We posted a topic in "Ask All Sailors" and the topic was responded to primarily be sailors in California and the East Coast, but not in the Gulf and moved. These Sailors seemed to be more concerned about the blame game and the government. We were planning to cruise the Gulf as we have done annually since Katrina and now are in a holding pattern because of the oil. We keep our boat in Madisonville, LA on the river which feeds into Lake Ponchertrain. As long as the leak continues to flow into the gulf, we feel that it would be foolish and not safe to venture out into the gulf and risk the hazzards of exposing the boat to the oil and running the risk of not being able to return to the Lake. Are the Rigolles closed yet? As we understand it, the Intercoastal waterway remains open and the Mississippi River is open at this time, but this could change. Of course we are not planning on entering the gulf through the Ms river. What we would really like sailors to comment on is; what would need to take place before it will be safe to cruise the gulf and is cruising in the Ms Sound and Mobile Bay safe? It would seem to us that at a minimum the oil leak would need to be stopped. Will the oil eventually either disburse or wash onto shore? Would this be the time that it would be safe to be able to cruise gulf waters?
Gulf Sailing after the Oil Spill
- Thread starter JohnEh
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I don't think anyone can tell you what is going to happen and when. My somewhat cynical suggestion is to buy an RV. I'm keeping my boat in RI for the foreseeable future.
Wait See
Sorry to say but it may be a long wait to see what effects this oil spill will have on the Gulf waters and Keys and east coast.
I do most of my sailing in Charlotte Harbor but have been planning some long trips into the Gulf down to the keys but will be also waiting to see what happens,all we can do now is hope and pray good results.
Nick
Sorry to say but it may be a long wait to see what effects this oil spill will have on the Gulf waters and Keys and east coast.
I do most of my sailing in Charlotte Harbor but have been planning some long trips into the Gulf down to the keys but will be also waiting to see what happens,all we can do now is hope and pray good results.
Nick
John, so far, the sound and intercoastal and Rigolets are open. south of the barrier isles is IFFY.. To date no free oil has landed on the beaches of the Miss or Ala islands or around Pensacola. The problem is that if a strong south or southwest wind pipes up, that could change within 3 days. There is a slight chance of that wind happening for a day or more, but it is forecast to be light.. I have decided to not risk getting caught outside the lake if the booms go up. The booms are ready at the mouth of the Rigolets but haven't been deployed, and will not be unless oil comes very close. They are trying to keep the Intercoastal open as long as possible because of the commercial traffic obviously.. Dr. Masters blog on weather underground has a great outlook page that probably has as good of info as you're gonna find..
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/article.html
I am surprised that the Coast Guard sites don't have a list of closed places .. If a site exists, it is difficult to locate.. The Notices To Mariners do not cover this as of today ..
Good luck if ya go, but I have decided to cruise around the lake..
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/article.html
I am surprised that the Coast Guard sites don't have a list of closed places .. If a site exists, it is difficult to locate.. The Notices To Mariners do not cover this as of today ..
Good luck if ya go, but I have decided to cruise around the lake..
John, I think the reason you received the replies to your first question was primarily due to how it was asked. I recall it was something along the lines of: "What's going to happen? Can anybody predict the future?" Which is pretty much what this question is, too. Sorry, regardless of how near or far we may be to you, no one has an answer. Kloudie's reply is about the best you can get. It would appear to me that being a "local" your local news and weather would have a much better picture of what's happening "right in your own backyard" than anyone on this board who is not from your area can possibly give you. You're asking about what's gonna happen with the oil is like me asking what the weather is going to be next Wednesday. Just ain't gonna happen. We all wish you all well and hope the oil doesn't get onshore, that you get north winds for weeks on end, and that your sailing season is not materially affected. The other issues raised in your last post were because the oil spill is both local and national. We have oil rigs off our coast here, too, albeit only (so far) in Southern California. Somehow the "powers that be" think putting oil rigs off the coast of Northern California is a good thing -- guess they've never seen a winter storm out on the ocean. Yeah, I know, you get storms, too, and so do they in the North Sea. But the results of a spill...you know all too well.
All the best on your season,
Stu
All the best on your season,
Stu
Sorry that some people seem to be missing what my question is. I am not planning anything for this season because of the oil. I am not asking for anyone to predict the future. All I am asking is, if the source of the oil is stopped and then all of the clean up continues, would there be any way to predict when it would be safe to traverse the gulf safely in respect to this spill. How long did it take for boaters to navigate the waters where the Exxon Valdeze leaked? Are the waters still a place to be avoided?
Mobile Bay is Currently Safe
For the moment Mobile Bay is safe for cruising. There were some tar balls coming ashore on the Gulf side of Dauphin Island and Orange Beach last week, but the beaches were not closed. Some interesting photos of the juxtaposition of environmental suit-clad clean up crews and sunbathers on the beaches.
