Waitlist
450 -
500 nautical miles
Coastal
Bahamas, US East Coast
This 450–500-mile expedition from Jacksonville to Nassau combines inshore navigation, coastal passagemaking, overnight watchkeeping and a Gulf Stream crossing, with the route becoming progressively more offshore as we work south.
The first leg takes us down the St. Johns River and along the coast to St. Augustine. From there, we’ll head offshore for a longer coastal passage, staying west of the Gulf Stream as we work south toward our crossing point.
How far south we go will depend on the weather. If a good window develops and our timing allows for a daylight arrival in The Bahamas, we’ll turn east and cross the Gulf Stream without stopping. If not, we may pause in Fort Pierce, Palm Beach or farther south and wait for better conditions.
Once across, we’ll clear into The Bahamas at the port that makes the most sense for our route—potentially West End, Great Harbour Cay or Morgan’s Bluff. Weather permitting, we’ll spend the next 2–3 days cruising through the islands before finishing in Nassau.
- Day 1: Embark Jacksonville at noon; settle aboard, systems, safety and passage preparation
- Day 2: Jacksonville → St. Augustine, ~55–60 nm; early departure down the St. Johns River and south along the coast
- Days 3–5: St. Augustine → South Florida / The Bahamas; overnight coastal passagemaking and watch rotations, with routing dictated by the developing Gulf Stream window
- Days 5–7: Clear into The Bahamas and cruise toward Nassau, with time for island exploration as weather permits
- Day 8: Arrive Nassau
- Day 9: Disembark
Weather & Season
Late October into early November marks the beginning of the southbound cruising season, as snowbirds make their way down the Florida coast toward warmer waters. Summer heat and humidity are easing, while the first stronger cold fronts of the season begin pushing south.
Expect warm conditions overall, but a wide temperature range as we move south. Nights in North Florida can dip into the 60s°F, while The Bahamas typically sees daytime highs around 82–86°F and nights in the low-to-mid 70s°F. Water temperatures remain a very comfortable 80–83°F.
Weather will play a major role in our routing. We’ll work south along the Florida coast while watching for a favorable Gulf Stream window, avoiding a crossing when strong northerly winds oppose the current.
Hurricane season officially continues through November 30, so tropical weather also remains part of our planning. Our exact route, crossing point and time available to explore The Bahamas will depend on the conditions we encounter.
Travel Details
Meet Tahina in Jacksonville, Florida (JAX) and plan to be aboard for vessel familiarization on your first day. We will have had some meetings about weather and routing before your arrival and will have been monitoring the forecasts together for at least a week in advance to help us know when “go-time” will be. We’ll have a few options for getting south, and if needed, we’ll time our departure, or plan for a pause along the way, to pick the right window to cross the Gulf Stream.
Once you’ve disembarked in the Bahamas, plan to fly home from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau (NAS), which offers direct flights to the US, UK, Canada, Panama and Spain.
Price
Per person:
$7,000 USD
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Single occupancy
Per cabin:
$12,000 USD
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Double occupancy
Whole boat:
$21,800 USD
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Up to 4 people across 3 cabins