To even think of a cruise of harbor hopping from New Port Richey FL to Panama City with overnight anchorages along the way. My Chrysler 26 with the swing keel up has a draft of 2'6".
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Ed Allen
yeah pretty much-
But then again arent we all. I was reviewing the trip in my head and its a long one, but i know of several people in years past that have done the same thing in simular boats. The biggest problem is where to go in at night and where to find protected anchorage. Im thinking chrystal river or homosassa then inglis, but then the ports that offer protection get pretty slim dont they. and even if you go close in and anchor your wide open to a north west or west. I think i would do some real careful planning and make sure your ready for at least and overnight passage. I would want offshore equipment, storm sails ect. then watch the weather.
But then again arent we all. I was reviewing the trip in my head and its a long one, but i know of several people in years past that have done the same thing in simular boats. The biggest problem is where to go in at night and where to find protected anchorage. Im thinking chrystal river or homosassa then inglis, but then the ports that offer protection get pretty slim dont they. and even if you go close in and anchor your wide open to a north west or west. I think i would do some real careful planning and make sure your ready for at least and overnight passage. I would want offshore equipment, storm sails ect. then watch the weather.
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Larry Long
Maybe just wishing too hard
After Steinhatchee the next remotely practical stop is St. Marks or Shell Point. That is a little over 50 nautical miles. The biggest problem with the kind of trip you propose is that you spend so much time getting in and out of sheltered areas that you won't have any daylight left for making progress toward your destination. I, too, would like to make that trip as a series of daysails, but I just don't think it can be done. Listen to Ed's advice about preparation. Every story I have heard about the Big Bend area is bad. You would be amazed at how quickly the NOAA weather forecast can be absolutely wrong. Even your shallow draft boat could find the bottom in a few places that are 5 miles off shore. On a more positive note; Panama City is a great place to sail. I'm counting the days until I can get out of this #%@(&^ lake and get back to Panama City.
After Steinhatchee the next remotely practical stop is St. Marks or Shell Point. That is a little over 50 nautical miles. The biggest problem with the kind of trip you propose is that you spend so much time getting in and out of sheltered areas that you won't have any daylight left for making progress toward your destination. I, too, would like to make that trip as a series of daysails, but I just don't think it can be done. Listen to Ed's advice about preparation. Every story I have heard about the Big Bend area is bad. You would be amazed at how quickly the NOAA weather forecast can be absolutely wrong. Even your shallow draft boat could find the bottom in a few places that are 5 miles off shore. On a more positive note; Panama City is a great place to sail. I'm counting the days until I can get out of this #%@(&^ lake and get back to Panama City.
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Dan
know a guy that just made
made the trip going the other way in an old 68 Cal25. lots of people do it all the time from this area. lots of places to tuck into. as with all open water passages the key is WEATHER, WEATHER, WEATHER, and then of course you have to check the WEATHER!
made the trip going the other way in an old 68 Cal25. lots of people do it all the time from this area. lots of places to tuck into. as with all open water passages the key is WEATHER, WEATHER, WEATHER, and then of course you have to check the WEATHER!
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Bob Blais
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Dan
just ordered all the gear
from Catalina Direct today. with any luck we will be back sailing by New Years. I hope Christmas dont interfere with the shipping.
from Catalina Direct today. with any luck we will be back sailing by New Years. I hope Christmas dont interfere with the shipping.
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Jon
Around Fl. Big Bend
I made this trip, N to S, in Feb./March 1998 in my O'Day 240 (draft = 30in.). Itinerary & Marinas(w/ distance between) was: 1. Panama City, Panama City Marina 43n.mi 2. On ICW 4 m. E of White City (Anchor-out) 15n.mi 3. Apalachicola (Millers((Due to strong cross-current, Apala. Muni. Marina would have been better))) 26n.mi. 4. Carabelle (Moorings) 37n.mi. 5. Shell Point (Shell Pt. Marina) 37n.mi. 6. Keaton Beach (?? Marina) 49n.mi. 7. Suwannee (Millers Camp Ground & Marina) 56n.mi. 8. Crystal River (Pete's Pier) 66n.mi 9. Dunedin As warned by others on this forum, this is a dicey trip. Weather and shallow water are genuinely serious concerns. We were caught in an unforcasted 25kt. SW wind and 5ft. seas for most of the most critical leg -- Shell Pt. to Keaton Beach. As far as I know, a Keaton Beach port-of-call is the only option to avoid a major (for our small boats) open-water jump. I believe that the winding channel at Keaton Beach is charted at 3ft. Unfortunatly I'm unable to recall the name of the marina there. It would be a good idea to make contact with them to gain "local knowledge" of present channel conditions. Before me, a friend made this same trip a couple of years prior, in April, in a 20-ft sailboat, and had no weather problems. BE CAREFUL
I made this trip, N to S, in Feb./March 1998 in my O'Day 240 (draft = 30in.). Itinerary & Marinas(w/ distance between) was: 1. Panama City, Panama City Marina 43n.mi 2. On ICW 4 m. E of White City (Anchor-out) 15n.mi 3. Apalachicola (Millers((Due to strong cross-current, Apala. Muni. Marina would have been better))) 26n.mi. 4. Carabelle (Moorings) 37n.mi. 5. Shell Point (Shell Pt. Marina) 37n.mi. 6. Keaton Beach (?? Marina) 49n.mi. 7. Suwannee (Millers Camp Ground & Marina) 56n.mi. 8. Crystal River (Pete's Pier) 66n.mi 9. Dunedin As warned by others on this forum, this is a dicey trip. Weather and shallow water are genuinely serious concerns. We were caught in an unforcasted 25kt. SW wind and 5ft. seas for most of the most critical leg -- Shell Pt. to Keaton Beach. As far as I know, a Keaton Beach port-of-call is the only option to avoid a major (for our small boats) open-water jump. I believe that the winding channel at Keaton Beach is charted at 3ft. Unfortunatly I'm unable to recall the name of the marina there. It would be a good idea to make contact with them to gain "local knowledge" of present channel conditions. Before me, a friend made this same trip a couple of years prior, in April, in a 20-ft sailboat, and had no weather problems. BE CAREFUL
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