[PUP] Panama to Roatan, route question

[Peter Pisciotta]

> The Rains guide suggests a path that has you
> turning west about 200mi NNW of San Andres at 
> 15*48.5N and 82*23.5W. I can save at least 
> 6 hours by transiting the
> Nicaragua Bank 

When I came up from the Canal to Fort Lauderdale, FL
in February 2005 (Nordhavn 57), I encountered constant
20+ knot NNE winds. My original plan was to lay a line
to Isla Providencia (but not stop there unless
necessary), not far from Isla San Andres. However,
wihin a day, it was clear an expected wind shift
hadn't materialized and were right into the teeth of
the 8-10 foot short chop which was extremely
uncomfortable for sustained travel. I bore-off a
couple points to port to get a better angle on the
seas for a day or so since the winds were forecast to
shift eastward (incidentally, this info came from a wx
router - I had no wx data aboard). Unfortunately, the
winds never did shift and we ran out of seaway and
pounded up the Nicuraguan coast for a while, then did
some easting to gain a better angle to Cuba's western
tip.

Honestly, had it not been a delivery, I would have
gone to the San Blas or Bocas del Toros and hung out
for a while until the Caribbean calmed down (which
could take a while at that time of year). But if I
were to make the same trip under the same conditions,
I'd do some easting early to lay a better angle to the
prevailing weather. While this would be longer, I
think it would be faster.

Obviously, your destination is different, its a
different time of year, your forecast will be
different, and you have the luxury of time (something
delivery captains like John Rains don't always have). 
Despite all that, I'd be hesitant to override Rains'
advice.

Peter
Willard 36
San Francisco