We have tried the last two years to make the crossing from Florida to Bahamas. We finally did it! Leading up to the final days before we did it were many weather meetings with a group of Captains & Admirals on four boats: Canadian Stray Cat, Maine Summer Wind, New York YOLO, and Texconsin Bliss.
Trying to pick a good weather window is part science and part crap shoot. Here’s the Science portion:
1. The Gulf Stream: In between the Bahamas and the US lies the Gulf Stream. It travels north at about 3 knots. Meaning if you were a feather dropped upon the water in FL, by doing nothing, with no wind, and no change in weather, you would move north from where you started, not in a straight line across the sea.
2. Wind & weather: The winter FL Weather pattern is a clockwise movement of wind directions. The common rule is never cross when the wind direction has an ‘’n’’ in it. Meaning No! No! North wind! We don’t want the wind on our nose, we want to sail. Besides, north winds bring cold, and we all hate cold! The best weather window is 2-3 days of ‘nice’ wind direction & wave height 3. The Course: We know where we want to clear customs in the Bahamas = Bimini. To determine the course to Bimini we must decide where to start = Miami? Rodriguez Key near Key Largo? Or where we were moored, Marathon, Boot Key? The farther south we start from, the longer it takes to Bimini.
4. Time: Start time for the crossing is determined by the time you wish to arrive. It is always good to arrive in a harbor in daylight.

So our decision, the Crapshoot: Stay in Marathon until we see a two day good wind & weather window in about two days’ time. Leave Marathon going up the west side of the Keys and overnight at Jewfish Hole, wait two nights there as #2 above keeps improving. Come out the Channel 5 Bridge to the east side of the Keys, proceeding to Rodriquez Key meeting up with YOLO, 2/21. Anchor is up at 4AM 2/22, and arrive Bimini 3PM same day. Go to Bimini Big Game bar/restaurant with YOLO’s Steve & Molly and celebrate great weather, safe crossing and good friends. Pinch ourselves - we are in Bimini – easy peasy no big deal! :D