What's the longest trip you've ever made in your boat? Do you strictly day sail to the other end of the lake or the bay? How about an overnight cruise on the weekend? Perhaps you've taken off in your boat on vacation for a week or more? Or are you one of these sailors who has gone down the ICW to Florida and off to the Caribbean? Or even further, to the South Seas? Where did you go? How did you prepare for it? How did you like it? Was the sailing there different from home your home water? Share your distant adventures here, then vote in the Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page. (Quiz contributed by Gary Wyngarden)
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Ingrid Nantz
2222 Miles in 77 days
"Servus", our Hunter Legend 35, this summer took us all the way to Alaska - and back! We only had one crew, swabbie Schnurrli, our 18 lb Snowshoe cat who thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Yes, there were lengthy preparations and they certainly paid off. We made sure we had every chart, especially the detailed ones for the tricky areas and there were many of those! It certainly would have been nice to also have a laptop and electronic charts. The boat performed great but we did have a problem with a loose wire which affected radar and autohelm at a time when we were in peasoup fog in an area full of rocks. It sure got our adrenaline going but luckily we safely made it to a spot shallow enough to anchor so we could sort things out. Sailing in Alaska is quite a bit different from sailing in Puget Sound! You really have to plan your itinerary well to find a shallow enough anchor site every night. The weather can be rough and it certainly was this summer. We spent many a day waiting for a weather window since we don't like to travel in gale or storm force conditions. When we now look at our pictures we can laugh at the "summer" clothes we wore most of the time, turtlenecks, wool sweaters, heavy parka, caps, gloves and often foul weather gear. But in the end I can truly say it was worth it - we enjoyed the cities like Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau and our favorite - Sitka! For John one of the best times was finally catching all the salmon we could eat! But what was most striking was the natural beauty and wildlife of Alaska - awesome glaciers, gliding through a sea of icebergs, bears, eagles and whales. On the way North we stopped at Anan Creek, hiked from the lagoon to the observation station where one is close to the bears catching the spawning salmon swimming upstream, while downstream hundreds of eagles are sitting on rocks waiting for the leftover morsels to float by. Another highlight was when we came across a pod of humpbacks who were feeding near the shore and three of them decided to swim in unison towards us, dive under our boat and without touching come back up close to the stern - an unbelievable sight I will never forget!
"Servus", our Hunter Legend 35, this summer took us all the way to Alaska - and back! We only had one crew, swabbie Schnurrli, our 18 lb Snowshoe cat who thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Yes, there were lengthy preparations and they certainly paid off. We made sure we had every chart, especially the detailed ones for the tricky areas and there were many of those! It certainly would have been nice to also have a laptop and electronic charts. The boat performed great but we did have a problem with a loose wire which affected radar and autohelm at a time when we were in peasoup fog in an area full of rocks. It sure got our adrenaline going but luckily we safely made it to a spot shallow enough to anchor so we could sort things out. Sailing in Alaska is quite a bit different from sailing in Puget Sound! You really have to plan your itinerary well to find a shallow enough anchor site every night. The weather can be rough and it certainly was this summer. We spent many a day waiting for a weather window since we don't like to travel in gale or storm force conditions. When we now look at our pictures we can laugh at the "summer" clothes we wore most of the time, turtlenecks, wool sweaters, heavy parka, caps, gloves and often foul weather gear. But in the end I can truly say it was worth it - we enjoyed the cities like Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau and our favorite - Sitka! For John one of the best times was finally catching all the salmon we could eat! But what was most striking was the natural beauty and wildlife of Alaska - awesome glaciers, gliding through a sea of icebergs, bears, eagles and whales. On the way North we stopped at Anan Creek, hiked from the lagoon to the observation station where one is close to the bears catching the spawning salmon swimming upstream, while downstream hundreds of eagles are sitting on rocks waiting for the leftover morsels to float by. Another highlight was when we came across a pod of humpbacks who were feeding near the shore and three of them decided to swim in unison towards us, dive under our boat and without touching come back up close to the stern - an unbelievable sight I will never forget!
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Sy Schiffman
On the lake/BVI
Living on the lake, most of our sailing is done on Lake LBJ, and we also participate in racing with our Lake LBJ Sailing Club. However, twice a year we go down to the BVI and bareboat with friends.
Living on the lake, most of our sailing is done on Lake LBJ, and we also participate in racing with our Lake LBJ Sailing Club. However, twice a year we go down to the BVI and bareboat with friends.