Coming from the west, there has been some booming in Mississippi Sound west of the Dauphin Island bridge, but the ICW remains open. At the mouth of Mobile Bay, the State of Alabama has done some preparatory work (sinking pilings) to create an oil boom "lock" to wash down boats coming in from the Gulf should that become necessary. The eastern entrance to the ICW is open.
Up the Bay there is some boom strung along some of the shoreline to protect beaches and wetlands, particularly from Point Clear up through Fairhope. The City of Fairhope public boat launch at Pier Avenue is closed to the public as it is being used as the staging area for BP's contractors to deploy boom in the area. Entryways to the Marriott Grand Hotel marina, the City of Fairhope city pier/marina, and Fly Creek/Fairhope Yacht Club are open and we're told they will remain so unless and until there is actually oil in the water threatening these areas.
From what the City of Fairhope is saying, should oil sheen actually make its way into Mobile Bay we can expect to see the mouth of the Bay closed with the "lock" system, and more booming including closing access to our local marinas and boat ramps to further protect creeks, bayous and wetlands. But for the moment it's clear sailing. The Bay's yacht clubs are scheduling regatta events for upcoming weekends, including Fairhope Yacht Club's Singlehanded Regatta this weekend, and the Mobile Bay Marathon and Point Endurance Sail for the weekend of June 5.
Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary'Lis"
Mobile Bay, Alabama
For the moment Mobile Bay is safe for cruising. There were some tar balls coming ashore on the Gulf side of Dauphin Island and Orange Beach last week, but the beaches were not closed. Some interesting photos of the juxtaposition of environmental suit-clad clean up crews and sunbathers on the beaches.
Coming from the west, there has been some booming in Mississippi Sound west of the Dauphin Island bridge, but the ICW remains open. At the mouth of Mobile Bay, the State of Alabama has done some preparatory work (sinking pilings) to create an oil boom "lock" to wash down boats coming in from the Gulf should that become necessary. The eastern entrance to the ICW is open.
Up the Bay there is some boom strung along some of the shoreline to protect beaches and wetlands, particularly from Point Clear up through Fairhope. The City of Fairhope public boat launch at Pier Avenue is closed to the public as it is being used as the staging area for BP's contractors to deploy boom in the area. Entryways to the Marriott Grand Hotel marina, the City of Fairhope city pier/marina, and Fly Creek/Fairhope Yacht Club are open and we're told they will remain so unless and until there is actually oil in the water threatening these areas.
From what the City of Fairhope is saying, should oil sheen actually make its way into Mobile Bay we can expect to see the mouth of the Bay closed with the "lock" system, and more booming including closing access to our local marinas and boat ramps to further protect creeks, bayous and wetlands. But for the moment it's clear sailing. The Bay's yacht clubs are scheduling regatta events for upcoming weekends, including Fairhope Yacht Club's Singlehanded Regatta this weekend, and the Mobile Bay Marathon and Point Endurance Sail for the weekend of June 5.
Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary'Lis"
Mobile Bay, Alabama
when i answered to your posting i was sailing in the gulf and we didnt know if we could make it back to slidell--we were told rigolets was boomed off and the entrance to icw at mobile bay was to be also--we were in wolf bay then went to lulus --at lulus we were told e could still traverse the mobile bay...sometimes folks donot cruise their own neighborhoods but sail in other areas of the world--is called cruising!!! can be done anywhere--i have been planning on bringing my kali boat to gulf--now i plan to turn right from the canal rather than left---something about an oil spill.......
btw--i think slidel lis still in louseyanny!!!! somewhere close to mandeville....of course if i didnt respond to the posting then this is alll moot....LOL...have a really good day---i spent a yr in the gulf area and i loved it--i am glad i saw it before the oil came ...gooodluck and i hope you get to do your cruise--there is a lot to be seen and much to do.....the gulf sunrises and sunsets are awesome ...the seafoods are wonderful and the dolphins swim with you when you are running from weather!!!
when we wee in wolf bay i searched for a site with the reports of where and what --couldnt find one--go to wunderground--a weather site--there are reports there about the extent and locations of the oil in the gulf....some also on seaknots in gulf coast cruisers group....goood luck...
btw--i think slidel lis still in louseyanny!!!! somewhere close to mandeville....of course if i didnt respond to the posting then this is alll moot....LOL...have a really good day---i spent a yr in the gulf area and i loved it--i am glad i saw it before the oil came ...gooodluck and i hope you get to do your cruise--there is a lot to be seen and much to do.....the gulf sunrises and sunsets are awesome ...the seafoods are wonderful and the dolphins swim with you when you are running from weather!!!
when we wee in wolf bay i searched for a site with the reports of where and what --couldnt find one--go to wunderground--a weather site--there are reports there about the extent and locations of the oil in the gulf....some also on seaknots in gulf coast cruisers group....goood luck...
