Anyone sail from Chicagoland to Florida?

[STXCUTTTER]

:cussing:

 

[Sailor Sue]

Yup, it's possible...

...and can be quite a nice trip. In September of 2010 we took a Tartan 372 from Lake Erie south and eventually to the Bahamas. It took 3 months to get to the Florida Keys, then 3 months in the Bahamas, and then back to Lake Erie in July. Here is a link to our blog which might give you some idea of what to expect: http://tartan372.blogspot.com
The blog also has a link to a photo album of the trip.
You'll need to take the mast down for the Erie Canal, and put it back up on the Hudson River. Our Tartan draws 5 and a half feet which wasn't a major problem.

 

[Ross]

A look at maps and charts will show several possible routes. Chicago is a port served by ocean going vessels. You could take the Chicago river to the Mississippi river. Or you could sail the great lakes to the St Lawrence river on out to the Atlantic. Or you could turn right at the Richelieu River and lock through to the Hudson river.

 

[justsomeguy]

...and can be quite a nice trip. In September of 2010 we took a Tartan 372 from Lake Erie south and eventually to the Bahamas. It took 3 months to get to the Florida Keys, then 3 months in the Bahamas, and then back to Lake Erie in July. Here is a link to our blog which might give you some idea of what to expect: http://tartan372.blogspot.com
The blog also has a link to a photo album of the trip.
You'll need to take the mast down for the Erie Canal, and put it back up on the Hudson River. Our Tartan draws 5 and a half feet which wasn't a major problem.

It's in my bookmarks. Thanks for documenting your trip!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Here's another one:

http://www.clrmarine.com/210.html

 

[rtshinn]

That sounds like part of the 'Great Loop'.
Here's a site that is dedicated to the whole round trip:

http://captainjohn.org/GreatLoop.html

 

[Scott B]

Isn't the boat already in the VI?

 

[Bill1565]

We took a 41 footer from Chicago to Mobile in the '90s. Had to motor, masts both down for bridge clearance. It was about 1500 statute miles. We spent six months doing it, but If you motored dawn to dusk, you could e in Moble sooner

 

[STXCUTTTER]

Isn't the boat already in the VI?

I have my H37C on St. Croix. Thought I was being given a boat but as it turns out it was only a time share
But thanks for all the great input though.

Cheers
Oliver

 

[Ross]

Making such a trip is a great armchair wintertime recreation. You can down load most of the small scale charts and road maps give you the general lay of the land.

 

[gettinthere]

To answer the original q...yes, this last October

 

[GorillaToast]

Here's another blog from a couple that went from Chicago.

http://windtraveler.net