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Bill Howitt
A month long delivery
My longest trip was close to my first trip in my 1993 35.5 Legend....1800 miles from Lake Union, Seattle to Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska. It was wonderful. Best month on the water I've ever had.
My longest trip was close to my first trip in my 1993 35.5 Legend....1800 miles from Lake Union, Seattle to Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska. It was wonderful. Best month on the water I've ever had.
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George Leitner
G.Leitner
From frejus to Ibiza, we sailed four nights and five days though the golf of Lyon (a party of four)- it was a wonderfull experience (also thanks to the good waether) and the boat prooved to be completely ocean fit. next year we are planing to sail to Marocco (which is a similar distance)
From frejus to Ibiza, we sailed four nights and five days though the golf of Lyon (a party of four)- it was a wonderfull experience (also thanks to the good waether) and the boat prooved to be completely ocean fit. next year we are planing to sail to Marocco (which is a similar distance)
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JIm Noval
BVI's to Azores
Longest trip 22 days BVI's to the AZORES 2300 miles aboard a HR 46. 8 total, completed July 2000. Great experience with John and Amanda Neil completing a long passage training trip Jim
Longest trip 22 days BVI's to the AZORES 2300 miles aboard a HR 46. 8 total, completed July 2000. Great experience with John and Amanda Neil completing a long passage training trip Jim
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Zahit Sekercioglu
My way from Istanbul to Bodrum and back 880 kts
My way was this jear (at the third time) from Istanbul (north) to the Bodrum (south). It takes 440 miles with the locak winds Meltem. Up to 8 beauforts down and upwinds. With up to 3 meters wawes and up to 4 miles currents. This is the typicals weather conditions of Aegeis (Ege). The crews were my wife and son. The boat was a B411. A super sailboat of the century in its class. By the upwind I take the way with 35 degrees to the upwind, always 7 knots. It was a wunderfull trip. The previous trips were for the same route with an First 32 at 1990, with an First 345 at 1993 and with an Oceanis 390 at 1996. The route is an escape to the paradise.
My way was this jear (at the third time) from Istanbul (north) to the Bodrum (south). It takes 440 miles with the locak winds Meltem. Up to 8 beauforts down and upwinds. With up to 3 meters wawes and up to 4 miles currents. This is the typicals weather conditions of Aegeis (Ege). The crews were my wife and son. The boat was a B411. A super sailboat of the century in its class. By the upwind I take the way with 35 degrees to the upwind, always 7 knots. It was a wunderfull trip. The previous trips were for the same route with an First 32 at 1990, with an First 345 at 1993 and with an Oceanis 390 at 1996. The route is an escape to the paradise.
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Paul Akers
Two weeks in Summer
We typically take off for two weeks in summer, covering 200-250 miles throughout Southen New England waters (Vineyard, Nantucket, Rhode Island or Long Island Sounds. Many places/islands to visit throughout the area. Always do weekends in the summer and spend a night or two. Never did an overnight passage. Every 2-3 years, we charter for a week in April in the BVI. Have made 5 trips there, over the years.
We typically take off for two weeks in summer, covering 200-250 miles throughout Southen New England waters (Vineyard, Nantucket, Rhode Island or Long Island Sounds. Many places/islands to visit throughout the area. Always do weekends in the summer and spend a night or two. Never did an overnight passage. Every 2-3 years, we charter for a week in April in the BVI. Have made 5 trips there, over the years.
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Roland Ludlam
Sailing in Penobscot Bay
My son and I have taken our 21' Venture (Macgreegor) to Maine for the last three years. This past summer we sailed out of a little harbor on Eggemoggin Reach -- Sedgwick Harbor. We spent 5 nights on the boat, sailing out to Long Island beyond Swans Island, and later in the week, sailing around Isle au Haut. We had strong winds the entire time, often in the 20-25 knot range. A 21' Venture is a small environment for 2 people who are staying on the boat for several days. But the boat handled all of the sailing conditions very well. Best harbors: Buckle Harbor on Swans Island; Lunt Harbor on Long Island. Moores Harbor on Isle au Haut.
My son and I have taken our 21' Venture (Macgreegor) to Maine for the last three years. This past summer we sailed out of a little harbor on Eggemoggin Reach -- Sedgwick Harbor. We spent 5 nights on the boat, sailing out to Long Island beyond Swans Island, and later in the week, sailing around Isle au Haut. We had strong winds the entire time, often in the 20-25 knot range. A 21' Venture is a small environment for 2 people who are staying on the boat for several days. But the boat handled all of the sailing conditions very well. Best harbors: Buckle Harbor on Swans Island; Lunt Harbor on Long Island. Moores Harbor on Isle au Haut.
