A couple of comments: 1. I second the motion to not travel in a flotilla, and to not take the offshore "I-65" route for the reasons previously stated.
2. Save yourself some time and trouble by signing up with US Customs for the "Local Boater Option" before you leave. This will allow you to clear in and out of Puerto Rico and the US Virgins Islands by telephone (US cell phone service works just fine there). 3. Van Sant's weather advice is generally excellent but there are more modern tools available since his book that will make your life easier. Learn how to download GRIB files via Viewfax, or Airmail/Sailmail on SSB radio, and get some practice interpreting them before you leave. Most of Chris Parker's advice comes from interpreting the same data that you can download for free. You can listen to his broadcasts for free of course but you will really benefit by becoming your own weather expert. Get some practice using your SSB radio before you go and make sure that it is transmitting OK. 4. If you have sufficient crew and a good weather window, think about going directly from the Turks and Caicos to Boqueron, Puerto Rico. By staying just off the coast of the Dominican Republic you still have the option of bailing out to a port in the DR if the weather deteriorates or if you start to get tired. 5. Think about getting a "SPOT device" so your friends and family can keep track of you. Get some practice using it before you go. Have a safe trip ! Best regards, Wayne Beardsley (currently cruising the Caribbean aboard our Grand Banks 49 trawler, Long Legged Lady) http://shiptrak.org/?callsign=w2tli&filter=60 http://tinyurl.com/waynebspottrack _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
