Suggested Locations To Winter On A Sailboat

Sailm8 · Oct 7, 2012

While dreams of the Caribbean are romantic, the practicality of language, medical care some safety issues, weather issues, finding repair parts etc make the southern US look pretty good.

monkeybars · Oct 7, 2012

Civilized Safe and Affordable, sounds like you may as well stay home, all three requirements will have huge variations from individual to individual.

Rick I · Oct 7, 2012

Bahamas

jibes138 · Oct 7, 2012

US Virgin Islands. Still in the US. Warm. Looks like paradise on Earth. Pretty good facilities for sailboats, nice anchorages. British Virgins right next door. Awesome snorkeling, diving, deserted beaches, palm trees. Can't imagine any place better.

UPSGUY · Oct 7, 2012

My dad just finished 15 years in St Croix. He had a wonderful life down there and only returned due to Alzheimer's. it's a little rugged but not the Wild West by any measure.
I can say without out a doubt my dad enjoyed a quality of life that he couldn't have had in NY.

whatfiero · Oct 7, 2012

winter on a sailboat

floridas too expensive georgia doesn't want us south carolina is nice all year long

Caboteur · Oct 7, 2012

Civilised, affordable and safe...

These are definitely subjective words... Unless you are a well insured American, because of the medical contingency, the expensive marinas, high crime levels and relatively cold weather I wouldn't winter in Florida!
The Bahamas are close by and in my experience are safer, cheaper (anchoring is not a sin) and warmer (both water and air temp).

My favorites are further away and you must get there. The Açores, southern Portugal, southern Spain, the Canary islands, Barbados, Martinique etc...

Pierre

zeehag · Oct 7, 2012

pacific mexico is a safe place for tourists and boaters with year round sailing and fun. it really gets hopping here in winter--is high season, and many tourists. summer is very wet, hot, and gorgeous.

Benny17441 · Oct 7, 2012

Consider wintering in the tropics as a learning process. Start with the comforting proximity of the Bahamas and with each passing winter work yourself down the Caribbean and on to Central America. Safety is not something bestowed upon you, there is a learning curve to it in getting to know the culture and the sorroundings. Living affordably is another acquired skill. A tourist in some of these places could not find a hamburger for under $10 but a local can eat good seafood for a fraction of that. You can find supplies, fuel, telephones and medical care in most places.

Stu Jackson · Oct 7, 2012

On your own bottom or flying somewhere to a boat for a while?

You have experience in the BVIs and St. Martin, right?

South is warmer.

There are sooooo many, many blogs about folks' trips down the ICW to the Bahamas and further it is mind-boggling. Pretty easy to find via Google or other search engines right here. I recall reading one just last month about a couple who traveled on their Caliber 35 LRC. It was long, but a fun read and well written.

Aha, here it is from a Google search on Caliber 35 lrc cruising: http://cblights.com/cruising/alisios.html

RichH · Oct 7, 2012

Bahamas.
..... only 700 islands to get lost on. Because of the current economic great recession, the Bahamas are comparatively empty of 'americans'; but, still with lots of Canadians.

S. Florida is really becoming overtly 'anti-boating' unless you have LOTS of obvious cash to spend. Anchoring 'anywhere' in Florida is quickly disappearing due to the new 'mooring/anchoring' laws. If you are considering Florida ... my recommendation would be to use it only as an infrequent 'stop over' on your way 'further' south.

Carrib is become quite expensive, and all you see anymore is 'hordes of tourists'.

zeehag · Oct 7, 2012

food in mexico is cheap and healthy and tourists are not targets. safe and comfy here.

despite journalistic freedom of speechless and their sensationalisms...

zeehag · Oct 7, 2012

west coast florida is also nice--apalachiacola, port st joe, ft myers beach, ueseppa island, pretty and good fishing an d good sailing....

ducati--the difference between those cities and mexico is that those cities you listed dont give a rat's behind about tourism, whereas mexico does. there have been no violences against tourists in mexico--they value this industry called international tourism.

sailaway78 · Oct 7, 2012

Not sure about safe these days.

I'm not sure about safe these days, but I lived aboard in far S.Texas a few years ago. I absolutely loved it. Cost of living is very low. Peaceful and quiet. Not much in the way of social activities, but absolutely abounds with wild life. I was living aboard full time, water and power provided, total was 80 bucks a month. And in a pretty nice marina.

runcj · Oct 8, 2012

My Favorite City on the List

Honestly, I do have a favorite city on this list. It's St. Louis, MO. I like the Mississippi waterfront, the arch, the old world's fair park that has the zoo (Forest Park?), the old train station, Washington University, the list goes on and on.

Ducati said:
Right...let's winter in really safe cities here in the US:

10. St. Louis, MO
9 Atlantic City, NJ
8 Wilmington, DE
7 Flint, MI
6 Detroit, MI
5 Camden, NJ
4 Saginaw, MI
3 West Memphis, AR
2 Chester, PA
1 East St. Louis, IL

What's your favorite town?

runcj · Oct 8, 2012

Since I live in Florida and most of my winter sailing is here, I think I do like it best here to winter over. But then again, I have an option of boat or house. I'm conveniently located by the Keys and the Bahamas are only 60 miles east of Miami. The biggest treat are that my grandkids are only a plane flight away (Chicago and Wisconsin) if I'm needed for one of their milestone celebrations.

RichH · Oct 8, 2012

Ducati said:
Right...let's winter in really safe cities here in the US:

10. St. Louis, MO
9 Atlantic City, NJ
8 Wilmington, DE
7 Flint, MI
6 Detroit, MI
5 Camden, NJ
4 Saginaw, MI
3 West Memphis, AR
2 Chester, PA
1 East St. Louis, IL

What's your favorite town?

I have two cities for shock value reasons: Camden Nj and Chester Penna. where police cars are impounded behind razor wire with armed guards and guard dogs when not patrolling .... or they get totally stripped and the parts/components show up in the salvage market a few days later.

For Chester Pa if you have a breakdown while driving on I-95, a state policeman will quickly show up and stay there as your personal 'armed guard' until a tow truck shows up ... and the tow truck will then quickly move you several miles outside of Chester to 'safety' and where you can then figure out your 'next step'.
So in effect Chester Pa is actually quite a safe city, because the State of Pennsylvania provides such wonderful 'personal body guards' for anyone foolish enough to 'visit' Chester.