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diana
cuba and back
last winter we sailed from chesapeake bay to Cuba and back in our catalina 36. our crew was my husband , 9 yr old son, 2 yr old pomeranan, and my father. what a wonderful trip it was. the catalina is a very sturdy sea going boat.
last winter we sailed from chesapeake bay to Cuba and back in our catalina 36. our crew was my husband , 9 yr old son, 2 yr old pomeranan, and my father. what a wonderful trip it was. the catalina is a very sturdy sea going boat.
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WHITE WHALE
long vacation with your own boat
hello last summer i went to the virgin islands for a vacation we sailed from Bonaire to Puerto Rico and from there to the Virgins islands. we stayed for four weeks and the biggest blast we had was on Anagada. we arived in the morning around ten o'clock and the first impresion was what a put hole, dirty water no land scape no nothing appealing at all by the hotel up there they askt fourty dollars for lobster dinner. no way if you live in the caribbean. so we went with the dingy to the reef and had twelve lobsters in obouth two hour's so this was our best spot ever we kept each person one, about a foot long and the rest went back to there hole's we had four nice weeks of sailing under the coast of the virgens every night a good anker spot and a lot of nice evenings this is to recommend to all sailors regards Anton
hello last summer i went to the virgin islands for a vacation we sailed from Bonaire to Puerto Rico and from there to the Virgins islands. we stayed for four weeks and the biggest blast we had was on Anagada. we arived in the morning around ten o'clock and the first impresion was what a put hole, dirty water no land scape no nothing appealing at all by the hotel up there they askt fourty dollars for lobster dinner. no way if you live in the caribbean. so we went with the dingy to the reef and had twelve lobsters in obouth two hour's so this was our best spot ever we kept each person one, about a foot long and the rest went back to there hole's we had four nice weeks of sailing under the coast of the virgens every night a good anker spot and a lot of nice evenings this is to recommend to all sailors regards Anton
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Ric Blamer
Great Lakes Adventure
Last summer I cruised Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and a little of Lake Michigan on our C36-miss Higgins. Part of the cruise was participating in the Bacardi-Bayview Mackinac Race (What better way to get a long way in a short time) All told, the trip was 861 miles and took just over 3 weeks (24 days actually). It was the trip of a lifetime. 331 miles were done single handed.
Last summer I cruised Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and a little of Lake Michigan on our C36-miss Higgins. Part of the cruise was participating in the Bacardi-Bayview Mackinac Race (What better way to get a long way in a short time) All told, the trip was 861 miles and took just over 3 weeks (24 days actually). It was the trip of a lifetime. 331 miles were done single handed.
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Brad Newell
South Pacific
We left home in the summer of 1993 and returned four years later. We went down the West Coast to Mexico, spent several months in the Sea of Cortez and then set off for the South Pacific. In 1994 we did the Marquesas Islands, Tuamotus, the Societies, Rarotonga, Tonga and then went down to New Zealand for the hurricane season. The following year we went back to Tonga (it's a big place), then Fiji, Vanuatu and ended up in Australia. Spent 11 months in Oz, doing much of the east coast, and then headed for home, via the Solomons, Tarawa and Hawaii. The only real problem was the mast fell down about 800 miles from Honolulu. Weather was not a factor. Apparent metal fatigue caused the forestay to snap as I was unfurling the jib one morning and there was just enough wind to bring down the rig before I could figure out what was happening. Highly recommend a baby stay for any long distance cruisers with sloops. (The boat was only four years old.) Arrived home in the summer of 1997. We had a good time and felt that the boat was nearly ideal for the trip. It is very fast, roomy and has a very pleasant motion offshore. In my opinion, anything over 45 feet is too big in port and anything under 35' is too small offshore for that length of time. Saw a couple of marriages disolve due to too small a boat. Small vessels are too slow to avoid weather. We went four years without finding any severe weather. You can always find a weather window of week and you need to be able to do a thousand miles in a week to get to and from New Zealand from the islands to the north. Normally we do local cruises between Seattle and the Alaskan border. Started up there a few years ago but it was so cold and wet that decided to stop short and spent the summer on the inside of Vancouver Island, east of Port Hardy.
