This is my complete step by step guide on "How I Pick, Plan, & Sail 100nm Solo". I've been in Antigua for the past month, but now I need to sail Nortwest to Saint Martin. A distance of 100 nautical miles, and I'll be doing it all alone. Here is exactly how I do this entire process from start to finish.
1. Pick My Final Destination (Why it's the best one to stay at as my new home.)
2. Pick My Sailing Route (A to B to C to D. Antigua to Barbuda, easy trade-downwind to Saint Barts, to SXM)
3. Decide what a good weather window is (Wind, current, swell, jewlls in the atmosphere)
4. Identify drop off routes & alternative anchorages(in case of failures or emergency) (I never use marinas)
5. Wait for that weather window (sometimes you take a bad one rather than wait)
6. Scrap Everything, New plan (because something changed or there is a new weather window. Redo 1-5. In my case, there is a 15-20knots broad reach!!!)
7. Check out of current country (easy enough, but need to give yourself the right amount of time)
8. Float Plan with other Competent Sailor (Talk to someone who knows you, your sailing ability, your boat and it's ability. Someone who understands the ocean and sailing. So if something does go wrong, they know who to call or what to do.)
9. Final prep (stowing or strapping down everything encase of worst seas. Always plan for the worst in the ocean, meal prep, water, entertainment,...)
10. Set sail from Antigua (leaving the anchorage early early at dark because I know the area thankfully and have mentally prepared ahead of time.)
11. Sailing The Distance Alone (LOOOOOT to talk about here. Troubles along the way. Trimming the sails. Checking up on my navigation frequently. Making sure I'm on the best course. How I keep safe, fed, hydrated, entertained....)
12. Final Approach (Sailing into “French side” SXM in the dark and anchoring. Note that sailing into a place at dark is not normal if you don't know the area and can be very dangerous.)
13. Into the country (Waking up early the next morning, ducking the bridge, anchoring in the lagoon, get a French coffee & croissant, check into French side of SXM, back on boat and finally done!
Bonus: Final review of the whole process.....
(I am not a professional sailor, but this is what's worked for me over the years and thousands of nautical miles I've sailed. It is my hope this helps you in your current sailing or inspires you start your own journey.)
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Hello & welcome! I'm Daniel aka "Adventureman Dan." I've been living on the edge, from one adventure to another for the past nine years. Stating in Central California with my first GoPro, through SoCal, Baja, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Alaska and throughout the whole USA. But for the past five years on my sailboat "Adventureborne" I'm open to unlimited possibilities of where I can go, and what I can do!
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