I plan on leaving Maine the middle of October for warmer waters, the winters are getting to cold for me. Looking for suggestions on cruising guides.
Brian
Heading South
Moderator: Jim Walsh
Carolinas
Brian,
As you head south, stop off for a while and sail the sounds of NC. It is a great area and some really fine areas to pop into to anchor or dock. Most areas are very sailboat friendly and, although shoal water in some places, most water is uniformly 12-20 feet deep. This makes it a little choppy but in the CD 36 no problem.
We sailed out of Ocracoke for several years and then out of Charleston.
The Georgetown, Charleston, Beaufort area is also great but mostly waterway travel. The good thing is that from one place to the other it is an offshore day down. The same can be for going from Morehead to Charleston or such. Not a bad trip but some offshore commercial traffic.
Also, the sounds of Georgia have some of the most tranquil areas around. Take advantage of a day or two to just sit back and watch the shrimp boats go by.
Clayborne Young has some good cruising guides that you can get from most boating stores.
Have a great time.
Bob B.
CD Typhoon, Liberty
As you head south, stop off for a while and sail the sounds of NC. It is a great area and some really fine areas to pop into to anchor or dock. Most areas are very sailboat friendly and, although shoal water in some places, most water is uniformly 12-20 feet deep. This makes it a little choppy but in the CD 36 no problem.
We sailed out of Ocracoke for several years and then out of Charleston.
The Georgetown, Charleston, Beaufort area is also great but mostly waterway travel. The good thing is that from one place to the other it is an offshore day down. The same can be for going from Morehead to Charleston or such. Not a bad trip but some offshore commercial traffic.
Also, the sounds of Georgia have some of the most tranquil areas around. Take advantage of a day or two to just sit back and watch the shrimp boats go by.
Clayborne Young has some good cruising guides that you can get from most boating stores.
Have a great time.
Bob B.
CD Typhoon, Liberty
Re: Heading South
Where are you heading? There is a lot of "south", cant recommend guides without knowing where you will be going and the route you are taking.Solmar wrote:I plan on leaving Maine the middle of October for warmer waters, the winters are getting to cold for me. Looking for suggestions on cruising guides.
Brian
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
Heading South
Russell,
For now, just heading for the Keys.
Brian
For now, just heading for the Keys.
Brian
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Sea Hunt
- Posts: 1310
- Joined: Jan 29th, '06, 23:14
- Location: Former caretaker of 1977 Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender (Hull #1400) "S/V Tadpole"
Debbie and Brian:
Assuming "south" includes South Florida I will be disappointed if you do not stop by for a visit. The local sailing club always has a guest mooring available and the waters of Biscayne Bay are always warm (at least compared to Maine waters
). Many sailors use it as a jumping off point (provisioning, etc.) for travel to the Bahamas and points south.
I know some good local "watering holes" and eateries and can provide ground transportation to anywhere in South Florida. As you know I am retired and I (unlike many of my brethren) understood immediately the meaning of the word "retired".
You have my phone numbers and email address. PLEASE let me know if I can assist with anything before or during your travels. It will be some small measure of repaying your generosity and kindness to me.
Assuming "south" includes South Florida I will be disappointed if you do not stop by for a visit. The local sailing club always has a guest mooring available and the waters of Biscayne Bay are always warm (at least compared to Maine waters
). Many sailors use it as a jumping off point (provisioning, etc.) for travel to the Bahamas and points south.I know some good local "watering holes" and eateries and can provide ground transportation to anywhere in South Florida. As you know I am retired and I (unlike many of my brethren) understood immediately the meaning of the word "retired".
You have my phone numbers and email address. PLEASE let me know if I can assist with anything before or during your travels. It will be some small measure of repaying your generosity and kindness to me.
Fair winds,
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
Managing the ICW is a great book. As are the skipper bobs books. I also like the books put out by Waterways Guides and having a current Reeds on hand is good. That is what I would bring with me.
If you plan to make your way south slowly, land based travel guides are also always nice to have for land exploring.
If you plan to make your way south slowly, land based travel guides are also always nice to have for land exploring.
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
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Sea Hunt
- Posts: 1310
- Joined: Jan 29th, '06, 23:14
- Location: Former caretaker of 1977 Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender (Hull #1400) "S/V Tadpole"
Debbie and Brian:
If I recall correctly, there is a member on this board with the moniker "Kittiwake" who owns a CD 28. He "winters" in the Florida Keys (Booth Key Harbor Marina in Marathon, Fl.
) and "summers" in the New England area. He solo sails his CD 28 up and down the ICW with some offshore sailing.
It is my recollection he has a wealth of knowledge, experience, and recommendations, etc. for folks traveling south (or north).