We left home in the summer of 1993 and returned four years later. We went down the West Coast to Mexico, spent several months in the Sea of Cortez and then set off for the South Pacific. In 1994 we did the Marquesas Islands, Tuamotus, the Societies, Rarotonga, Tonga and then went down to New Zealand for the hurricane season. The following year we went back to Tonga (it's a big place), then Fiji, Vanuatu and ended up in Australia. Spent 11 months in Oz, doing much of the east coast, and then headed for home, via the Solomons, Tarawa and Hawaii. The only real problem was the mast fell down about 800 miles from Honolulu. Weather was not a factor. Apparent metal fatigue caused the forestay to snap as I was unfurling the jib one morning and there was just enough wind to bring down the rig before I could figure out what was happening. Highly recommend a baby stay for any long distance cruisers with sloops. (The boat was only four years old.) Arrived home in the summer of 1997. We had a good time and felt that the boat was nearly ideal for the trip. It is very fast, roomy and has a very pleasant motion offshore. In my opinion, anything over 45 feet is too big in port and anything under 35' is too small offshore for that length of time. Saw a couple of marriages disolve due to too small a boat. Small vessels are too slow to avoid weather. We went four years without finding any severe weather. You can always find a weather window of week and you need to be able to do a thousand miles in a week to get to and from New Zealand from the islands to the north. Normally we do local cruises between Seattle and the Alaskan border. Started up there a few years ago but it was so cold and wet that decided to stop short and spent the summer on the inside of Vancouver Island, east of Port Hardy.
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Jake Roquet
It depends...
1489 miles round trip to Bermuda... 6 days there, 51/2 back...but then it took me 65 days to get from New Bern to St. Augustines... a nine-hour car ride...go figure. S/V OffLine H410
1489 miles round trip to Bermuda... 6 days there, 51/2 back...but then it took me 65 days to get from New Bern to St. Augustines... a nine-hour car ride...go figure. S/V OffLine H410
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Katherine J Hancock
Sailing, Sailing
We have not gone any great distance in our Hunter 410. We are docked in Hingham, MA and have gone up the coast as far as Maine and down the Coast as far as the Cape and the Islands. We usually take a summer vacation and stay on the boat for 10 days. We sail during the day and dock or moor along the way. It is the most relaxing 10 days of the year. The rest of the season, we take long weekends on the boat and day sails. The Hunter 410 is a very comfortable boat for two couples and we usually take vacations with our close friends or family.
We have not gone any great distance in our Hunter 410. We are docked in Hingham, MA and have gone up the coast as far as Maine and down the Coast as far as the Cape and the Islands. We usually take a summer vacation and stay on the boat for 10 days. We sail during the day and dock or moor along the way. It is the most relaxing 10 days of the year. The rest of the season, we take long weekends on the boat and day sails. The Hunter 410 is a very comfortable boat for two couples and we usually take vacations with our close friends or family.
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Ken Tempelmeyer
First Trip with Our H 33.5
We purchased our 1993 H 33.5 on Marathon Key and sailed it from there across the Gulf to Mobile Bay. It performed very well and we averaged a speed of 5 knots.
We purchased our 1993 H 33.5 on Marathon Key and sailed it from there across the Gulf to Mobile Bay. It performed very well and we averaged a speed of 5 knots.
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Bob O'Brien
Mystic, Newport, Block Island
Last summer, my wife and I took our three daughters on a 9 day cruise on our Hunter 37.5 to Mystic, Newport and Block Island. Newport was our favorite - there is something for everyone in that town. We finished the trip with an 80 mile overnight sail from Block Island to Norwalk, CT. Overall a great trip - I could get used to living on a boat.
Last summer, my wife and I took our three daughters on a 9 day cruise on our Hunter 37.5 to Mystic, Newport and Block Island. Newport was our favorite - there is something for everyone in that town. We finished the trip with an 80 mile overnight sail from Block Island to Norwalk, CT. Overall a great trip - I could get used to living on a boat.
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Tony Leslie
30 Days Vacation From New Orleans to Fla
I have a 1985 Catalina 36 and love to do weekend cruises to Mississippi Gulf Islands and coast. This year we decided to take a month and cruise the coast to North Florida, and we really had a wounderful time. My crew(wife,brother and dog) started from New Orleans and decided on Gulfport for an overnight due to a storm coming from Texas. That was the best decision we could have made. That night late and most of the next day winds gusting up to 55 and tides up 2 feet above normal. From that point we were joined by my sister-in-law and the weather couldn`t have been better.We motor sailed the first day 98.4 miles to make Pirates Cove in Alabama and if you ever get a chance to go there by boat, GO!THE BEST BUSHWACKER. I think the climax to this trip is a place called Red Fish Point, just befor Pensacola. Great beach, during the weekdays it is all yours, and the shelling is great. PHOENIX, our boat preformed very well and we had plenty of room for the 4 of us. Only problem with the design of the boat,52 gals of water.
