From NY to Florida along the coast

RAD · Sep 21, 2010

Where is the boat now? lower NY? cause your probably good with weather up till end of Oct but I wouldn't push it past that and you'll be in the ocean from NY harbor to Chesapeake Harbor where you can pick up the Intra-coastal (the ditch) The distance from NY to Chesapeake is about 250 miles and at 6 knots the time should be 42 hours I'd figure 2 days.
Can you stay outside from Chesapeake heading south thats a good question...most don't

Buck420 · Sep 21, 2010

Estelle said:
Hi,
We are planning to bring our 38 ft Hunter from NY to our condo in Hallandale, Florida next June.

Excellent, June is a great month... after the Winter storms and before the Hurricane season...
Your only problem may be that winds will often be out of a Southern quadrant so you may be motoring a lot.

We would like to sail (out of the intracoastal) as much as possible without going too far from the coast (Gulf Stream). Can we sail along the coast, out of the intracoastal from NY to Virginia, or further maybe, without having to go against the Golf Stream current ?

Certainly .. wait for a nice weather window and its < 24 hr sail or motor sail from NYC to Cape May and about the same (offshore) from Cape May to Cape Charles.
From there, you can either go back outside and around Cape Hatteras to (perhaps) Morehead City, or stay inside and go down the ICW in NC (3-4 days).
From Morehead City, it's ~ 36hrs offshore (inside the Stream) to Charleston, then you can" play it by ear" offshore, and/or inside, from there down to Hallandale, if offshore you can easily stay inside the Stream

Is there a good book that can help us to plan this trip ?

An ICW guide, chart books, planning guides for coastal cruising, and NOAA charts are all available.

We are planning to make this trip within 30 days. Is it realistic ?

Yes

If yes, how many day would we be in the sea (24 hrs a day), and how many in the intracoastal ?

That's up to you and how you want to plan your trip

We are looking forward to hear from you,

Tks in advance,
Estelle & Richard
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, Canada

Have a great time

RAD · Sep 21, 2010

Opps....I didn't see the next June part....I thought I read we'll be making this trip in 30 days

Nereussailor · Sep 21, 2010

Yes you can run off the coast and not hit the Gulf Stream. In fact, you can run the whole way without getting in the gulf stream. You can track the Gulf Stream on your computer and run just inside it. It tracks out farther than you think in most places. We run it between 15 and 60 miles off shore depending on where we are. Down here off of the Ft Pierce inlet, the Gulf Stream is about 15 miles off shore. Up by St Augustine, it's about 70 miles off shore. It does shift, but not all that much.

Dave S

Sailm8 · Sep 21, 2010

You need to PM seadaddler. He made the trip about 2 years ago.

sailaway78 · Sep 21, 2010

Get yourself a good cruising guide

I would recommend Skipper Bobs. While you can certainly do the entire trip offshore, and well within your time frame, you need to make yourself aware of available inlets, in case something hits the fan. Many inlets are not recommended with out local knowledge. If you are aware of which inlets are safe, and which to avoid, should have no problems.

RichH · Sep 21, 2010

In June you will be fighting against the predominant southwesterlies (dead on the nose) from Hatteras all the way to Fernandina FL.; from there, you'll probably get gentle easterlies all the way down Florida. That said, this past May June it was all northeasterlies from Florida to the Chesapeake.
Id avoid Cape Hatteras and 'go behind' either by going down the Chesapeake or entering the Ches. at Cape Henry ..... to Norfolk, then down the ICW to Beaufort NC. Cape Hatteras can still breed significant 'surprise' weather in June.
"Beaufort NC to Charleston SC is 'doable' outside but the actual distance is MUCH shorter on the ICW ... but you cant travel at night well on the ICW.
Definitely go outside from Charleston SC to Florida to avoid the circuitous 'oxbows' of south S. Carolina and Georgia ... but you'll miss all that wonderful seafood there.

Inlets: Do get the "Southeast Coast Inlet Guide" - Dodge, Whitesound Press. http://www.wspress.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=29&osCsid=7704280a76a20d43b5c38b0edc450af3

For travel on the AICW, get a copy of "Skipper Bob" http://www.skipperbob.net/publications.htm "anchorages along the ICW" and "marinas along the ICW" (prices !!!!) For travel on the AICW you'll want a booklet of sequential charts... as often times the chartplotters will be 'off' by several hundred feet and you really need to do 'eyeball' navigation in the 'ditch'. A lot of the AICW has received 'stimulus money', especially for dredging the minor inlets.

