On Fri, 06 Oct 2006 08:44:21 -0500, Geoff Schultz
wrote:

I was thinking about how quickly
we're loosing daylight and wondered if rate of change was the same as tidal
change and thus the rule of 12ths. I couldn't see why not.

The daily rate of change is highest at the spring and fall equinox
since that is where the sine curve has the steepest slope (when it
passes through zero).

Short days are definitely an issue when you bring a boat south in the
fall but it gets somewat better as you get further along towards lower
latitudes.

I assume you are comfortable running at night with all the cruising
you have done. If so, wait for a good weather window and head
offshore for a few days at a time. That's what we did last year and
it worked out well. As long as we are not in the ICW, or coming into
strange harbors, running at night is not a problem.