Hi Candace: Radio stations first–use both New Orleans and Boston from the Caribbean up, and start watching them two to three weeks ahead of time to get a feel for the weather patterns.

You will want to keep an eye on the 500mb charts from Boston right from the beginning–to keep an eye on the risk factors (re-read the risk factor stuff in Mariner’s Weather Handbook, and pay particular attention the 500mb stuff). The 500mb troughs occasionally “dig” south and pick up moisture/energy from the sub-tropics–which can then affect you south of Bermuda.

The trip to Bermuda from the Islands is easier and has less to be concerned about, but the weather can still be unpleasant. So, keep your eyes open, and then push really hard to get the passage to Bermuda over as quickly as possible.

Bermuda to the East Coast is a question of how the season is shaping up. Don’t be in a rush. Wait for the right conditions. This could mean hanging out in Bermuda for two or three weeks, if there is a cut off low messing things up–as it did last May. The fronts will be coming through in a pattern. Try to avoid frontal stuff in the Gulf Stream. It is often better to heave to on the Bermuda side and wait for a front to pass over the GS, then meet it mid-way.

You might want to try using a routing service like Commander’s on both legs. And if you have MaxSea Routing on board start running practice routings now, to get a feel for what they are showing with the current “grib” files.

And don’t worry about worrying–it is a healthy response to the sea and weather, and will keep you out of trouble (I still worry about weather!). Steve