I’m certainly biased but I don’t believe you can find better sailing on inland waters in the US. The Great Lakes offer fantastic sailing but the season is much shorter and your boat must be hauled out for the winter. Most sailors keep their boat in the water all winter at Kentucky Lake. If it’s an exceptional cold winter a bubbler will work. All of the Tennessee River System offers interesting possibilities as well as very good taxation. It’s worth investigating and seeing just how your personal circumstances would play out.
Where to retire and sail
- Thread starter Randall Schmidt
- Start date
Having stayed on board in Oriental several times and sailed the sounds and rivers,, that's an excellent area. Ocracoke is a neat place
But I've also sailed in Mississippi Sound. Pascagoula, Gulfport, Biloxi- All great sailing, both in the sound and out to the barrier islands. Couldn't argue with either spot- BUT Mississippi Sound in summer will be way warmer than out of Oriental
Doesn't bother me cause I'm from Texas
But I've also sailed in Mississippi Sound. Pascagoula, Gulfport, Biloxi- All great sailing, both in the sound and out to the barrier islands. Couldn't argue with either spot- BUT Mississippi Sound in summer will be way warmer than out of Oriental
Doesn't bother me cause I'm from Texas 
For just the sailing, I can't think of a better place than San Francisco Bay. It is some of the most challenging, and yet most fun sailing I've ever done. There is little risk that a hurricane will destroy your boat and the horror of afternoon thunderstorms, everpresent in the Gulf, Fla and mid-Atlantic regions is almost non-existent in Frisco. The biggest drawback to sailing there is the cold water and Mediterranean climate, but some really like that. There may still be a large, active racing community, as well. There are some good cruises to Point Reyes and Tomales Bay, and a couple of weeks up the rivers can be a gas. On the right days, a sail out the Golden Gate to catch a fabulous sunset can be a grand adventure.
I LOVE the Pamlico and abemarle sounds ... there are Cove’s there with 100 year old Cyprus with Spanish moss dripping to the water. And swing keels are perfect for that type of an adventure.
Earlier you asked about how to message a member. Click the persons avatar.
Earlier you asked about how to message a member. Click the persons avatar.
Randall,
Tell us a little more about your situation. Can you afford to move seasonally? Does it have to be a four season cruising ground? Are you centerboard or keeled? Do you overnight (1 or multiple nights) or just day sail?
I grew up sailing out of Clearwater, Tampa Bay is an awesome place for day sailing. There are a lot of short destination beaches, ICW dockside dining, islands and great fishing. For longer cruising, the north or south routes along the coast lead to very interesting and diverse places as well as great food and even better fishing and diving. My family took regular trips to Key West and Dry Tortugas, South, and Cedar Key and Panama City, North. Plus lots of great places in between. Then there is the ICW and the Okeechobee Waterways, not much for sailing, but great cruises and easy access to the East coast. The sail to the Bahamas would be easy in a boat like yours. It does get hot in the Summer and there are thunder storms. Most don't last more than an hour, but they can also last all night long. Not so much during the day. I've personally sailed around Naples and Marco Island, I did not find it hard to paddle my hobie from the ramp to the wind and out the channel, but I'm sure there are days where that could be a challenge without an engine. It was more the case on the East coast around Boynton Beach, when I lived there. The boat launch was a long ways from the pass to the ocean side. The Keys are actually cooler than most of the rest of the Southern Gulf coast because of the water.
I also lived in NC with my Hobie, but we only made it out to the coast a couple of times with her. Beautiful place and expansive shoal draft sailing. The O'day 28 should be just about right. The food is incredible there, too. If you like blue crab and southern cooking, that is the place to be. Unless, New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain with Gulf access is something that sounds good to you. The food is the best I've had anywhere, except for a Tuna plate at 'Whale of a Tale' in Saint Thomas, I will be searching all the rest of my life for the equal to that dish. I have spent a couple of weeks shipwrecked on Dauphin Island in Mobile Bay (when the first 'Rocky' movie came out). A beautiful working maritime community with fantastic oysters and the Bay is huge.
If you can divide your time, for me, the perfect life on/with a sailboat would be between the Keys and all the access that has to the Caribbean, and the Coast of Maine with more islands, inlets, bays, sounds, harbors and waterfront communities that it is possible to count. Nowhere is more traditional. Rockland has the annual lobster fest and boasts the biggest Jazz/Blues music festival this side of the Mississippi. You would be just three hours from French Canada and Scottish rooted Nova Scotia It is quiet and casual and unpopulated, yet Boston is just the other end of the 12 miles of NH coast. I think, economically, Maine is a lot cheaper that just about anywhere else you might choose.
You have a very difficult choice to make here. My parents have friends in Norfolk and we sailed in and out of there a couple of times as well as driven in, a few. That area is so interesting and lots of places to sail that are like nowhere else. Galveston Tx is another good place to look at with access to the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and even trips to the resorts in Mexico, I think you would take up all the rest of your retirement just finding great places to sail along that area.
