iternet!...but weather should be good as low winds are predicted the next few days...we target Tuesday and still wonder whether to make a short crossing to Lake Worth, or push north to Fort Pierce. We have been warned off Port St Lucie due to shoaling dangers.

So? Options?

Go from....

Mangrove to Lake Worth...~88 miles via WE or Memory Rocks .

West End to Lake Worth ~63 Miles

West End to Ft Pierce ~95 Miles

Great Sale to FP just seems too long at 131 miles!

The Gulf Stream averages 3 to 4 knots so that gives us a northern bump and saves about an hour's time if going north. It's about 25 miles wide! A pretty graphic:

http://www.passageweather.com/index.htmhttp%3A//www.passageweather.com/maps/florida/mappage2.htm

NOAA Forecast:

 SUNDAY  EAST SOUTHEAST WINDS 7 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET.  DOMINANT PERIOD 10 SECONDS. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.   SUNDAY NIGHT  SOUTHEAST WINDS 7 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTH. SEAS  2 TO 3 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.   MONDAY  SOUTH SOUTHWEST WINDS 7 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET.  INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.   MONDAY NIGHT  SOUTHEAST WINDS 6 TO 9 KNOTS BECOMING EAST 5 TO  8 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.   TUESDAY  NORTHEAST WINDS 6 TO 9 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET. INTRACOASTAL  WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.   TUESDAY NIGHT  EAST WINDS 8 TO 11 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET. INTRACOASTAL  WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.   WEDNESDAY  SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 8 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET. INTRACOASTAL  WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.