SPECIAL REPORT
The hurricane season runs from 1 June-30 November, usually peaking in in late August to September
Grenada ‘Cruisers Net’ is on Ch66i at 0730 Mon-Sat
Every year around June there is a mass exodus of yachts from the Caribbean and Bahamas ahead of the impending hurricane season. The hurricane zone extends from Cape Hatteras or the Florida/Georgia border to Grenada, so cruisers who intend to spend the following season in this cruising ground have to make a choice: continue to cruise in the Caribbean during the hurricane season or leave the hurricane zone by going south to Grenada or north to the east coast of the USA. Unsurprisingly, most choose to leave.
Deciding where you want to go depends on how you wish to spend hurricane season as well as where you want to sail in winter. While many cruisers continue to cruise during hurricane season, others store the boat and visit family, travel, or live on land for a while.
Many strike a balance between the two options by choosing a ‘home’ marina from which they can work, send their children to school or summer camp, or simply live within a marina community. While both options are possible for cruisers sailing north to the US or south to Grenada, the experiences of each will be very different.
US EAST COAST
There’s no shortage of boatyards and skilled labour on the US east coast due to the popularity of sailing in the region, writes Terysa Vanderloo.
This is a good time and place to get boat projects done thanks
