Help plot a course from Miami to Bimini!?

Question

I am heading from Miami to Bimini tomorrow. Can someone give me the compass heading from the tip of Key Biscayne, and how do I figure out how many extra degrees you need to steer to compensate for current?? THANK YOU!!

Answer 1

If you cant work it out yourself you probably shouldn't be going

Answer 2

Man... that is about the simplest course to plot there is on the planet... if you don't have a chart, get one.  If you don't know how to read a compass, learn.  Meantime... What in the world do you think you are doing?

Furthermore, you try reaching Bimini on a direct line compass heading while crossing the Gulf Stream - your going to miss that lovely little island by about 500 miles.

The Gulf Steam is no easy task to deal with... If you are not familiar with it... then you best be able to plot, plot and re-plot your course while you are underway as the Gulf Stream will turn you every where but loose.

Besides that, 99.9 percent of all boaters that go to Bimini travel up toward Ft. Lauderdale first, and then across... I know why they do that... I have done that... and you should know why they do that.

     If you want to make a safe trip to Bimini you need to know how to get there.  I hope for your sake, your "boat" is better prepared then you are.

     I am sorry for this "crummy" answer, but if you can't do any of the above on your own, you better darn sure get yourself a GPS and a Chart... at least that way, you will know exactly where you are.

Answer 3

Okay, you've already got five really good answers here (yes, I clicked all y'all's uppy-thumby-thingies). What they are all trying to say is, NO. They can't give you a compass course to steer, and neither can anyone else. There are way too many variables, the biggest of these (as someone else pointed out) being that you're going to be sailing across the Gulf Stream. Compensation for extreme and rapidly changing currents is a bit more than can be explained in a paragraph here.

However, if you post your address here, I'll be happy to Mapquest directions to the nearest airport for you.

Answer 4

hey jivebug...chill a lil' please. The 3 responses given are all perfectly legit and you should know this since you've been posting here for a couple of years, right? And since you've been spending time on the water you should be able to figure this out from a chart book, correct?

If I had a chart here at the office I'd give ya' the heading. However, you don't give us enough info to figure out the extra degrees in steerage to compensate for current. No mention of the boat, how fast you plan on travelling and of course there's a small tropical storm to the east and north/northwest of where you're headed.

No need to call the responders a$$holes at all jivebug for you really did not give the info required. Sorry but it's the truth and in closing to ask the "day before" you're leaving is not being real competent at all.

Answer 5

you are not qualified to cruise the ocean. stay home or hire a captain to take you across. this crossing can be very dangerous if bad weather rises. have made the trip many times but have all navigation gear and life saving gear plus a seaworthy dinghy. automatic pilot is mandatory unless you have help steering. got your passport? so many things you need to know that i dont think you are capable.

Answer 6

Well first, GOOD LUCK.

Sounds like you have more boat than knowledge to use it.  That's okay because it keeps the USCG rescue boats busy.

Best advise if you are going is to get and use a GPS Chart Plotter to help you.  

Set and drift with current and wind is not that difficult to learn, but you first have to know how to use a chart to find a course line.  You also will need to be able to find the current in the area that you are crossing at any given time.  

Yeap - nothing to it.....

edit:

You are running a vessel in open water with out charts or the knowledge to use them and you are upset at the people telling you that - sounds like you may need more than a correct course to steer the vessel with!

Answer 7

Jivebig5, I think you should steer 310 degrees, as that will be the safest one for you. Don 't worry about the compensate.

I have read all of the answers preceeding mine, and your response to the first three. This is why I have answered this in this fashion.

If you decide to do this on your own, make certain that you take plenty of food and water with you. The boating is OK at Cape Hatteras this time of year, as you will probably see.

Regards,

Dan