Going south on the Mississipi

[derek]

This fall I plan to take my boat to South Florida via the Mississipi. Has anyone done this that can give me any info about this trip?

 

[Eric on S/V Troon]

Me too.......

I am also heading for southwest Florida this fall......I am leaving from the St. Louis area down the Mississippi to the Ohio river, then down through Kentucky Lake and the Tenn-Tom waterway to Mobile Alabama. If you are starting in Toronto and come through the Great Lakes to Chicago, you will have to drop the mast in Chicago. After that, it depends on the height of the mast above the water line as to when you can re-step the mast. Mine is 46 ft above and I plan to go with mast up. This will limit some anchorages on the Tenn-Tom, but I want to sail on Kentucky Lake. Respond back and let me know when you plan to leave and when you will be coming through St. Louis. If you get here before Oct 1, I'll help with achorages or marinas in this area.

 

[farnsworth john]

Old Glory

I'm stretching my memory back a couple decades, but there was a lovely memoir written by an English writer, Eric Tarloff, called "Old Glory." He took that trip in an aluminum skiff, if memory serves. I think I've read another book about that trip as well: "Huckleberry" something... (Tarloff, btw, just published another memoir, "Inside Passage" about sailing up from Oregon to Juneau. Very nice.)

 

[Tom M.]

WARNING

I don't know how big is your sailboat, but remember the ole Miss, has a current flowing down to the gulf, of 6 knots, and if your hull speed is 4 or 5 with your aux. pwr, you can have it wide open in reverse and still be traveling 1 to 2 knots fwd. now add the ever changing sand/ mud bars and commewrcial traffic, You have a challenge on your hands, a 50 hp OB engine secured to the stern could help you back up on the ole Miss. lots of luck.