Advice Needed on the Gulf Stream
Here’s another opportunity for cruisers to help a fellow cruiser. Joe will thank you!
Larry,
I’m about to take my first offshore trip from WPB, Fl to Oriental, NC and could use some pointers on taking advantage of Gulf Stream currents.
I’m sailing a 31 ft Prout Quest catamaran with a 15hp yanmar diesel that gets 5.5 knots max speed if needed. The rhumb line takes us far offshore and I anticipate crew of 3 will be more than a days journey back inside should weather deteriorate so will be using a shore based WX service and Delorme explorer for communication.
Joe Volpe
Comments from Cruisers (2)
Amazing how the East coast curves back to the West, which, as you point out, will put you considerable distance off shore with the max being around Charleston, SC. If you follow the rhumb line, you will be pretty much in the Gulf Stream the whole time. Max current in the axis (middle) is around 1.5 knots. You will want to exit the Gulf Stream at Beaufort, NC and follow the ICW another 20 miles to reach Oriental. Gulf Stream is only 40 miles off shore when you get up to Beaufort.
What you don’t want to do under any circumstances is be in the Gulf Stream when the wind is out of the North East. Wind against current produces dangerous waves you don’t want to be in.
I would find out where the current western wall of the Gulf Stream is and ride just inside it. The rumb line will take you about 150 NM offshore around the Florida Georgia border and you might end up east of the stream. Getting inside for weather will not be an option for you there. The mileage along the western wall will be more than the rumb line but may indeed be faster. I have done both but unless I’m dead sure about the weather I ride just east of the western wall. If winds become northerly you can quickly exit the stream that way. When it’s good it’s great but when it’s bad it really sucks.