It's sort of like the difference between vacation and work. Take it easy, wait for the weather, and have a good time, versus when you have to be there, and on time. About three years ago I wanted to get to the Bahamas in Feb. For nearly three weeks the wind came out of the North at 25-30-35 kts., seas in the Gulf Stream were up to 17 ft. in height. I didn't consider going. Had to arrange a hotel room for some guests, but luckily we got there with only hours to spare when weather moderated.
Twenty years ago, with small children on spring vacation and less time to wait I would go. Well, not in 17 ft seas, but in 4-5. Remember, thesse seas are measured without considering the height of the swell, so from my flying bridge I would be looking UP from the trough to the peak of these 5 ft waves. The bow wouldn't be going under, but huge amounts of solid spray are breaking over the bridge, I'm soaked and everyone is throwing up below. Water leaks in all over the boat, and smashing through the seas is hard on the structure. Our bell on afterdeck would ring by itself with each sea. Ding, Ding, Ding. One friend said it "was like riding a bucking bronco while having a fire hose squirted in your face." If something breaks you immediately have a problem. Remember Mr. Murphy? I almost never do this any more.
The problem here is that cold fronts from Canada bring winds from the North opposing the Gulf Stream flowing from South to North. Wind and current collide, with bad results for small boats. Wait until April and no more cold fronts. Still may have to lay over a day or so here or there, but can usually make jumps of one day between fuel stops. I have to admit that I have not been to the Virgin Is. yet, although someday I hope to. (I have been to Halifax, Nova Scotia and back.) And I rarely charter because I'd rather be on my own boat, where that meter is always running. As a charter captain, however, you will have guests coming in all the time. If the weather isn't perfect you will have to figure out what to do. Usually with my guests I can find someplace to go where there is some shelter. Since they are not paying me they can't complain too much about where I take them. If we are planning on cruising I might arrange to meet them in Marsh Harbor, Abaco or Nassau. These both provide accessible airports and shallow sheltered waters that give me a couple directions I can go depending on which way the winds blow. I try to avoid being bottled up in a harbor from which I cannot escape. Sometimes it just happens. Then you better be a good cook.
Once in a while I do get guests who may feel I am being a bit too cautious in staying at the dock. Unless it's simply nutso out, I have had great success in saying that "Well, it wouldn't hurt to just go out and take a look." Four out of the five times this has happened we returned shortly, and my guests were very respectful of my judgement and REALLY PLEASED to be back, although it wasn't all that bad out. One time they were right and we had a nice trip, but that was 30 years ago. Experience counts!
. Or...are the conditions in that part of the Atlantic just a whole lot different than they are through the Bahamas and on down island? Has anyone ever made the Miami - St. Thomas run? I know it's a very long way. I'm thinking my cat is going to want to fly to St. Thomas and meet me there. (Well, I don't really think he wants to get on an airplane either, but he's not getting a whole lot of choices.)
