The odd question of the week. I live in New Bern NC, sail out of Oriental. To me this is paradise, my wife not too nuts about it. Does anyone have any ideas on great place to live and sail south of here? I sailed out of Kent Island for a while, but I like warm weather. Thanks for any advice. Larry, S/V Valor.
Where to live, Where to sail?????
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Maybe your wife just isn't too crazy about
sailing anywhere. Nancy shows only a moderate liking for sailing in order to get to a nice anchorage. She enjoys being on the boat and sight seeing from the water side. Try to get to the real reasons that your wife is not enthusiastic about Oriental sailing. If it is the sailing part no change of location will change that.
sailing anywhere. Nancy shows only a moderate liking for sailing in order to get to a nice anchorage. She enjoys being on the boat and sight seeing from the water side. Try to get to the real reasons that your wife is not enthusiastic about Oriental sailing. If it is the sailing part no change of location will change that.
where to sail and live?
No she loves sailing, in fact we are going to the BVI’s next week for 10 days of bareboat. I think she would like a little bigger town, restaurants, shopping etc…(more things to do) For me this is perfect as I’m from Norfolk so I love the south, the water (ex- waterman), I love the people. I even put a little thought into moving some were around Norfolk again.
No she loves sailing, in fact we are going to the BVI’s next week for 10 days of bareboat. I think she would like a little bigger town, restaurants, shopping etc…(more things to do) For me this is perfect as I’m from Norfolk so I love the south, the water (ex- waterman), I love the people. I even put a little thought into moving some were around Norfolk again.
living and sailing
I moved to Jax, Fl in 1992 and refuse to leave. I sail on 40 miles of the St. Johns River from Green Cove Springs to Mayport, the intra coastal from St. Augustine to Fernandina and the Atlantic Ocean. The cost of living is low, there are no state income taxes, the sailing weather is year round. There's no shortage of things to do; there is a different festival at the beaches every weekend from April until September. Everything from the big city to the small town is within driving and sailing distance. You can enjoy everything from deserted anchorages to free docks downtown in the entertainment district, even a free public marina next to the Jaguars stadium, not to mention a sea breeze every day starting at noon all summer that fills the sails like clock work. Life is good.
I moved to Jax, Fl in 1992 and refuse to leave. I sail on 40 miles of the St. Johns River from Green Cove Springs to Mayport, the intra coastal from St. Augustine to Fernandina and the Atlantic Ocean. The cost of living is low, there are no state income taxes, the sailing weather is year round. There's no shortage of things to do; there is a different festival at the beaches every weekend from April until September. Everything from the big city to the small town is within driving and sailing distance. You can enjoy everything from deserted anchorages to free docks downtown in the entertainment district, even a free public marina next to the Jaguars stadium, not to mention a sea breeze every day starting at noon all summer that fills the sails like clock work. Life is good.
Best area to live
Check out Naples. It is expensive but it is wonderful. Easy overnight or 2 day sail to the Keys or go up and sail along the coast. Easy sail to Ft Myers then through and around Captiva, Sanibel and beautiful out Islands. Lots of Marinas and places to do things. Here, in NAPLES we have famous 5th Ave shopping, fine dining and the Phil as well as fishing and boating. Sailing around and through the canals lined with the multi million dollar homes is fun too. Golf? plenty of places to do that and world class courses. Drive down and check it out. You CAN tell when you arrive in NAples. It is landscaped like "Disneyworld" (can you tell I am a REALTOR?)
Check out Naples. It is expensive but it is wonderful. Easy overnight or 2 day sail to the Keys or go up and sail along the coast. Easy sail to Ft Myers then through and around Captiva, Sanibel and beautiful out Islands. Lots of Marinas and places to do things. Here, in NAPLES we have famous 5th Ave shopping, fine dining and the Phil as well as fishing and boating. Sailing around and through the canals lined with the multi million dollar homes is fun too. Golf? plenty of places to do that and world class courses. Drive down and check it out. You CAN tell when you arrive in NAples. It is landscaped like "Disneyworld" (can you tell I am a REALTOR?)
