coastal sailing ?

Kings Gambit · Apr 4, 2014

Inside-Outside, Around or Through?

Seems to me the first thing is to decide how much of the trip will be planned in the ICW (Intra-Coastal Waterway) versus sailing outside along the sea coast, and whether or not you plan to use the Okeechobee waterway to cut across Florida's midsection, or go all the way around via the Florida Keys. This is a long trip; over 1,200 n.mi. sailing around FL; many variables. The inside route is even longer around; however, the cut through Okeechobee will save perhaps 200 to 250 n.mi.

Joe · Apr 4, 2014

Well, my first suggestion is to make as many short, shakedown trips as possible before you leave on the long one. No amount of advice you get here will be a substitute for know your own boat. You might google or Youtube search for info on the subject. "sailing the east coast, sailing the intracoastal, sailing from Virginia to the west coast of Fla," etc.

Idratherbesailing · Apr 4, 2014

I agree with Joe on this one...as that great sailing philosopher Captain Ron said "if its going to happen, it'll happen out there"...actually using the boat, even for short sails, gives you valuable experience in the type, and all of them handle differently in wind/current, and you get to find out what works or doesn't work, or needs changing. It might be a little thing, but when you are far from home port, nothing is a little thing. That roller furling that hangs up ever so often isn't a big thing on a day sail, but in a blow in unfamiliar waters the last thing you need is to take your eye off the channel to fix a sail...oops...hard bottom.
Practice helps.

Bill1565 · Apr 8, 2014

Can't help with trip before West Coast. If you are going to the keys Marathon has everything for $22 per night. Marco Winn Dixie has own dock. Naples city dock has diesel , water and pump out mooring ball $10. Ft Myers Bch has 25 cent shuttle bus, $15 mooring balls. Skip Venice. Sarasota has every thing. Mooring balls $20 I think possible to anchor for free, pay to beach dingy

Admiral's blog
http://dinghytogrocerystorewestfl.blogspot.com/?m=1

Kings Gambit · Jul 12, 2014

If you start planning your route now using charts and guide books, you might be ready in 3 weeks. I think you may have over romanticized how this trip will unfold. It's a long way to Tampa Bay from Newport News, and the trip you propose would present challenges to even a seasoned sailing couple in a well-tried boat. You don't detail your ocean sailing experience, but if it's not fairly extensive I would reconsider your plans on how to do this. If a sailing honeymoon is your goal ship the boat to Fort Myers, FL and then gunk-hole up the coast from there to Tampa Bay. Lots of good stuff to see and do; can easily take up a week to 10 days in fun mode. However, you will have to "like" HOT/HUMID weather, and will have to be wary of pop-up thunderstorms, which you will undoubtedly encounter in Florida in August & September. These are not fun for sailors, and offer only potential for misadventure, in my opinion. If you are caught out in one the rain is so intense that you cannot see more than two feet in front of your face. The cold wind down-bursts can exceed 50 kt; and then there is lightening to boot, etc. If not properly prepared you can easily be driven onto a shoal or into something hard, etc., before you can hardly realize it.

If inside the barrier islands people will often try to anchor if being caught is inescapable (b/c they cannot see to steer in the rain), but anchoring has to be completely finished by the time the thing hits. There also has to be room to swing which is not always available in the ICW. Otherwise, they may try to make fast to a dock if one is within reach, etc. The best thing to do is to avoid them [the storms], of course. However, staying put when they are about can cut deeply into your travel time budget.

Also, I hope the boat has a Bimini cover that shades the cockpit well. In addition to hot and humid, the direct summertime sun there is BRUTAL w/o shade. There are also bugs; the ladies really love 'em! The average depth of Florida Bay (which you have to cross coming up from the keys) is only 7 feet deep for very long stretches. Is your Morgan 35 a center board or shoal draft?

Stu Jackson · Jul 12, 2014

Jesse,

www.activecaptain.com

The ICW Cruising Guides (there are A FEW)

www.cruisersforum.com

You are NOT the first to go this route.

The least expensive stop is to anchor.

coastal sailing ?

trainmanjess

.

Kings Gambit

.

trainmanjess

.

Joe

.

Idratherbesailing

.

trainmanjess

.

Bill1565

.

trainmanjess

.

trainmanjess

.

Kings Gambit

.

Stu Jackson

.

trainmanjess

.