Do you fish, do you dive? I love the DC area, my son lives in DC. Are you sure you want to move?
Good luck on your quest.
-Will (Dragonfly)
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Randall, I went through the same process two years ago , I retired and wanted to get away from the Ice and snow you find on Cape cod, Massachusetts. I sail a boat similar to you a Catalina 28 and as looking for place where I could sail 12 months of the year if I wanted. Also wanted to be able to sail in a protected areawhile still having access to the ocean. I looked at Oriental while the sailing is great you are isolated. Off season The population drops significantly and if medical and shopping access are a concern you are about 30-45 minutes away which is in New Bern. I also looked at Wilmington, Nc. the problem you run into is you are always ocean sailing which is fine if that is what you want.
We settled in New Bern in a gated community, Fairfield Harbor, I have my boat in my backyard but there are also three marinas. It is an active sailing community with both racing and cruising activities.
If you want to talk send me an email at pbudzy7385@aol.com
We settled in New Bern in a gated community, Fairfield Harbor, I have my boat in my backyard but there are also three marinas. It is an active sailing community with both racing and cruising activities.
If you want to talk send me an email at pbudzy7385@aol.com
How are liking the 95F heat we're having? If the answer is "yes," then move south. If maybe not, consdier buying better clothes and moving farther south on the Chesapeake. I sail all year. I'm in Deale, MD too. I'm retitred and I'm not planning on moving south. Too hot.
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2018/01/mid-winter-sailing.html
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2018/01/mid-winter-sailing.html
I'm liking it not so much. Hot is a problem. On Long Island I've been a virtual shut in these last few days and it's not even that hot. Dew points are high but we've barely broken 90. I'm looking at South Florida and the temps are similar. In fact right now there doesn't seem to be much cool air anywhere in the continental U.S.
On the other hand I agree about Winter sailing. It is a whole different experience. And my dermatologist would be happier.
On the other hand I agree about Winter sailing. It is a whole different experience. And my dermatologist would be happier.
We left the midwest where we had 100 degree days and moved to Punta Gorda on Charlotte Harbor. I shipped my Cal 27 down but ended up losing it to hurricane Charlie. Started a second career teaching high school for 8 years and have finally retired for good. We love this area and plan to never move back. Never gets hotter than 95 and the humidity is the same as it was in the midwest. We now have Allegiant airlines offering cheap flights. We have a very active sailing club. http://www.pgscweb.com. We live on a canal with the boat behind the house. We try to cruise at least one week a month. Life is good.
I love our access to Lake Guntersville in Alabama. My boat is 30 min enjoyable drive and serves our family well. There is pleanty of room for day sails and of course you can get to the gulf but I think that is like a week long trip. The bad is summer bugs and spiders. The good is sail year round, with warm cloths.
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I have to put in a good word for sunny Arizona: no humidity, no snow, (hardly) any rain, no bugs, no mildew, no hurricanes, no alligators...
It’s true the lakes aren’t large, but there’re big enough for day sails, and you can sail year round without resorting to Gil parkas.
Is it a bit toasty right now? Sure, but I’ll take it at 5% humidity over what the rest of the country is currently suffering through any day.
It’s true the lakes aren’t large, but there’re big enough for day sails, and you can sail year round without resorting to Gil parkas.
Is it a bit toasty right now? Sure, but I’ll take it at 5% humidity over what the rest of the country is currently suffering through any day.
@peterbud
I told him about Fairfield Harbor recommending the marina next door which I use to keep a boat there. I believe Dawn is the manager when I had my dealership in NC but can you advisee name and phone number. Many thanks. I helped keep that marina full but if you know Dawn, ask her if any birds flew into her windshield and flipped over hitting a police car window. She may either smile or hit you with a wet mop.
crazy dave condon
I told him about Fairfield Harbor recommending the marina next door which I use to keep a boat there. I believe Dawn is the manager when I had my dealership in NC but can you advisee name and phone number. Many thanks. I helped keep that marina full but if you know Dawn, ask her if any birds flew into her windshield and flipped over hitting a police car window. She may either smile or hit you with a wet mop.
crazy dave condon
"A place to live where I can sail..." So, where to live is the priority question, I suppose. Where can one afford to live relatively near the water in retirement? Here in California most folks it seems sell their boats, get out of boating, and move inland (desert, San Joaquin Valley), or to inland states such as Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, etc. Start with that. How far do you want to be from the boat? One must "live" everyday but most people sail, if lucky, maybe 30 d/yr. And I doubt you'd be able to even keep that up for long if not close to the water. Oh, the wistful visions of a pending retirement.