Go Florida
In 2000 we spent some time looking around north and south carolina and I fell in love with New Bern and I wanted to buy in Fairfield Harbor but my wife was willing to go live there but she was not crazy about,she wanted more shopping stores but she is not a shopper at all she really hates shopping but felt when she did need things she wanted more she always say's she likes sailing is not her only life like me. So about three years ago we locked into a 55 and over gated community in port chaharlotte west coast florida. I wanted more sailing time and she wanted no winter ice and snow so check east and west florida also
In 2000 we spent some time looking around north and south carolina and I fell in love with New Bern and I wanted to buy in Fairfield Harbor but my wife was willing to go live there but she was not crazy about,she wanted more shopping stores but she is not a shopper at all she really hates shopping but felt when she did need things she wanted more she always say's she likes sailing is not her only life like me. So about three years ago we locked into a 55 and over gated community in port chaharlotte west coast florida. I wanted more sailing time and she wanted no winter ice and snow so check east and west florida also
New York to New Bern
We moved from New York to New Bern 2 1/2 years ago and love it. We keep our boat at the Northwest Creek Marina which in only 15 miles from home. When we return to NY for family reasons it is a 10 hour drive. Long but certainly doable. John
We moved from New York to New Bern 2 1/2 years ago and love it. We keep our boat at the Northwest Creek Marina which in only 15 miles from home. When we return to NY for family reasons it is a 10 hour drive. Long but certainly doable. John
Another vote for Florida
Given what you are looking for, I think you should personally check out the Florida suggestions. Naples is a great location, and a very upscale community not too far from Miami if you need the bright lights. Charlotte Harbor (Punta Gorda area) is actually better sailing (less shallow water in the Bay) and still within reach of lots of nice places up and down the Gulf Coast. Sanibel or Fort Myers Beach are lovely, but getting too crowded for me. The Jacksonville area, specifically Fernandina Beach, might be exactly what you are looking for. It's still in the South (Naples is not), not yet overpriced (like Sanibel etc) and is a great sailing area for local sails, or jumping off spot for the Bahamas. Not as warm as the Southwest Coast, but a lovely town close to amenities. Avoid anything South of Melbourne on the east coast. It's over crowded and ov er priced. The search should be a lot of fun. Good luck. Sanders (former Floridian) s/v Good News
Given what you are looking for, I think you should personally check out the Florida suggestions. Naples is a great location, and a very upscale community not too far from Miami if you need the bright lights. Charlotte Harbor (Punta Gorda area) is actually better sailing (less shallow water in the Bay) and still within reach of lots of nice places up and down the Gulf Coast. Sanibel or Fort Myers Beach are lovely, but getting too crowded for me. The Jacksonville area, specifically Fernandina Beach, might be exactly what you are looking for. It's still in the South (Naples is not), not yet overpriced (like Sanibel etc) and is a great sailing area for local sails, or jumping off spot for the Bahamas. Not as warm as the Southwest Coast, but a lovely town close to amenities. Avoid anything South of Melbourne on the east coast. It's over crowded and ov er priced. The search should be a lot of fun. Good luck. Sanders (former Floridian) s/v Good News
Looking at New bern or Fla also
Will be going to New bern in June to chechk it out in June. WIll be relocating from Rhode Island in Jan '09 not sure if NC or FL is the way to go. Nice comments keep em coming Ron Chels-A-Bella 3532 C-30
Will be going to New bern in June to chechk it out in June. WIll be relocating from Rhode Island in Jan '09 not sure if NC or FL is the way to go. Nice comments keep em coming Ron Chels-A-Bella 3532 C-30
New Bern, Yay!