Be aware that many of the fixed bridge clearances on the ICW are 'mis-marked' and the depth boards are purposely showing less 'mast clearance' than actual (due to our world famous US lawyer 'problem'). If you have a 65 ft. tall mast you can get through 'most' of the bridges ... but not all !!!!! Most have an extra few 'secret' feet clearance at the middle of the spans ... when in doubt call the 'last' bascule or swing bridge you just passed for 'details', etc.

For traveling in South Carolina or Georgia (or the Delaware Bay in NJ) in June ... get an electronic fly swatter (looks like a tennis racket) to defend yourselves against the viscious 'green head' flies and 'stable flies'.

Warning: do use a holding tank when inside on the ICW and have the valving LOCKED to the 'inside'. Large fines can be imposed for holding tank violations. You probably will get boarded (& hassled/intimidated) in Volusia County (Daytona), Florida

For offshore travel ... Listen in to "Chris Parker" on "Caribbean Weather" (a for-fee weather router) on 4.045 MHz USB SSB starting at 0730AM. You can purchase a month's worth of routing or 'single passage' routing for ~$90.00 .... well worth the price and is 10X more accurate (winds and waves) than the NOAA forecasts.

rgranger · Sep 22, 2010

Great links Rich.

Thanks,

I bookmarked them all.

r

RichH · Sep 22, 2010

Miami --- "Julia Tuttle" Bridge is 55 ft. clearance and is NORTH of the Miami inlet.

Is the mast 63 ft. or is all the antennas on top to 63ft.????
63 ft. maximum (including antennas, etc.) will be NO problem unless there are strong 'wind tides' or 'spring tides' above mean Maximum water level.

Buck420 · Sep 22, 2010

Rich ? ?

RichH said:
In June you will be fighting against the predominant southwesterlies (dead on the nose) from Hatteras all the way to Fernandina FL.; from there, you'll probably get gentle easterlies all the way down Florida. That said, this past May June it was all northeasterlies from Florida to the Chesapeake.
Id avoid Cape Hatteras and 'go behind' either by going down the Chesapeake or entering the Ches. at Cape Henry ..... to Norfolk, then down the ICW to Beaufort NC. Cape Hatteras can still breed significant 'surprise' weather in June.
"Beaufort NC to Charleston SC is 'doable' outside but the actual distance is MUCH shorter on the ICW ... but you cant travel at night well on the ICW.
Definitely go outside from Charleston SC to Florida to avoid the circuitous 'oxbows' of south S. Carolina and Georgia ... but you'll miss all that wonderful seafood there.

Inlets: Do get the "Southeast Coast Inlet Guide" - Dodge, Whitesound Press. http://www.wspress.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=29&osCsid=7704280a76a20d43b5c38b0edc450af3

For travel on the AICW, get a copy of "Skipper Bob" http://www.skipperbob.net/publications.htm "anchorages along the ICW" and "marinas along the ICW" (prices !!!!) For travel on the AICW you'll want a booklet of sequential charts... as often times the chartplotters will be 'off' by several hundred feet and you really need to do 'eyeball' navigation in the 'ditch'. A lot of the AICW has received 'stimulus money', especially for dredging the minor inlets.

Be aware that many of the fixed bridge clearances on the ICW are 'mis-marked' and the depth boards are purposely showing less 'mast clearance' than actual (due to our world famous US lawyer 'problem'). If you have a 65 ft. tall mast you can get through 'most' of the bridges ... but not all !!!!! Most have an extra few 'secret' feet clearance at the middle of the spans ... when in doubt call the 'last' bascule or swing bridge you just passed for 'details', etc.

For traveling in South Carolina or Georgia (or the Delaware Bay in NJ) in June ... get an electronic fly swatter (looks like a tennis racket) to defend yourselves against the viscious 'green head' flies and 'stable flies'.