I have a 1985 Catalina 36 and love to do weekend cruises to Mississippi Gulf Islands and coast. This year we decided to take a month and cruise the coast to North Florida, and we really had a wounderful time. My crew(wife,brother and dog) started from New Orleans and decided on Gulfport for an overnight due to a storm coming from Texas. That was the best decision we could have made. That night late and most of the next day winds gusting up to 55 and tides up 2 feet above normal. From that point we were joined by my sister-in-law and the weather couldn`t have been better.We motor sailed the first day 98.4 miles to make Pirates Cove in Alabama and if you ever get a chance to go there by boat, GO!THE BEST BUSHWACKER. I think the climax to this trip is a place called Red Fish Point, just befor Pensacola. Great beach, during the weekdays it is all yours, and the shelling is great. PHOENIX, our boat preformed very well and we had plenty of room for the 4 of us. Only problem with the design of the boat,52 gals of water.
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Claude
Cloud Voyages
The longest trip was the trip from Houston,Tx. to the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, Nnorth of New Orleans. I purchased the boat in Houston (Kemah) and myself and a couple of friends, who'd made the trip before on other boats, had a really rough 4 day delivery trip. My usual cruise is from Pontchartrain to the Miss, Alabama, and Florida coasts in the early summer/late spring. This trip is usually 7-10 days.
The longest trip was the trip from Houston,Tx. to the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, Nnorth of New Orleans. I purchased the boat in Houston (Kemah) and myself and a couple of friends, who'd made the trip before on other boats, had a really rough 4 day delivery trip. My usual cruise is from Pontchartrain to the Miss, Alabama, and Florida coasts in the early summer/late spring. This trip is usually 7-10 days.
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Mike
Sweden should not be overlooked...
When I was 20 years old, I spent part of my summer vacation visiting a friend in Sweden. His family owned a 35 foot sailboat. He, another friend of his and I took out the boat for about a week of cruising the southeast coast of Sweden. In the summer, Sweden is gorgeous, and the coast is dotted with beautiful villages and small islands. These islands range in size from small boulders to a couple of acres. The sun wouldn't really "set" until about 11 pm, and would rise only a few hours later. We would sail during the day (and one night), hold impromptu races with other boats, and then tie up in at a picturesque village or on one of the unihabited islands. The boat was very nice, but not set up for luxury; the head was used as a sail locker, necessitating using the ocean for certain bodily functions, and there was no refrigeration, but we were 20 years old and only cared about sailing, swimming, drinking and finding girls. It was a week of paradise. After about a week, Joe (my friend's friend) got kicked off the boat, and my friend's parents joined us for a few more days of sailing. A somewhat different experience than before, but still pretty cool(the quality of the on-board cooking improved markedly with the arrival of my friend's mother). If anyone is looking for an alternative cruising ground during the summer, Sweden (south of Stockholm) is definetly worth your consideration.
When I was 20 years old, I spent part of my summer vacation visiting a friend in Sweden. His family owned a 35 foot sailboat. He, another friend of his and I took out the boat for about a week of cruising the southeast coast of Sweden. In the summer, Sweden is gorgeous, and the coast is dotted with beautiful villages and small islands. These islands range in size from small boulders to a couple of acres. The sun wouldn't really "set" until about 11 pm, and would rise only a few hours later. We would sail during the day (and one night), hold impromptu races with other boats, and then tie up in at a picturesque village or on one of the unihabited islands. The boat was very nice, but not set up for luxury; the head was used as a sail locker, necessitating using the ocean for certain bodily functions, and there was no refrigeration, but we were 20 years old and only cared about sailing, swimming, drinking and finding girls. It was a week of paradise. After about a week, Joe (my friend's friend) got kicked off the boat, and my friend's parents joined us for a few more days of sailing. A somewhat different experience than before, but still pretty cool(the quality of the on-board cooking improved markedly with the arrival of my friend's mother). If anyone is looking for an alternative cruising ground during the summer, Sweden (south of Stockholm) is definetly worth your consideration.
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