You want to LEAVE New Bern? Interesting. My wife and I have a contract on a house in Fairfield Harbor, (median age, 65 for the males,64 and a little something for the women), which makes us a little young(er) and also which means a paradigm shift from the colder climes of CT. I am NOT bringing the snowblower. When we visited Oriental a couple of years ago, my wife also wanted to be closer to "civilization", although I can be happy anywhere the boat is. However, since she essentially chose the boat, is willing to make the trek back and forth to CT for the summer months, and is a general good sport as long as she has land-based roots somewhere, it sounds like a good compromise. So we are on the waiting list for both the Fairfield Harbor marinas and Northwest Creek, which looks like a fine facility. I think the only way we'll find space in Fairfield Harbor is if some of the current leasers expire. After finding out how much slip rentals are for our size boat, I can understand why. At least they can't deed them to their kids, unless the house is on a canal. Check back in a year and I'll tell you how happy or not we may be with the decision. I already cleaned out one house this year, and now I'm starting on the next. We have a launch date two weeks from yesterday, so all I have to do is repair two mast lights, get the windlass installed and install the Dinghy-Tow, another experiment. Life is exciting and boats just make it better. Fair winds, all. Bill Coxe, O40 Kukulcán, New London (for now), CT
You want to LEAVE New Bern? Interesting. My wife and I have a contract on a house in Fairfield Harbor, (median age, 65 for the males,64 and a little something for the women), which makes us a little young(er) and also which means a paradigm shift from the colder climes of CT. I am NOT bringing the snowblower. When we visited Oriental a couple of years ago, my wife also wanted to be closer to "civilization", although I can be happy anywhere the boat is. However, since she essentially chose the boat, is willing to make the trek back and forth to CT for the summer months, and is a general good sport as long as she has land-based roots somewhere, it sounds like a good compromise. So we are on the waiting list for both the Fairfield Harbor marinas and Northwest Creek, which looks like a fine facility. I think the only way we'll find space in Fairfield Harbor is if some of the current leasers expire. After finding out how much slip rentals are for our size boat, I can understand why. At least they can't deed them to their kids, unless the house is on a canal. Check back in a year and I'll tell you how happy or not we may be with the decision. I already cleaned out one house this year, and now I'm starting on the next. We have a launch date two weeks from yesterday, so all I have to do is repair two mast lights, get the windlass installed and install the Dinghy-Tow, another experiment. Life is exciting and boats just make it better. Fair winds, all. Bill Coxe, O40 Kukulcán, New London (for now), CT
Don’t get me wrong I love the area, as well as the sailing. We still haven’t made up our minds yet, (I’m still pulling for here…) I was originally from Norfolk, Va. Spent a lot of my younger years being a waterman on the Chesapeake and down around Manns Harbor NC. Moved up north, owned/ ran a bar in Hoboken NJ, sold out moved down to where I started. I soooo do not miss the winters. Thanks for every one with their two cents worth. I will do some looking around. But there are some good starting points.
Alternative idea
Agree that Florida is the place to be, but it keeps getting more crowded and expensive. There are interesting alternatives. We met people in St. Thomas who live on their boat there 7-8 mo. a year, move the boat to Trinidad in July or so, and then go somewhere in N.C. for the rest of hurricane season - maybe through Christmas.
Agree that Florida is the place to be, but it keeps getting more crowded and expensive. There are interesting alternatives. We met people in St. Thomas who live on their boat there 7-8 mo. a year, move the boat to Trinidad in July or so, and then go somewhere in N.C. for the rest of hurricane season - maybe through Christmas.
Deep South
I dont pretent to know anything(thats why i go by "dont know slip" but i live on the gulf coast now and love it. Moved here after wanting to for about 20 years and I hate to say this but Katrina made it possible. Brand new to sailing but grew up on a houseboat on the Kentucky River(with a sidewinder dingy). I like to go really fast but need the challenge that an impeller can't provide. In the immortal words of a great poet"I have found me a home". HOT summers, mild winters, good job and there are plenty of them, WONDERFUL PEOPLE, and a breeze. By all means go Gulf Coastal man.
I dont pretent to know anything(thats why i go by "dont know slip" but i live on the gulf coast now and love it. Moved here after wanting to for about 20 years and I hate to say this but Katrina made it possible. Brand new to sailing but grew up on a houseboat on the Kentucky River(with a sidewinder dingy). I like to go really fast but need the challenge that an impeller can't provide. In the immortal words of a great poet"I have found me a home". HOT summers, mild winters, good job and there are plenty of them, WONDERFUL PEOPLE, and a breeze. By all means go Gulf Coastal man.
Become a Snowbird??