Oh, and it has to be warm with no ocean. That knocks it down to the SE United States or areas near mountain lakes (limited cruising) where it is normally warm to live, where the lakes do not freeze, and where a 28-ft sailboat boat can be maintained. I'd probably go with the Ft. Myers, FL suggestion. Can't really call the GOM "the ocean" most of the time, at least not near shore. But then, if you did want to go out into "the ocean", you could sail to the Keys or to Dry Tortugas from Ft. Myers. After that, if you can supply more $$, the St. Pete Beach areas of west-central Florida are good, perhaps Gulf Port, FL which may be a bit less expensive than St. Pete Beach. You can transit via the ICW all through there, but to cruise much you'd have to go into the GOM for certain legs. Have to beware that golfing doesn't supplant your sailing plans, however, in those areas.
But the most vast sailing venue in the US that's not in the ocean, has year round access (even if you don't wish to be out there in mid-summer's heat and humidity), is almost never "cold" (i.e., to 45 deg or lower), with many potential destinations and lots of communities to stage from, is on Tampa Bay itself, especially mid to lower Tampa Bay. However, take a look at Apollo Beach, FL, which is more in the upper Bay. I do have to tell you that I lived on TB for 11 years and sailed extensively there. I, personally, would not pick it as my retirement sailing venue, however. Far more interesting places are to be found, especially in or near western Canada (British Columbia)---but, you'd have to accept "the conditions" and the cost of housing, etc. Capta's recommendation of SFB is an excellent one as well for sailing--especially if you could live in Sausilito; but $$$$$$
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Winter in the Keys... Summer in the Finger Lakes... Seneca is gorgeous... or Henderson Harbor or Chaumont on Ontario. Fresh water is wonderful. We sail and swim all day! The temps are mild. You could sail one tack all day on Ontario.
We bought our Catalina 25 at Lighthouse Landing and than we bought our 310 At Green Turtle Bay on Kentucky Lake (both are right across from each other separated by a spit of land) with John Pinney the broker. He tried his very best to get us to stay there, come to find out We had raced against him years earlier-He was super honest and friendly-We were both still working at the time and had been sailing the Sweet Water of Lake Erie and had the boat trucked up there.
We really enjoyed sailing Ky Lake- if you like anchoring and (to the best of my expeirence ) not many ports-On Erie we have many Islands and destinations-we also cold winters and boat needs pulled-unlike KY lake where they stay in the water.
If our grandkids did not live in Michigan, that would be just another reason to go back to Green Turtle Bay (our son lives in Nashville) . Sailing on Ky lake or Lake Barclay you need to be Aware of the Barges (Like freighters on Erie) and be aware that Green Turtle Bay is in a dry County-again that can be overcome., If we ever get our fill of Erie I would go to GTB!
Have fun we are blessed to be able to make those choices!
We really enjoyed sailing Ky Lake- if you like anchoring and (to the best of my expeirence ) not many ports-On Erie we have many Islands and destinations-we also cold winters and boat needs pulled-unlike KY lake where they stay in the water.
If our grandkids did not live in Michigan, that would be just another reason to go back to Green Turtle Bay (our son lives in Nashville) . Sailing on Ky lake or Lake Barclay you need to be Aware of the Barges (Like freighters on Erie) and be aware that Green Turtle Bay is in a dry County-again that can be overcome., If we ever get our fill of Erie I would go to GTB!
Have fun we are blessed to be able to make those choices!
That is truly wise advice.
Many of us "like" where we are, because, well, uhm, that's where we chose to be and also where our boats are located.
I always thought I'd like to stay in SF forever, liked sailing and traveling on our boat from there.
Familial reasons had me move to Vancouver Island. We sailed the boat up, because, you know...
While it is vastly different here (winter, what the heck is that all about???), and actually strategically, tactically, safety-wise different, it has "made me a kid again" exploring new places and meeting new people.
It is truly exciting and fun. Glad the boat's here.
I have friends here who brought their boat, on a five year plan, to Mexico seven years ago. Winter in MX, back here for the summer. They finally wanted their boat back home, so had it shipped up.
Others have two boats. THAT'S a sweet deal. How they afford it? Usually not folks we see on this forum...
Kinda whatever floats your boat, seems to be the answer.
Your boat, your choice.
But you're right, it is soooo very nice to even have that choice! And given what I've read about the plummeting quantity of boat ownership and fractional ownerships, we could very well be the last generation of recreational boat ownership on the scale we've seen in the past 50+ years.
Boy, were we lucky. Having hard working parents and doing it ourselves, too, didn't hurt.
“ Sailing on Ky lake or Lake Barclay you need to be Aware of the Barges (Like freighters on Erie) and be aware that Green Turtle Bay is in a dry County-again that can be overcome., If we ever get our fill of Erie I would go to GTB!”
That just changed! The county is no longer wet. The old IGA is under new management/new name and it’s sells beer and they took a corner of the store and made it a liquor store.
That just changed! The county is no longer wet. The old IGA is under new management/new name and it’s sells beer and they took a corner of the store and made it a liquor store.