Marching South
- Thread starter Witzend
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witz, I guess the question could also be "What percentage of the boats you're seeing fit that definition?" Some may be folks who still have houses, right? Not all of 'em left the land. A friend is sailing his C36 back down from MA to his home in Punta Gorda and passed your way a few weeks ago.
I just realized Ive only been on this forum for four months. Before then I just always wanted a small sailboat on a lake and never once considered going anywhere. I keep reading about all these people cruising the coast heading toward Florida, the Bahamas or points south, and I'm getting a bit jealous.
Its fascinating to see my feelings have changed so fast.
Its fascinating to see my feelings have changed so fast.
Stats
About 50,000 non-commercial boats travel the AICW each year ...... suspect most are still tied to the land somewhere.
October is an interesting month on the Chesapeake. It’s getting too cold to stay north. The weather windows are getting shorter and less predictable. Many insurance companies have restrictions on going south of Norfolk before November. It’s also boat show week in Annapolis and Passage Maker usually has events around the show. Call it a perfect storm but the situation has created the largest sailboat show in the world. There are lots of boats pent up in the bay in October. It is also a glorious time of year to sail the bay.
There is a lot of boats going south and have wondered what the real number is, sail and power.
Speaking to many at the Seven Seas Cruiser Gam this last weekend, many I would say about 80% still have land based houses. Then there is that group that have been living on their boats for years.
We still have a house in Fredericksburg, Va and enjoy cruising for months at a time. We will be making our second trip to the Bahamas this October and meeting up with many people we have met before. I will be posting to our website blog at: http://www.ayesail.net/blog/Bahama2012/Blog/Blog.html
Hope everyone has a great snow filled winter
Speaking to many at the Seven Seas Cruiser Gam this last weekend, many I would say about 80% still have land based houses. Then there is that group that have been living on their boats for years.
We still have a house in Fredericksburg, Va and enjoy cruising for months at a time. We will be making our second trip to the Bahamas this October and meeting up with many people we have met before. I will be posting to our website blog at: http://www.ayesail.net/blog/Bahama2012/Blog/Blog.html
Hope everyone has a great snow filled winter
That is not counting the trailerables that cruise down I-95 at 60 knots. They can leave a lot latter and get there a lot earlier.
What I do not understand is the masses that motor down. I've stood out here by the ditch, and watched hundreds do this.
I'm leaving after the show to take one south FOR the owners, and I'll go outside, under full rag, set the A.P., and be there in a minute.
Release the chains of bondage from those sails people!
That IS the primary propulsion system after all..
I'm leaving after the show to take one south FOR the owners, and I'll go outside, under full rag, set the A.P., and be there in a minute.
Release the chains of bondage from those sails people!
That IS the primary propulsion system after all..
Didnt it freeze in the Bahamas back in 1981 or somewhere around there? What do you do aboard your boats for heat? Suffer through it with warm clothes? Any have gas heaters? Wood stove? Just lighting a gas burner on the stove could take some chill off as long as you have some fresh air ventilation.
I thought the engine was only to motor out to sailable waters, not cruise furled all day. It also appears most stay within the ICW. Are the open waters out there so rough you dont want to be out there?? Or is it the putting along hitting all the little bays and ports are the big draw?
I guess....that is kind of the attraction, sort of like a strip mall of marinas or other places to visit.
No, the outside is not that rough as a rule. You have to plan your weather of course, the wave period, as apposed to the height being the biggest thing in comfort.
Personally, I loath cruising the ditch. The autopilot is almost useless, the helm is always "dodging", weaving in and out, and as much as I hate to broach the subject again, the power boat.
Now let me clarify this briefly, this is by no means "all power boats". There are a lot, a LOT, of very seasoned, and professional skippers out there on some nice boats. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing a family out on their day boats, the kids in their PFD's, enjoying the day. The older couples on their trawlers, that have done this for countless miles, some having "retired" from the rigors of the sailing boat.
I'm referring to the morons. You know, 6 guys on the fish boat, hats turned around backwards, 47 rods on the stern ALL bowed back because they're running full steam through everybody. Compensation boats as it were.
Aaahh..
No, the outside is not that rough as a rule. You have to plan your weather of course, the wave period, as apposed to the height being the biggest thing in comfort.
Personally, I loath cruising the ditch. The autopilot is almost useless, the helm is always "dodging", weaving in and out, and as much as I hate to broach the subject again, the power boat.
Now let me clarify this briefly, this is by no means "all power boats". There are a lot, a LOT, of very seasoned, and professional skippers out there on some nice boats. Nothing warms my heart more than seeing a family out on their day boats, the kids in their PFD's, enjoying the day. The older couples on their trawlers, that have done this for countless miles, some having "retired" from the rigors of the sailing boat.
I'm referring to the morons. You know, 6 guys on the fish boat, hats turned around backwards, 47 rods on the stern ALL bowed back because they're running full steam through everybody. Compensation boats as it were.
Aaahh..
ICW
I did a 3 week trip in the ICW a few years ago from Punta Gorda up to Tarpon Spring almost all in the ICW anchoring out every night with many other PGSC sailboats and we had a great time and got to see and visit places we would never had see other wise,this past April we went south with 50% sailing from Punta Gorda around marathon up to Miami and back and also had a great time again for sure.
I also sailed my 07 H-36 from Montauk ,NY to Ft Pierce all off shore and not so much fun just water and weather and than Ft pierce around and up to Punta Gorda and anchoring out and all nighter on the west side.
My wife and I like having fun and stopping and visiting places and seeing different places not just all water and water off sure,a little of each mixed in is good.
Nick
I did a 3 week trip in the ICW a few years ago from Punta Gorda up to Tarpon Spring almost all in the ICW anchoring out every night with many other PGSC sailboats and we had a great time and got to see and visit places we would never had see other wise,this past April we went south with 50% sailing from Punta Gorda around marathon up to Miami and back and also had a great time again for sure.
I also sailed my 07 H-36 from Montauk ,NY to Ft Pierce all off shore and not so much fun just water and weather and than Ft pierce around and up to Punta Gorda and anchoring out and all nighter on the west side.
My wife and I like having fun and stopping and visiting places and seeing different places not just all water and water off sure,a little of each mixed in is good.
Nick
Yeah, I did not mean to disparage anybody, not one iota. You are right, the beach looks the same in Virginia, as it does in Florida. I can definitely see why the "insiders" do it, for sure there are a lot of cool things to see.
To ME though, it is the difference between driving a busy city street, and an Interstate in Arizona. I just like that wide open feeling. The AP on, the AIS, and radar looking out for my dumb a**, and just sit back and ride. Or walk the decks, check the trim, (and look out for others, before anybody gives me grief about that), and watch the miles go by. Everybodys different. If everybody was outside, then I would be more stressed about the traffic I guess. But myself, personally, after a day in the ditch, I'm worn to a frazzle.
Sort of a stimulation overload...
To ME though, it is the difference between driving a busy city street, and an Interstate in Arizona. I just like that wide open feeling. The AP on, the AIS, and radar looking out for my dumb a**, and just sit back and ride. Or walk the decks, check the trim, (and look out for others, before anybody gives me grief about that), and watch the miles go by. Everybodys different. If everybody was outside, then I would be more stressed about the traffic I guess. But myself, personally, after a day in the ditch, I'm worn to a frazzle.
Sort of a stimulation overload...
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