The beauty of a sailboat is that it isn't attached to real estate. I like FLorida but the summertime weather takes some getting used to. You might want to join the parade of boats going south in the fall and north in the spring. Building a retirement home in Florida migh tnot be a good idea. It won't be long until another hurricane comes through. We kinda thought about somewhere like Georgia. To me an ideal location would be a lake about 75-100 miles from the coast. You sail on the lake and then go to the coast when you want to go someplace. Not having to deal with barnacles and oysters growing on your boat is nice. Realistically look at your sailing plans. If cruising is in the plans or daysailing. Also if you are retired you can live away from the coast and use the boat as a beach house. AS much as I love WILD Florida the developed Florida is pretty depressing miles and miles and miles of suburbia with a seve eleven on every other corner and a hamburger joint on the other corners. The suburbia developement monster is eating all of wild Florida. Once wild beaches are now just a line of condominiums. Hurricanes are the only hope for Florida to retain any wild spaces. The future Florida is where you drive for hours and hours in heavy traffic through suburbia and pay to park and walk between condos to a little tiny strip of beach covered with people. BLAH
The beauty of a sailboat is that it isn't attached to real estate. I like FLorida but the summertime weather takes some getting used to. You might want to join the parade of boats going south in the fall and north in the spring. Building a retirement home in Florida migh tnot be a good idea. It won't be long until another hurricane comes through. We kinda thought about somewhere like Georgia. To me an ideal location would be a lake about 75-100 miles from the coast. You sail on the lake and then go to the coast when you want to go someplace. Not having to deal with barnacles and oysters growing on your boat is nice. Realistically look at your sailing plans. If cruising is in the plans or daysailing. Also if you are retired you can live away from the coast and use the boat as a beach house. AS much as I love WILD Florida the developed Florida is pretty depressing miles and miles and miles of suburbia with a seve eleven on every other corner and a hamburger joint on the other corners. The suburbia developement monster is eating all of wild Florida. Once wild beaches are now just a line of condominiums. Hurricanes are the only hope for Florida to retain any wild spaces. The future Florida is where you drive for hours and hours in heavy traffic through suburbia and pay to park and walk between condos to a little tiny strip of beach covered with people. BLAH
So Tom....
Have you found that "ideal location... a lake about 75-100 miles from the coast?" If so, please share. I don't know how many more winters I can take. Kathy
Have you found that "ideal location... a lake about 75-100 miles from the coast?" If so, please share. I don't know how many more winters I can take. Kathy
Kathy it's the Tennessee River
It's definately not ideal because it's 450 miles!!! Some people keep their boats in Demopolis which is closer to the coast but there is no sailing there. Pickwick Lake is another choice destination. It is a big lake and is connected to other lakes by locking through. Augusta Georgia has locks but I don't know if it is sailboat friendly. One of my daughters lives in Atlanta so Augusta would be nice. We have been on most of the lakes on the TN river. Kentucky lake is the largest and has about 40 miles that is sailable. The "Land Between the Lakes" is a huge recreational area between lake Barkley and KY lake. We have talked about moving to Paris....Tennessee that is. Which is on the southern end of LBL. That way we would have a large lake to sail on and also have access to the gulf. Spend the summers on the TN river lakes and then head south when the leaves start falling. By the time you sailed around the coast to the keys and the Bahamas it would be June so head back up river to miss all of the excitement of hurricane season. BTW we came up the TN-Tom last spring. The lower river was a little scarey being narrow with sand bars, alligators and most importantly barges. But after Demopolis it is a series of lakes with very little current. It is motoring all of the 450 miles. The big land cut is a little scarey in that you have 20 miles or so of a narrow ditch so engine trouble there would be a problem. Finding a place to anchor can be a problem especially below Coffeeville.
It's definately not ideal because it's 450 miles!!! Some people keep their boats in Demopolis which is closer to the coast but there is no sailing there. Pickwick Lake is another choice destination. It is a big lake and is connected to other lakes by locking through. Augusta Georgia has locks but I don't know if it is sailboat friendly. One of my daughters lives in Atlanta so Augusta would be nice. We have been on most of the lakes on the TN river. Kentucky lake is the largest and has about 40 miles that is sailable. The "Land Between the Lakes" is a huge recreational area between lake Barkley and KY lake. We have talked about moving to Paris....Tennessee that is. Which is on the southern end of LBL. That way we would have a large lake to sail on and also have access to the gulf. Spend the summers on the TN river lakes and then head south when the leaves start falling. By the time you sailed around the coast to the keys and the Bahamas it would be June so head back up river to miss all of the excitement of hurricane season. BTW we came up the TN-Tom last spring. The lower river was a little scarey being narrow with sand bars, alligators and most importantly barges. But after Demopolis it is a series of lakes with very little current. It is motoring all of the 450 miles. The big land cut is a little scarey in that you have 20 miles or so of a narrow ditch so engine trouble there would be a problem. Finding a place to anchor can be a problem especially below Coffeeville.
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