Caribbean
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| Caribbean
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An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around the islands in the Caribbean. The whole Caribbean region is one of the most popular cruising and sailing regions in the world.
The Caribbean (Dutch: Cariben or Caraïben; French: Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Spanish: Caribe) is a region of the Americas consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which enclose the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the United States, east of Central America, and to the north of South America.
Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. Also called the West Indies, since Christopher Columbus landed here in 1492 believing he was in India, the region consists of the Antilles, divided into the larger Greater Antilles which bound the sea on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the south and east (including the Leeward Antilles), and the Bahamas. Geopolitically, the West Indies are usually reckoned as a subregion of North America and are organised into 27 territories including sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. At one time, there was a short-lived country called the Federation of the West Indies composed of ten English-speaking Caribbean territories.
The Caribbean islands are an island chain 4,020 kilometres (2,500 mi) long and no more than 257 kilometres (160 mi) wide at any given point. They enclose the Caribbean Sea.
The region takes its name from that of the Carib, an ethnic group present in the Lesser Antilles and parts of adjacent South America at the time of European contact. In the English-speaking Caribbean, someone from the Caribbean is usually referred to as a "West Indian," although the phrase "Caribbean person" is sometimes used.
Charts
See each individual island.
Weather
The climate of the region is tropical but rainfall varies with elevation, size and water currents (cool upwellings keep the ABC islands arid). Warm, moist tradewinds blow consistently from the east creating rainforest/semidesert divisions on mountainous islands. Occasional northwesterlies affect the northern islands in the winter. Winters are warm, but drier.
The waters of the Caribbean Sea host large, migratory schools of fish, turtles, and coral reef formations. The Puerto Rico trench, located on the fringe of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea just to the north of the island of Puerto Rico, is the deepest point in all of the Atlantic Ocean.
Hurricanes, which at times batter the region, usually strike northwards of Grenada, and to the west of Barbados. The principal hurricane belt arcs to northwest of the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean.
Sources for weather information
Currents & Tides
See each individual island.
Passages
- Passage - US to The Abacos
- Trans-Atlantic, Europe to Caribbean Passage
- Trans-Atlantic, Caribbean to Europe Passage
Also see Gulf Stream Crossing.
Health & Security
Submit any health warnings/information and any security details here. If this section does not apply remove it.
Countries, Ports, Anchorages, and Islands
– island || 
– harbour || 
– marina || 
– anchorage || 
– needs data |||
Bahamas |
– island | British Virgin Islands (BVI) |
– island | Cayman Isles |
– island | |
San Andres (Colombia) |
– needs data | Spanish Virgin Islands |
– island | Utilla |
– needs data | US Virgin Islands |
– island | |
References
- Jimmy Cornell, World Cruising Handbook: Covering All the Maritime Nations of the World, Adlard Coles Nautical; 3rd edition (July 31, 2001), ISBN 978-0713658279
- Ashley Scott and Nancy Scott, Cruising Guide to Caribbean Marinas and Services, Cruising Guide Pubns (February 15, 2003), ISBN I978-0944428603
- Chris Doyle, Cruising Guide to Trinidad and Tobago Plus Barbados and Guyana, Cruising Guide Pubns; 3 edition (January 5, 2007), ISBN 978-0944428771
- William T. Stone and Anne M. Hays, Cruising Guide to the Caribbean, Sheridan House; Rev Rep edition (August 21, 1998), ISBN 978-0924486579
Websites that List Available Guides & Books
- RCC Pilotage Foundation, Passage Planning Map based index to RCC Crusing Guide Books & Passage Planning Guides.
- Imray produce many Cruising Guides for Many areas of the world, [1]
- Conference of Yacht Cruising Clubs (UK), Sailing Directions published by CYCC members has many guides for the UK and a few that cover over areas of Europe.
- Ocean Cruising Club, Cruising Areas This website contains information for a large number of cruing areas including brief information about each area and a list of guide books as well as a Google map of the locations in the reports.
- Cruising Association, Publications Books and Cruising Guides.
- Adlard Coles Nautical Publisher, Cruising & Chartering Produce a number of Cruising Guides and Passage Planning Books as well as many other nautical books.
- Bookharbour.com (Kelvin Hughes Limited) On Line Book Shop Has many Pilot books covering many areas of the world.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
- Regional Discussion Forum Board on CruiserLog
- Caribbean Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum
- Leeward Islands Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum
- Windward Islands Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum
Links
- Caribbean at the Wikipedia
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
| This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
 Contributors to this page |
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Names: Lighthouse, Mezzaluna, TaoJones, Rr7 |