When I was looking at a CD moored at Booth Key Marina, he was very helpful to me with suggestions, thoughts, history of this particular CD, etc.
Perhaps you can locate him on this website and get his email, phone number, etc. I am guessing that because the heat index in the Keys today was about 101 that "Kittiwake" is probably still up in New England. He should be heading south in 1-2 months.
If I recall correctly, there is a member on this board with the moniker "Kittiwake" who owns a CD 28. He "winters" in the Florida Keys (Booth Key Harbor Marina in Marathon, Fl.
) and "summers" in the New England area. He solo sails his CD 28 up and down the ICW with some offshore sailing.It is my recollection he has a wealth of knowledge, experience, and recommendations, etc. for folks traveling south (or north).
When I was looking at a CD moored at Booth Key Marina, he was very helpful to me with suggestions, thoughts, history of this particular CD, etc.
Perhaps you can locate him on this website and get his email, phone number, etc. I am guessing that because the heat index in the Keys today was about 101 that "Kittiwake" is probably still up in New England.
He should be heading south in 1-2 months.Fair winds,
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
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marv brinn
- Posts: 202
- Joined: May 13th, '05, 09:43
- Location: CD 27 1982
Managing the Waterway
I agree wholeheartedly with Russel - Managing the Waterway by Mark and Diana Doyle has some features that other waterway guides do not - for instant safety info and "heads up" (bridges, inlets, etc) on the top of every page. Would also suggest using Clayborne Young's website, the Salty Southeast Cruisers Net. From Norfolk to Miami, the book is great, while the SSECN includes the Chesapeake and goes further south, etc.
Skipper Bob and other guidebooks are also available - remember that they are the comments of cruisers, so opinions of individuals.
Kittiwake is currently in the Chesapeake, getting ready for a bottom job before heading south (hopefully around the first of Oct) - will be happy to add my 2 cents worth to the mix.
Peace and Fair Winds, Bill
Skipper Bob and other guidebooks are also available - remember that they are the comments of cruisers, so opinions of individuals.
Kittiwake is currently in the Chesapeake, getting ready for a bottom job before heading south (hopefully around the first of Oct) - will be happy to add my 2 cents worth to the mix.
Peace and Fair Winds, Bill
Heading South
Brian: I have ran up and down the coast here. I have used the Skipper Bob's Anchorage Guide and found the Dozier's Waterway Guides to be quite useful as well.
Some cool places to visit include:
Annapolis, MD - Nice historic town and you can pick up a Mooring Ball for $25.00/night, they have launches (Water Taxis) for a couple of bucks to take you into town.
St Michaels , MD - Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a really cool place to visit and the docking will be a ~$1.00/ft because it is the off season.
Oriental, NC - Free overnight at the town dock, neat little town (pop. 900) with a lot of sailboats (~2400).
New Bern, NC - Tyron Place and you can anchor just on the other side of the RR Bridge.
Beaufort, NC - Pronounced Bo-fert, anchor across from the city docks and dingy across to main street.
Georgetown, SC - Visit the Rice Museum, Gen. Sherman did not burn the town to the ground on his march to the sea so the have a lot of historic homes.
Charleston, SC - Very cool historic city.
Beaufort, SC - Pronounced Bue-fert, nice collection of old homes. Anchor just past the marina.
Fair winds,
Eric
s/v Larissa
Some cool places to visit include:
Annapolis, MD - Nice historic town and you can pick up a Mooring Ball for $25.00/night, they have launches (Water Taxis) for a couple of bucks to take you into town.
St Michaels , MD - Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a really cool place to visit and the docking will be a ~$1.00/ft because it is the off season.
Oriental, NC - Free overnight at the town dock, neat little town (pop. 900) with a lot of sailboats (~2400).
New Bern, NC - Tyron Place and you can anchor just on the other side of the RR Bridge.
Beaufort, NC - Pronounced Bo-fert, anchor across from the city docks and dingy across to main street.
Georgetown, SC - Visit the Rice Museum, Gen. Sherman did not burn the town to the ground on his march to the sea so the have a lot of historic homes.
Charleston, SC - Very cool historic city.
Beaufort, SC - Pronounced Bue-fert, nice collection of old homes. Anchor just past the marina.
Fair winds,
Eric
s/v Larissa
Cumberland Island
All the above listed places are great, I could sail all these waters for a lifetime. Cumberland Island, GA is not mentioned and it is a very special place with a great anchorage. It is convenient to St. Mary's inlet which is an easy, short, offshore daysail from St. Simons Inlet in good weather. The island does not offer the same attractions as the other ports but the natural and cultural history is rich.
Have a great cruise and don't miss any of the ports mentioned if you can help it! Hope you can get some oysters or clams if you catch the cool weather.
