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From: Jeffrey Siegel (no email)
Date: Fri Aug 06 2004 - 08:31:41 EDT
> So how to you meet up with people who are going to the
> Bahamas so that you have someone to cruise with? How would I
> know they know what they are doing? How do I know when the
> weather is right? My experience listening to the weather
> radio is that I don't always get what they predict.
>
A year ago, I was asking the same questions. I've now done it alone and
with a buddy boat. Here are some things that I've learned:
- Get the Skipper Bob book about the Bahamas. It is a nice general resource
about the Bahamas and talks about your exact concern.
- Don't expect to find a compatible buddy boat in Lake Worth. We didn't and
decided to go on our own.
- Be very prepared to go on your own, even if you plan on going with a
particular buddy boat.
- After extensive research, I decided that I wouldn't make a crossing
without an EPIRB and a real life raft. Different people fall on different
sides of this decision. Make sure you are considering both.
- NOAA weather prediction is pretty bad in general, but pretty good in a 24
hour window for the things that are important.
- I've come to love: http://buoyweather.com/ - especially their "Virtual
Buoys". The trending data has worked for me in planning passages. I used
their Florida virtual buoys for my Bahamas crossings and they were great.
The 7 day forecast gives you a lot of confidence as you're able to watch the
coming predictions.
- I had a good buddy boat experience. I think this was because I had known
the other couple for 3 years and cruised with them for a few weeks before
the crossing.
- Do not make a crossing with any type of time constraint. It leads to bad
judgment. It is better to wait and do some maintenance on the boat than to
rush and get into a bad situation.
- Make sure that your boat is properly maintained.
The bottom line...be completely prepared emotionally to cross on your own.
In a year, you'll wonder what you were even worried about...
================
Jeffrey Siegel
M/V aCappella
DeFever 53PH
W1ACA/WDB4350
Castine, Maine
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