If my destination is far, my preference is to go far outside & keep going. I've done two 11 day passages, either to avoid certain countries or because of a weather timeline. I think it was 3 days from the San Blas Islands (Panama) to Cartagena. These were primarily under sail, so typical runs were 100-150 miles per 24 hrs. Once I'm there, wherever there is, I like to stay local for a few weeks or months & soak up the atmosphere. Lost the engine once with zero wind on a passage north to Florida & had a VERY slow ride on the Gulf Stream. Made pizza, put on Jimmy Buffett & read novels until we caught a nasty headwind & managed to tack into Key West for haulout.
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