I almost forgot Cape Lookout which is convenient to Beaufort, NC. That's a great place to bob around for a while.
Chase
Have a great cruise and don't miss any of the ports mentioned if you can help it! Hope you can get some oysters or clams if you catch the cool weather.
I almost forgot Cape Lookout which is convenient to Beaufort, NC. That's a great place to bob around for a while.
Chase
Heading South
Thanks for all of the info. I have started a file with all of the suggestions. I will keep the board informed of location and look forward to meeting as many of the CD'ers as possiable.
Robert aka Sea Hunt, I look forward to hooking up when I am in your area. Also Debbie will be staying in the NH this trip. Someone has to work.
Brian
Robert aka Sea Hunt, I look forward to hooking up when I am in your area. Also Debbie will be staying in the NH this trip. Someone has to work.
Brian
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Sea Hunt
- Posts: 1310
- Joined: Jan 29th, '06, 23:14
- Location: Former caretaker of 1977 Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender (Hull #1400) "S/V Tadpole"
Re: Heading South
YippeeSolmar wrote: Robert aka Sea Hunt, I look forward to hooking up when I am in your area. Also Debbie will be staying in the NH this trip. Someone has to work.
I'm thinking "party time" Ah, the babes, the mojitos, the babes. You will be walking distance from the heart of Coconut Grove's nightlife. In the winter months it is spectacular. I, of course, have no personal knowledge of this. It is what my younger friends tell me.Just make sure Debbie doesn't see this post. She will kill me
The website for the Coconut Grove Sailing Club is:
http://www.cgsc.org/
They have lat/lon position on their website as well as a list of phone numbers. To reserve a mooring you want the General Manager [305.444.4571 ext 18] or Dockmaster [same #, ext 11].
You may want to reserve a mooring (or make contact with the club) as soon as possible. I know you will not have any exact dates but you will get your name on some list.
On the website there is also a "click on" thing labeled "contacts". In a "drop down"
it has a bar for directions by sea. This will give you detailed channel markers, etc. for both entering from ICW and from oceanside.Fair winds,
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
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Cathy Monaghan
- Posts: 3502
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 08:17
- Location: 1986 CD32 Realization #3, Rahway, NJ, Raritan Bay -- CDSOA Member since 2000. Greenline 39 Electra
- Contact:
Brian,
If you take the inside route (Cape Cod Canal, Long Island Sound, NY Harbor, then out past Sandy Hook) let us know when you'll be passing through NY Harbor.
Most cruisers travelling south from there stop in Atlantic Highlands, NJ usually due to weather. There's a marina (slips), yacht club (moorings) and a nice anchorage. Anyway, if we're around, we'll try to meet up with you -- either by boat or by car. If we come by car we can take you for provisions. The FoodTown is an easy walk from the harbor but sometimes it's not so easy when you're carrying heavy bags of groceries (we have a cart onboard to make trips to the store or laundromat easier -- if you don't have one, put it on your to do list). Also an easy walk from the harbor there's a laundromat and the free public library, lots of restaurants too. If you need parts/supplies we can take you to West Marine or wherever. You can fuel up at the marina.
Also we'll be attending the Raritan Bay Float-in at Atlantic Highlands on the weekend of October 3-4, so if you're passing through then, try to make the float-in. In early November we'll be attending the CDSOA annual general meeting in Maryland, so we won't be around that weekend. If you'll be passing through the Chesapeake then, try to make the meeting in Havre de Grace. It's right on the water and there are marine facilities there as well.
Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
If you take the inside route (Cape Cod Canal, Long Island Sound, NY Harbor, then out past Sandy Hook) let us know when you'll be passing through NY Harbor.
Most cruisers travelling south from there stop in Atlantic Highlands, NJ usually due to weather. There's a marina (slips), yacht club (moorings) and a nice anchorage. Anyway, if we're around, we'll try to meet up with you -- either by boat or by car. If we come by car we can take you for provisions. The FoodTown is an easy walk from the harbor but sometimes it's not so easy when you're carrying heavy bags of groceries (we have a cart onboard to make trips to the store or laundromat easier -- if you don't have one, put it on your to do list). Also an easy walk from the harbor there's a laundromat and the free public library, lots of restaurants too. If you need parts/supplies we can take you to West Marine or wherever. You can fuel up at the marina.
Also we'll be attending the Raritan Bay Float-in at Atlantic Highlands on the weekend of October 3-4, so if you're passing through then, try to make the float-in. In early November we'll be attending the CDSOA annual general meeting in Maryland, so we won't be around that weekend. If you'll be passing through the Chesapeake then, try to make the meeting in Havre de Grace. It's right on the water and there are marine facilities there as well.
Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay