I think Ike started out closer to the Cape Verde Island then the other storms we've seen so far this year. From what I've seen these storms that form over there have a history of becoming freaking monsters. Ike started roughly 1K miles west of the Verde's , Josephine started even closer to them. Right now the 5 day track shows Josephine remaining a TS and not a hurricane for the next 5 days.
I'm not sure what all goes into the forecasts on these systems, but I wouldn't be surprised if she becomes a major storm once she enter the warm water currently being occupied by Ike.
The minute Gustva begin to hook north folks here in the Yucatan began talking about Hanna and then the TS that became Ike.