All I am cruising from Tampa to New Orleans starting 31 Jan as fast as my H31 will take me. My mast height is about 49'. Comments, criticisms, remarks, statements and/or suggestions are welcome
-Chan
-Chan
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Steve Z
Missississississiiipppppiii.....
I've never sailed it, but as I recall from a cruise, there's about 90 miles of Mississippi River channel that you'll need to negotiate to get from the Gulf to the Big Easy. Commercial...read BIG commercial traffic is heavy, fast and furious. Given the current, you're probably guaranteed a night on the river...one way or the other. Should be no problem, so long as you're very prepared for it. I was on a large Carnival vessel, easily over 49' tall. The cruise started immediately downstream of what I think is the last bridge crossing the river. I don't recall any other obstructions. Not sure about where you might dock. When you get there, visit Leah's Kandy Kitchen for the BEST pralines in the South! New O. is one of my favorite places. Wish I were crewing with you.
I've never sailed it, but as I recall from a cruise, there's about 90 miles of Mississippi River channel that you'll need to negotiate to get from the Gulf to the Big Easy. Commercial...read BIG commercial traffic is heavy, fast and furious. Given the current, you're probably guaranteed a night on the river...one way or the other. Should be no problem, so long as you're very prepared for it. I was on a large Carnival vessel, easily over 49' tall. The cruise started immediately downstream of what I think is the last bridge crossing the river. I don't recall any other obstructions. Not sure about where you might dock. When you get there, visit Leah's Kandy Kitchen for the BEST pralines in the South! New O. is one of my favorite places. Wish I were crewing with you.
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Frank Walker
Close
Chandler, Just watch for the cold fronts this time of year. As far as the mast height is concerned the 50 ft(minimum) ICW fixed bridges are St Georges Island near Appalachicola, Du Pont, and Hathaway bridges near Panama City, Brooks Bridge at Fort Walton, and Navarre bridge at Navarre Beach between Fort Walton and Pensacola. Coming in from the Gulf at Destin might be problem as the Destin bridge is about 49 ft. All other fixed bridges are 65 ft. The close ones are Brooks and Navarre. There is actually more clearance two spans to the south on the Navarre bridge if you hug the north support. Complicated to explain but will be more apparent when you get there. I have made the trip many times with a 49 ft mast, The VHF catches hell and the Windex is long gone but the mast always clears on any resonable tide. This time of year with all the north wind low tides are more the norm. Good luck and stop to smell the roses. Suggestions Tarpon Springs, Appalachicola, Panama City, Pensacola, Pirates Cove on the Fla/Ala Border, Biloxi and Gulfport. I assume that you are going into Lake Ponchatrain through the Rigolets. Just a lot of motoring. Don't try Government cut coming into Appalach but use the Dog Island entrance near Carrabell.
Chandler, Just watch for the cold fronts this time of year. As far as the mast height is concerned the 50 ft(minimum) ICW fixed bridges are St Georges Island near Appalachicola, Du Pont, and Hathaway bridges near Panama City, Brooks Bridge at Fort Walton, and Navarre bridge at Navarre Beach between Fort Walton and Pensacola. Coming in from the Gulf at Destin might be problem as the Destin bridge is about 49 ft. All other fixed bridges are 65 ft. The close ones are Brooks and Navarre. There is actually more clearance two spans to the south on the Navarre bridge if you hug the north support. Complicated to explain but will be more apparent when you get there. I have made the trip many times with a 49 ft mast, The VHF catches hell and the Windex is long gone but the mast always clears on any resonable tide. This time of year with all the north wind low tides are more the norm. Good luck and stop to smell the roses. Suggestions Tarpon Springs, Appalachicola, Panama City, Pensacola, Pirates Cove on the Fla/Ala Border, Biloxi and Gulfport. I assume that you are going into Lake Ponchatrain through the Rigolets. Just a lot of motoring. Don't try Government cut coming into Appalach but use the Dog Island entrance near Carrabell.
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Glenda Wolfe
Keep an eye on the weather
Last April my husband and I crossed from Clearwater Beach to Slidell, LA. We did 2 days from FL to Big Lagoon, at the mouth of Pensacola Bay. Big Lagoon is a very good anchorage and there are 2 marinas with fuel and food. We then followed the ICW, anchoring one night just before Mobil Bay, which we heard can get quite nasty in bad weather and we didn’t identify any protected anchorages in the south part of the Bay. After we crossed Mobil Bay we anchored on the north side of Petit Bois island in calm weather, but again there really isn’t much protection from Mobil Bay westward. The weather did turn nasty so we went into Gulfport to the city marina. From Gulfport to Oak Harbor Marina, which is on the east end of Lake Pontchartrain is a day of motoring thru the Rigolets. You have to call on the VHF to have the railroad bridge and the Hwy 90 bridge opened so that can slow you. There is an ok anchorage on the right side of the Rigolets after the Hwy 90 bridge, just before the Red #2 marker. We were on a Legend 45 with 6’ depth and 63’ mast. We used Claiborne Young’s cruising guide.
Last April my husband and I crossed from Clearwater Beach to Slidell, LA. We did 2 days from FL to Big Lagoon, at the mouth of Pensacola Bay. Big Lagoon is a very good anchorage and there are 2 marinas with fuel and food. We then followed the ICW, anchoring one night just before Mobil Bay, which we heard can get quite nasty in bad weather and we didn’t identify any protected anchorages in the south part of the Bay. After we crossed Mobil Bay we anchored on the north side of Petit Bois island in calm weather, but again there really isn’t much protection from Mobil Bay westward. The weather did turn nasty so we went into Gulfport to the city marina. From Gulfport to Oak Harbor Marina, which is on the east end of Lake Pontchartrain is a day of motoring thru the Rigolets. You have to call on the VHF to have the railroad bridge and the Hwy 90 bridge opened so that can slow you. There is an ok anchorage on the right side of the Rigolets after the Hwy 90 bridge, just before the Red #2 marker. We were on a Legend 45 with 6’ depth and 63’ mast. We used Claiborne Young’s cruising guide.
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Rich
GOM Climatology
Chandler- Since you're leaving tomorrow, this info may be a day late and a.... However, the US Navy has a useful climatological web site for the Gulf. You can select month and meteorological parameter and get a graphic display. Among the parameters which may concern you there are max winds; significant wave height; and swell direction, height and period. Of course, a cold outbreak may mean you'll be real concerned about surface temperature, which is also there. Hope this helps. -Rich the weatherman
Chandler- Since you're leaving tomorrow, this info may be a day late and a.... However, the US Navy has a useful climatological web site for the Gulf. You can select month and meteorological parameter and get a graphic display. Among the parameters which may concern you there are max winds; significant wave height; and swell direction, height and period. Of course, a cold outbreak may mean you'll be real concerned about surface temperature, which is also there. Hope this helps. -Rich the weatherman
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Rich
GOM Climatology
Chandler- Since you're leaving tomorrow, this info may be a day late and a.... However, the US Navy has a useful climatological web site for the Gulf. You can select month and meteorological parameter and get a graphic display. Among the parameters which may concern you there are max winds; significant wave height; and swell direction, height and period. Of course, a cold outbreak may mean you'll be real concerned about surface temperature, which is also there. Hope this helps. -Rich the weatherman
Chandler- Since you're leaving tomorrow, this info may be a day late and a.... However, the US Navy has a useful climatological web site for the Gulf. You can select month and meteorological parameter and get a graphic display. Among the parameters which may concern you there are max winds; significant wave height; and swell direction, height and period. Of course, a cold outbreak may mean you'll be real concerned about surface temperature, which is also there. Hope this helps. -Rich the weatherman
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