Hi, Sherwin, and group,

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...


Skip Gundlach wrote:.


We'll need to do that quickly - not hang out on the hook for the best
weather, which will mean trying to guage the weather before we leave from
St. Pete.


Hi Skip,
You can take advantage of the Northers that come down from the upper USA.
That causes the winds to go around clockwise. Timing here is critical
that you
start
your trip when the winds are from the SE or S.

That's as we assumed - it's the making it there such that we don't have to
wait around for those winds which is our challenge.

You
seem to have a 63 footer which should get you across the 50 mile span in
say 6
hours,
or less. I would leave at the crack of dawn to allow an arrival in early
afternoon, barring
other unusual circumstances. Also, check the Yachtsman's Guide for
facilities
there.

Actually, that's the air draft. The boat's only a 46, 39.25 WL. VanSandt
seems to think it's much longer than that, recommending leaving just before
lunch to arrive by dawnish the next day. I have thought that to be rather
more than generous, but I surely want to arrive in full light. In any
event, if we were motoring at less than pedal-to-the-metal, or sailing in
good winds, we'd be in the 6's and 7's. That seems to make for - with
drift - more like a 10 or more hour crossing. Most of what I'd assumed
folks have done seemed oriented around Lake Worth, which has folks leaving
in the middle of the night, for a full-daylight arrival.

And, of course, if it's not north, most likely it will be east winds, making
it necessary to motor. My only direct experience with the stream was a very
light wind from the west, with very calm conditions, in early March a few
years ago, and we rode it from Nassau to Daytona Beach, with the engine just
ticking over while we sailed with barely filled sails.

Have a good sail,

Sherwin D.


Thanks.

L8R

Skip

--
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
http://tinyurl.com/384p2 The vessel as Tehamana, as we bought her

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain