[PUP] Panama to Key West, choices and advice needed

[Peter Pisciotta]

> So, I'm wondering if those of you
> that have traveled this route can share their
> experience 

The prevailing winds often sweep from NE/NNE which
makes it difficult to work north given the frequent
8-12 foot steep chop the wind builds up. To ease the
ride, it's best to bear-off to port a point or two but
you'll run out of ocean in a day or so. Bear-off to
starboard and you're not making much way toward your
destination, a psychological killer given you're
getting beat up at the same time.

This is a good time to put the good forecasters at
OMNI Marine to work to devise a passage strategy. A
delivery tactic if the winds are not easterly enough
is to do some easting early out of the canal until you
can lay a line to west Cuba, or perhaps Providencia, a
friendly midway Columbian island that's a popular
Venezualan vacation spot. Rest up a day or two and
head out and take Cuba to starboard.  

Peter
Willard 36