If you have a 23 foot trailer sailer, come to Maine. Fantastic
scenery, cool enough to sit in the sun all day in Summer comfortably.
The many islands provide lots of protection if it blows. No crime to
speak of, no immigration hassles. If you start about Rockland and
head east, it will seem plenty exotic pretty quick.

As a Chesapeake sailor I used to get real annoyed with naw'thun boaters
who raved about May-un. But then I worked for a film workshop on the
shore in Rockport, and used to look out over the water... and visit
Camden on days off, and see all the boats... Got a job on a documentary
that had us traveling around Penobscott Bay on a 30-some footer gaff
cutter. I was convinced. Maine truly is a great cruising ground. And my
new (to me) cutter that lacks shoal draft would be no problem there.
Just wish it weren't so damn far away.

With respect to the west coast of Florida, there's plenty of water. But
beware, there are also some mighty tall rocks where you least expect them.
So keep them charts handy all the time.
BF


"2462" wrote in message
...
If you have a 23 foot trailer sailer, come to Maine. Fantastic
scenery, cool enough to sit in the sun all day in Summer comfortably.
The many islands provide lots of protection if it blows. No crime to
speak of, no immigration hassles. If you start about Rockland and
head east, it will seem plenty exotic pretty quick.

As a Chesapeake sailor I used to get real annoyed with naw'thun boaters
who raved about May-un. But then I worked for a film workshop on the
shore in Rockport, and used to look out over the water... and visit
Camden on days off, and see all the boats... Got a job on a documentary
that had us traveling around Penobscott Bay on a 30-some footer gaff
cutter. I was convinced. Maine truly is a great cruising ground. And my
new (to me) cutter that lacks shoal draft would be no problem there.
Just wish it weren't so damn far away.

Brian Whatcott wrote:

Wanted: A Sensible First landfall in the Caribbean for Inland Sailers.

My son and I would like to take a baby step offshore from Florida to a
Caribbean destination, in fair weather, aboard a SouthCoast 23
(A trailerable centerboard sloop) as a first voyage, next Summer.

I hope that this is not a question of the kind that if you have to
ask, you shouldn't be doing it.....
I would appreciate any and all advice on the topic.

Thanks in advance.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

As people have said - it will be hard to get to the actual Caribbean
from Florida in the time frame you have in mind. You can go to some
semi-tropical destinations though.

What facilities do you have on the boat? Can you anchor for extended
periods (i.e. can you carry provisions and cook), or do you want to be
at a marina? Can you beach the boat or will you need some transport
to shore like a kayak? What kind of ground tackle do you carry?

If you can be self sufficient for a week or 10 days without having to
get additional water, buy gas, or food, and with a large enough
holding tank or portapot, then I'd recommend going to the Marquesas
and the Dry Tortugas. But there is no way to buy any kind of
provisions and it is a no-discharge zone.

This is the start of our 2001 trip (sections linked together)
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/315ec/#TL

The Bahamas are perfectly do-able, and it will be a trip to another
country. You should have a passport though because it makes getting
back into the US a bit easier. You don't have to wait for the weather
on the boat - you can wait in a motel someplace like Marathon.

2001 from Miami to Bimini to Lucaya and back to Miami
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2abf0/#TL (4 sections plus a part
of another page)

2002 from the Keys to Bimini to the Berry Islands (2 sections)
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2abfc/

2002 coming back to the US from Nassau to Chubb to Grand Bahama and
back to Ft. Pierce http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2d917/ (3
sections)
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2d917/

Depending on how much time you have, you can go to Bimini or Cat Cay
to check in, and then from there you can go across the banks (which
took us 2 days) to the Berry Islands (Chub Cay, Frazier, Great Harbor
etc), and from there up to Lucaya in Grand Bahama. The problem will
then be in getting back to your trailer, because leaving from Grand
Bahama, the Gulf Stream will carry you north and you will have to work
your way south either in the ICW or outside..

Or you could do it the other way - go north with the Gulf Stream from
Miami to Grand Bahama (maybe check in at West End), and then go across
to Lucaya and down along the Berry Islands, and come back to Bimini.

You will have to pay to check in, and Cat Cay is a private island so
you have to pay for dockage while you do it.

The Bahamas has facilities and you can purchase fuel and water (water
won't be free).

If that is too complicated for you (and I think it might be for the
first time), I think I would just gunkhole around in the Keys for the
time that you've got. There's plenty to see and do there, and you can
get a better handle on the weather and the area - do some anchoring
and some snorkeling.

