[melvster]

Want to cruise south for the Winter? Do it with other like-minded sailors by joining the North American Rally to the Caribbean (NARC), which brings together boats on their annual pilgrimage south to the Caribbean from the U.S. East Coast and organizes socials, discounts ashore and shared weather routing. The NARC’s 21st edition comes after a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is free for participants to join. Departure is scheduled for October 30 (or the best weather window near that date) from the longstanding participating port of Newport, R.I. For a third year, boats from the Chesapeake Bay area are invited to join the NARC at its first port visit in Bermuda (estimated time of arrival November 5-6) and enjoy a weekend of socials and camaraderie before departing again for St. Maarten.

[sbrendanwalkerz]

The NARC rally is free with no per-boat fee to sign up. There is a $100 per-person fee for the socials, which include a dinner at Benjamin’s Restaurant in Newport; a Sunday dinner at the St. George’s Dinghy and Sports Club in Bermuda; and a wrap party at the Fat Turtle at IGY Marina in St. Maarten. Shared weather routing comes from WRI in upstate New York and discounts on dockage apply in Newport and St. Maarten.

[heroinrehab41]

New this year for St. Maarten, the NARC Rally will offer participants a schedule of select offerings, including an informal reception for early arrivals who need to rush off. For others , a second set of extra special days are scheduled from November 19 through 25, kicking off with the “Start of the Caribbean Sailing Season Party”at the IGY Isle Del Sol Marina on Saturday, November 20 and ending with a Thanksgiving gathering on November 25. They will be managed by the local professional promotions team of Sas van der Wouden and Max van den Pol, who will help greet the boats upon arrival and introduce participants to St. Maarten.

[kavinaustin65]

Many sailors think the best way to reach the Caribbean from the northeast U.S. is to head for Bermuda, spend a few days there, and then take an easy ride down to the islands. In my experience this is neither the quickest or safest route for boats under 55 feet. Many American insurance companies, and almost all Lloyds underwriters, now have hurricane season ending on 1 December. If that’s what your policy says, you should head south along the coast and wait in the lower Chesapeake until December. If your air draft allows you to get under the 64-foot bridge south of Norfolk, Virginia, think about continuing south via the ICW to Morehead City, North Carolina, and heading offshore from there. more

[abstraction]

Weather along the northeast coast gets progressively unstable as the year winds down and a mid-November forecast might be good for just 24 hours. Since you are in a gale area all the way to Bermuda, if you head south from around Newport, Rhode Island, your passage time on a 40-footer will be around four days. That means the chances of getting hit by at least one gale are very high. An approaching cold front with northwesterly winds of 20 knots or more will usually veer to the north and then into the northeast. In these conditions a boat caught in the middle of the Stream will experience very rough conditions even with 20 knot winds. Higher winds will create gear-damaging conditions and repairing things in Bermuda can be time consuming and expensive. That’s another reason you should head for the Chesapeake. The trip will train the skipper, crew and boat and if there are problems they can be corrected before you leave the states. [links]

[mycroftholmes]

[concetxos01]

[svs]

The boat is a well looked after double-ender with cutter rig, storm sails, self-steering, etc. My experience with the weather systems in the North Atlantic is minimal, so any advice you have to offer is greatly appreciated.

[PureIt]

Question: I just brought my 34-foot sailboat down the Saint Lawrence to Nova Scotia, and I’m considering making the passage to Bermuda in November and then continuing further south for the winter. I’ve been hearing all kinds of differing opinions about the safety of heading out from Halifax in November, and I thought you could offer an experienced perspective.

[zipslack]

We don’t recommend it to crews that don’t have prior ocean crossing experience, either on their own boat or with others. Coastal cruising simply does not adequately prepare you for a November trip to Bermuda. If this would be your first ocean crossing I recommend that you wave it off and cut your teeth on something like a June trip to and from Bermuda—generally a much easier voyage than one in November. Or you could go down the waterway and then get valuable offshore experience along the ‘Thorny Path’ heading east down the island chain from Florida. If you feel good about how that works out, you could then return north via Bermuda in the spring. here

[brocktice]

Answer: This is a hard question to answer without knowing more about your boat, your own offshore experience and the strength and experience of your crew, if any. What I can say is that an autumn trip to Bermuda can be tough. The window is small (and sometimes nonexistent) between the end of the hurricane season and when the winter storms really get going. Add the Gulf Stream to that mix, with its potential to generate mountainous breaking seas and violent squalls, and you have a passage that should not be taken lightly.

[lisabeern]

Along with the weather in Bermuda, sailing conditions en route from the U.S. Eastern Seaboard to the island are unpredictable. There's a real possibility of rain and rough seas, but also a decent chance for sunny days and smooth sailing all the way. Cruise ships take an average of two days to reach Bermuda from east coast ports, so consider whether the real possibility of two days (each way) of choppy waters, grey skies and rain might ruin your entire cruise experience. If so, think twice about sailing to Bermuda in October. Again, cruise ships absolutely will not sail through dangerous waters. Independent sailors must be responsible for avoiding such conditions using their own expertise. here

[otalesak]

Be prepared for the possibility of a cruise redirection to Canada/New England, where the weather is likely to be much cooler than in Bermuda in October. Pack a few items of clothing appropriate for colder weather, or prepare to purchase some. [links]

[ShadowOfHarbringer]

The real chance of hurricanes in Bermuda in October makes a travel insurance policy a must. Thoroughly research the policies of your cruise line in the event of a hurricane, and purchase a policy that covers all other cancellations, delays and inconveniences. Buy a policy as early as you can – if a storm is already forecast when you purchase insurance, it won't cover storm-related expenses. [links]

[tech9iner]

While hurricanes do pose a genuine threat to the island – an average of one major tropical storm or hurricane passes within 180 miles of Bermuda every year – it's still highly unlikely that one will hit during any given October vacation. The Bermuda Weather Service calculates that the island has experienced devastating storms or hurricanes on average every six to seven years from 1609 to the present day. This is less often than hurricanes hit the Caribbean. more

[nofuture]

In October, Bermuda's weather transitions from the hottest to coolest time of year. The temperature in Bermuda in October averages 80.9 degrees F, with 73 percent relative humidity and rain on an average of 13 days. October is Bermuda's rainiest month, averaging 7.22 inches of rain. If brief showers don't bother you and no major storms are predicted, October might be considered the best time to visit Bermuda, as temperatures and humidity are more moderate than during the June-to-August peak season.