Mike, we have been updating about 10,000 of our subscribers on the Gulf situation and your report is very comprehensive and from a local source. With your permission, I would like to pass your information on to our subscribers. Chuck
John,
If BP gets the oil stopped, it will probably take a few weeks to clean the mess. Much of the oil will disperse in the waves and the rest will have to be skimmed. I am sure that every spill response group in the south is working on this but their primary focus now is preventing the oil from reaching sensitive areas.
If BP gets the oil stopped, it will probably take a few weeks to clean the mess. Much of the oil will disperse in the waves and the rest will have to be skimmed. I am sure that every spill response group in the south is working on this but their primary focus now is preventing the oil from reaching sensitive areas.
SW Florida and the Oil Spill
Needless to say the Oil Spill is the top of the news here daily. Nearly all predictons are that we will NOT be hit by run ashore waves of oil. I just returned from Charlotte Harbor to Naples and the waters are clean and bright. It appears to the experts here that the "loop Current" will eventually take the oil down South of the Keys then through the Florida straights and on up the S E Coast of Florida with the gulf stream. There is some talk that the keys might get some oil and that would wreck havoc on the reef but at this time , here in Naples the predictions are it will NOT run ashore here and mosrt likely will not run ashore in the Keys. However, last week they predicted a rain free week and we had rain nearly every other day on our trip. (so obviously, no one can predict with any certianty) I would think if you were to sail along the northern gulf coast along Fl then down the Western Gulf you would be fine.
Needless to say the Oil Spill is the top of the news here daily. Nearly all predictons are that we will NOT be hit by run ashore waves of oil. I just returned from Charlotte Harbor to Naples and the waters are clean and bright. It appears to the experts here that the "loop Current" will eventually take the oil down South of the Keys then through the Florida straights and on up the S E Coast of Florida with the gulf stream. There is some talk that the keys might get some oil and that would wreck havoc on the reef but at this time , here in Naples the predictions are it will NOT run ashore here and mosrt likely will not run ashore in the Keys. However, last week they predicted a rain free week and we had rain nearly every other day on our trip. (so obviously, no one can predict with any certianty) I would think if you were to sail along the northern gulf coast along Fl then down the Western Gulf you would be fine.
Chuck - Sure. Where will you be posting the information?
Mike Turner
Lazyjack 32 schooner "Mary'Lis"
Mobile Bay, AL
Mike, We will post it on our Waterway Guide website and send a copy out to our email alert subscribers. Many thanks. Chuck
just thinking about that crud going into the cooling system gives me the chills.dont want it on my hull either. keep an ear out for complaints from boats working in the cleanup effort. i'm sure they will encounter problems with the goo when they do maintenance on their engines. anything water cooled... could you carry enough rags/bags to wipe down the oars? what a mess! jimbob
The best coverage I have found is on WWL out of New Orleans. Lots of talk and interviews with key officials and locals on the water. Pics and info on the web site. Streaming audio also. Good stuff:
http://www.wwl.com/
I intend to leave out from Long Beach Harbor this weekend. Sail to N. side of Cat Island, spend the night, and sail to Biloxi Sunday and watch the speedboat races, "smokin' the sound". Had pulled the boat for some rehab, but decided to go one more time. Might be a while after that. A bit depressing, considering the countless days and nights I have spent out there in the last 3 years. Gotta put my feet on the sand there one more time! Mixed emotions. How do you mourn such a loss?
http://www.wwl.com/
I intend to leave out from Long Beach Harbor this weekend. Sail to N. side of Cat Island, spend the night, and sail to Biloxi Sunday and watch the speedboat races, "smokin' the sound". Had pulled the boat for some rehab, but decided to go one more time. Might be a while after that. A bit depressing, considering the countless days and nights I have spent out there in the last 3 years. Gotta put my feet on the sand there one more time! Mixed emotions. How do you mourn such a loss?
http://www.keysnet.com/2010/05/19/220892/scientist-bp-oil-wouldnt-severely.html
Interesting article.
My suggestion would be to come down the GIWW, and west coast of Fla. I am in St. Petersburg, sailing here is simply delightful. According the the 'experts', we are not scheduled to be really affected by this whole mess, due to the way the loop works.
www.nola.com also has some good coverage.
Anne
Interesting article.
My suggestion would be to come down the GIWW, and west coast of Fla. I am in St. Petersburg, sailing here is simply delightful. According the the 'experts', we are not scheduled to be really affected by this whole mess, due to the way the loop works.
www.nola.com also has some good coverage.
Anne
What are the latest sailing conditions on the Coast?
I'm out of town and see on the news that tarballs and patties are washing up in MS. Beaches are closed too.
Have slicks also entered the MS Sound to make sailing impossible? Curious what I will be coming home to.
Thanks.
I'm out of town and see on the news that tarballs and patties are washing up in MS. Beaches are closed too.
Have slicks also entered the MS Sound to make sailing impossible? Curious what I will be coming home to.
Thanks.
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