Warning: do use a holding tank when inside on the ICW and have the valving LOCKED to the 'inside'. Large fines can be imposed for holding tank violations. You probably will get boarded (& hassled/intimidated) in Volusia County (Daytona), Florida

For offshore travel ... Listen in to "Chris Parker" on "Caribbean Weather" (a for-fee weather router) on 4.045 MHz USB SSB starting at 0730AM. You can purchase a month's worth of routing or 'single passage' routing for ~$90.00 .... well worth the price and is 10X more accurate (winds and waves) than the NOAA forecasts.

While I generally agree with all that you have said; I question where you come up with ...
""Beaufort NC to Charleston SC is 'doable' outside but the actual distance is MUCH shorter on the ICW ... but you cant travel at night well on the ICW. "

Beaufort, NC to Charleston SC (per the ICW waterway guide) is approx 265 st mi (~240 ni miles) on the "inside";
while the offshore distance between the two is < ~ 210 ni miles (depending on where you round Frying Pan Shoals).

And, Estelle, I do agree w/ Rich about the prevailing winds in June.
As a practical matter, you will quickly find that going offshore and attempting to motor into all but the lightest S/SW winds will be untenable.
So, unless you are willing to wait for the occasional cold front to switch the winds around, you will probable be making about 50-60% of the trip on the inside ... in June.

Chuckbear · Sep 22, 2010

Estelle, We have done the ICW from the Chesapeake to the Keys about a dozen times. Going outside is always our preference but the reality is that it only happens occasionally, Wind direction on the nose will have you tacking all the time and not making a lot of southern progress. The weather will be a big factor. Waiting for the right conditions would mean you might have to wait five days to get a window that would allow you to run offshore for two days. Following the inside route instead of waiting might mean that when the conditions are right you will not be near a usable inlet to head outside. Continuing to move inside will get you farther, allow you to see more and keep the crew happy and rested under those conditions. All food for thought. BTW, trying to keep a schedule or meet a deadline will get you in trouble every time. Chuck

RichH · Sep 22, 2010

Buck420 said:
Beaufort, NC to Charleston SC (per the ICW waterway guide) is approx 265 st mi (~240 ni miles) on the "inside";
while the offshore distance between the two is < ~ 210 ni miles (depending on where you round Frying Pan Shoals).

Youre obviously not including the travel distance through the INLETS in your calcs. Charleston is about 12-16 miles 'in' from the ocean. Beaufort is about 12 miles in from the ocean buoy. Check again and youll find that the ICW route is shorter, not by much but is shorter in distance.

RichH · Sep 22, 2010

Estelle said:
OK. So I do forget the Miami inlet. 63 ft would be total. It's a Hunter 380 with light mast.

The Julia Tuttle bridge is on the ICW and is north of the Miami inlet; you simply cant go north from Miami harbor (Port Everglades) on the ICW unless you have less than 55 ft. clearance.
From Ft. Lauderdale to Miami you must go 'outside' because of this 55ft bridge across the ICW.

Chuckbear · Sep 22, 2010

Estelle, You can certainly sail the ICW if you wish and some areas are great sailing. But many are narrow canals and cuts and the wind will be non existent or on the nose and no room to tack. That is also true of areas that have very narrow channels in wide bodies of very shallow water. The only "regulation" is that you not sail through a bridge although I know of no instance where it has been enforced. But most bridge tenders will have you wait for the opening, it is not wise or possible anyway. Chuck

Buck420 · Sep 22, 2010

RichH said:
Youre obviously not including the travel distance through the INLETS in your calcs. Charleston is about 12-16 miles 'in' from the ocean. Beaufort is about 12 miles in from the ocean buoy. Check again and youll find that the ICW route is shorter, not by much but is shorter in distance.

OK, figuring that I must have made a mistake, I did go back and check...

From the deep water dock in Morehead City to the Battery in Charleston, going out to the ocean buoy's of each inlet, (and we both know it's not really necessary to go that far out before turning out of or into the entrance channels) and going around R2FP (Frying Pan Shoals marker) ...
I get ~ 214ni miles ... still less than the ~ 240 ni miles inside ...

In any case, if the weather is good, I'm sure we would both rather go outside, ... set the autopilot, and relax, rather than fight the winding channels, the bridges, the shoaling, currents, power boat passes, etc. etc. that are so much fun inside.