2025-2026 Cruising aboard Sakura

This is very much a "living document" which will be updated as plans begin to take shape.

Sakura is currently (September 2025) on the hard in Curacao, and will be ready to sail at the close of the 2025 hurricane season, (June 1 to November 30.)    

Planning a sailing  route involves exploiting the prevailing winds, which, at Caribbean latitudes, are known as the trade winds, and generally blow easterly at15-25kts.  (see below)

The intention is to explore the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, and to join the legions who cruise and charter in the lesser Antilles ( the smaller islands, running north-south from British Virgin Islands to Trinidad) between December and May, with visits from friends and family.   These islands are popular winter tourist destinations for obvious reasons, but this area is a winter sailing playground specifically because the trade winds offer straightforward sailing between islands that are usually within sight and a day's sail of each other.         

At the moment though (Sept 2025), Sakura is several hundred miles south and west of the Lesser Antilles.  This means that initially, Sakura must be delivered from Curacao, upwind, to make landfall  the north end of the island chain.   

The draft timeline as of Sept 2025 is as follows:

November  2025  

Fly to Curacao Oct 27 to complete  Refit of Sakura through November.

Early December 2025 

Curacao>Klein Curacao>PR>BVI

From Ronnie R, a Puerto Rican sailor who has done the route north from Curacao>PR  many times.  

Heading N, a weather window for me is a minimum 3@4 days of decent E (or SE, S) wind speed between 10 and 16 kts, maybe 17.

The 45nm trip from Curacao to Bonaire is a nice one day sail (no power) avoiding sailing close to the SE tip of Curacao as your friend recommended.

Besides the current, the waves are usually big and from all directions.

On my way to Bonaire, I usually stop overnight at Klein C, something I recommend if you haven’t been in that beautiful island.

[Ronnie then posits  that Bonaire is an expensive sailing destination, anchoring is prohibited, and little is gained by sailing there if the intention is to sail North.]

You will be able to sail straight to the BVIs only with SE winds, very improbable in November, but possible since it happened to me two yeas ago in my fastest ever crossing, a 42 hr incredible pleasant dream.

[Ronnie has a catamaran, so is average sailing speeds are higher]

But, that is not a big issue because once in PR, it is quite easy to get to the BVIs.

I will send you an article I helped the author, Don Street, to publish in some nautical newspapers.

Usually, the trips takes me around 50 hours.

I remember 4 or 5 that were 46hrs and the longest, 66 with light NE winds that took me to the Mona passage.

From there I motor sailed 11 hours to Salinas.

The Curacao to BVI trip comprises three legs - first is a 20NM shakedown to Klein Curacao, and from there north for 400NM, to Puerto Rico., then a day to windward to the BVI.   

Klein Curacao is a half-day hop from Curacao, and this leg is to test the boat and and confirm that all systems are working properly.  This will provide the opportunity for any revisions or fine tuning that might be required.    Am thinking to spend two nights at anchor and a day's circumnavigation of the island as a test sail, however much depends on the winds forecast.  

Passage NE from KC to PR (400 NM)

Depending on conditions, KC to PR this would be a 3.5-5 day passage.   

East from PR to BVI   (80 NM)

Mid-Dec 2025 to January 2026

Depending on availability and inclination, the Fam will join Sakura in the BVI, or I will join the Fam back home for the holidays.

Jan 2026 onward

BVI to Angulla or ?

Departing the BVI would likely involve the longest (but still short) passage in the Antilles, sailing to windward for around 90NM.      

And after that?

Meander south.  

To be continued.

https://shell-storm.org/repo/Sailing/Pilot-Charts/atlantique-nord/