US-Bermuda Passage
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U.S.A to Bermuda Passage
Departure Points
- Anywhere from the U.S. east coast presents a viable departure point. Each departure point presents its own plusses and minuses. Oddly enough, Bermuda represents a trip of 650 to 750 miles, almost reqardless of your departure point.
Arrival Port/s
- You must check in at St. George's Harbour.
Route (and/or possible stops)
- There are no places to stop en route. Either make it to Bermuda or turn back.
- Routing largely will depend on weather and gulfstream analysis, which changes regularly so there is no one established "route." Many employ routers at a cost of a few hundred dollars. Much of the same information is available publicly, but you need to know how to interpret it.
Charts
List the charts required for this passage.
- NOAA Chart No. 5161 (Newport to Bermuda, including rhumb line)
- DMA Chart No. 26341 (Bermuda Islands)
- DMA Chart No. 26342 (The Narrows to Grassy Bay)
- DMA Chart NO. 26343 (St. George's Harbour)
- DMA Chart No. 26344 (Great Sound Plan: North & South Basins)
- DMA Chart No. 26345 (Hamilton Harbour)
- Anchoring Charts Anchoring chart rendering (courtesy of Bermuda Yacht Services)
Climate & Weather Information
Expected climatic & weather conditions?
You can expect to have everything from calms, to gentle pleasant winds, to sporty conditions, to outright tempests. It's a 4 to 6 day trip for most boats, so look for a weather window. The prevailing wind in June is southwest, but that's hardly as reliable as the trades. The key is to get across the Gulfstream in fair weather, which generally happens for most boats by the third day out, depending on your departure point. That means you don't want winds contrary to the Gulfstream's flow. For the most part it means you don't want a wind with a northerly component. That said, in the northeast there often is a meander traveling more to the east or southeast, and if you are in that portion of the "Stream" you wouldn't want an easterly or southeasterly to deal with. If the wind opposes the current the weather gets very nasty very quickly, with large square waves. You also should expect more weather while you are in the Gulfstream, as the warm water combines with cooler air to cause heavier winds and squalls.
Sources of weather information for the passage:
- Gulfstream Routing Jenifer & Dane Clark for weather and Gulfstream routing; paid service.
- Passage Weather Gulf Stream
- Commander's Weather Paid weather and Gulfstream routing service.
- Bermuda Weather Service
- Schedule from NOAA Schedule of HF forecasts from NOAA.
Weather Windows
(Best time/s for this passage)
May and June generally are considered to be the most benign times to make the passage, with June being preferred. You certainly can get a good weather window in July and August, but because that's the heart of hurricane season you have higher risk and getting insurance may be more difficult.
Radio Nets
Also see Cruiser's Nets
List radio Nets covering this passage.
The Passage
Full description of the passage ...... ?
References
Books, guides, etc.
Forum Discussion Topics
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
- Bermuda Yacht Services - Marina and full service boat yard in St. George's Harbour
- Bermuda Cruising Rally - Cruising rally to Bermuda
- Cruising rallies - Has and may again do one to Bermuda
- Yacht club - In St. George's Harbour
- Marion - Bermuda - Bi-annual race
- Bermuda Race - Bi-annual race
- Bermuda Ocean Race - Bi-annual race
- Yacht Club - Yacht club in Hamilton
- Harbour Charts - Harbor chart renderings
- Bermuda Information - Bermuda tourism informational document (pdf)
- Pre-arrival Questionaire - (pdf)
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
