Grenada to Isla Mujeres

Created by doina. Last modified on 2008-04-30 10:17:21
Contributors:
Topic: Routing
Countries: Grenada, Mexico

Any advice on this route? Planning an early May, non-stop trip. No radar, want quickest trip, least amount of shipping lanes.

The best route is the direct route! Straight across the Caribbean Sea, passing south of Jamaica.

There is some useful information on routes and weather conditions in the Caribbean Sea in my book World Cruising Routes - the latest (6th) edition came out this month.

Jimmy Cornell, noonsite

Thank you for the honor of your reply. We are heading to Carriacou, Grenada on April 30th with a May 1st departure from Grenada back to Galveston. I have not been able to discuss "routing" advice with anyone who has actually done this trip. An examination of the oervall chart and the US Defense Mapping, May "Pilot" chart would show that the fastest route to Isla Mujeres, MX would be to stay in the fastest moving current, which would be to parallel the north coast of South America until about 78 degrees west longitude and then turn NW, leaving the Serranilla and Rosalind Banks to starboard, then NW to Isla.

This has got to be the fastest route. However, while it may the fastest, the boat does not have a radar unit. It looks like a route leaving the banks above to starboard as described would put us in parallel with most of the traffic from Panama going up through the Yucatan Straits. I was thinking that perhaps a route that is less parallel to shipping lanes, say rather crossing them instead, would be more comfortable, say heading NW toward Jamaica, around 73 degrees west longitude, and leaving the Pedro Bank to port, and Jamaica to starboard. I was thinking, while I have estimated the trip to Isla Mejeures (1522 NM), I don't think it unreasonable to average 150 miles per day, in fact I bet we have some 170 milers plus. That being said, I think it should easily be a 10-14 day trip.

If the weather looks favorable in the Gulf (there are forecasts for winds, no early depressions) when we hit the Yucatan Straits, provisions are holding out, we have at least half of our fuel, or a little more (total 100 gallons, about a 100 hour range), crew disposition is good, and we see that we might make Galveston by the 18th, then we might press on. These are way too many ifs to not plan a stop at ISLA, which we are, for a complete crew change.

We will have Chris Parker weather on board through the SSB.

If you can offer any advice, much appreciated. I think we are picking the best time of year. Do you know of any internet link that shows the historical record of all tropical activity formation in the Carribbean during the month of May? Do you know of an internet link that actually shows in nearly real time the locations of the maximum current speeds in the Caribbean? This speed is likely a direct function of water temperatures, which are probably reasonably available on the internet? I don't guess that there is much more detail about typical shipping lanes other than those shown on the "pilot" chart that I have?

How cool to get a reply directly from the guru himself! Over the last 19 years I have crossed the Gulf of Mexico a couple of dozen times, of about 7 days maximum. I am confident in saying that this Caribbean crossing is the longest passage I am likely to ever make, and appreciate any words of wisdom offered. Thanks again.

What you say makes a lot of sense. If I were you I would not worry too much about shipping but take advantage of the existing wind conditions. You are right not to get too close to those low islands and reefs without a radar, so maybe you ought to go closer to Jamaica, as you suggested.

I am absolutely sure you will have an enjoyable passage, so no need to worry!

All the best.

Jimmy