Whichever thing you decide to do - Bring mosquito repellant

Digression -- We had a South Coast 23 when I was a kid. It was a
rather heavy Alberg-style design with a full cruising keel and a sweet
sheer. A pretty boat and I remember it fondly, but it was only barely
launchable off a good ramp because of the draft. It would have been
quite suitable for what you plan, otherwise. We had a friend with a
South Coast 22 that was a lot more like what you describe, so I'm a
bit confused.--End of Digression

Just be aware that there is no such thing as reliably fair weather in
a Florida summer. On the coast, you should expect violent
thunderstorms in the area every day. A friend of ours blithely took
off for his first sail in florida on a beautiful day and got caught
out when the daily deluge boiled up seemingly out of nowhere. His
quote when he got back: "Gee, that might have been fun if I'd thought
I was going to live through it." When it's not storming, very light
to non-existent winds are common.

2 recommendations: First, consider shooting for spring or fall. Much
better chance of good sailing then. Second, consider island hopping
down the Keys instead. Try one of the cruising guides for an idea
what the area is like.


On Tue, 05 Sep 2006 01:01:24 GMT, Brian Whatcott
wrote:

Wanted: A Sensible First landfall in the Caribbean for Inland Sailers.

My son and I would like to take a baby step offshore from Florida to a
Caribbean destination, in fair weather, aboard a SouthCoast 23
(A trailerable centerboard sloop) as a first voyage, next Summer.

I hope that this is not a question of the kind that if you have to
ask, you shouldn't be doing it.....
I would appreciate any and all advice on the topic.

Thanks in advance.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

What a wonderfully helpful thread, addressing exactly the question I
posed - but with some interesting alternatives worth considering!

Thanks to Worldwide Wiley (Yes its an SC22 - my brainfart)
Rosalie B., BF, 2462, Thomas W., Wayne B., Roger Long, Jeff,
GM1234, Don White, DSK, DB Ohara, Glenn Ashmore,

I heard the Bimini rush idea, the island hopping proposal, the Maine
cruise (pity its so far) the reading list, and above all the
appropriate season for sailing out, and the weather/wind/fetch
warnings.
Thank you all.

Brian Whatcott and Richard Whatcott

Maine isn't that far in your case.

In that week you were contemplating sitting at anchor in the Florida
sun, ducking into the cabin for the frequent thunderstorms, and
waiting for a hot, still, airless, patch of weather that would let you
motor across the Gulf Stream, you could drive along the scenic Great
Lakes, St. Lawrence corridor with your trailer sailer, working in
daysails in such places as Georgian Bay, the Thousand Islands, and
Lake Champlain depending on weather when you pass by. Then, you would
be in Maine.

--

Roger Long



"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message
...
What a wonderfully helpful thread, addressing exactly the question I
posed - but with some interesting alternatives worth considering!

Thanks to Worldwide Wiley (Yes its an SC22 - my brainfart)
Rosalie B., BF, 2462, Thomas W., Wayne B., Roger Long, Jeff,
GM1234, Don White, DSK, DB Ohara, Glenn Ashmore,

I heard the Bimini rush idea, the island hopping proposal, the Maine
cruise (pity its so far) the reading list, and above all the
appropriate season for sailing out, and the weather/wind/fetch
warnings.
Thank you all.

Brian Whatcott and Richard Whatcott

Roger Long wrote:
Maine isn't that far in your case.

In that week you were contemplating sitting at anchor in the Florida
sun, ducking into the cabin for the frequent thunderstorms, and
waiting for a hot, still, airless, patch of weather that would let you
motor across the Gulf Stream, you could drive along the scenic Great
Lakes, St. Lawrence corridor with your trailer sailer, working in
daysails in such places as Georgian Bay, the Thousand Islands, and
Lake Champlain depending on weather when you pass by. Then, you would
be in Maine.



Better yet... order a copy of this cruising guide and then trailer as
fast as possible to Nova Scotia.
http://ca.binnacle.com/product_info....roducts_id=413

Brian,
Assuming you're still in Altus (yes I know where Altus is, I was born in
Pauls Valley) it's approximately 1400 mile to Ft Lauderdale and about 1800
miles to Rockland. So roughly 25% further. And IMHO a much prettier drive.
I've not done the Florida to Bahamas so can't comment, but I have cruised
the West Coast of Florida several times and Maine for the last 3 years and
perrsonally prefer Maine, but both are deffintly worth doing when time
allows.
Both can test you navigational skill as well. I've not actully hit anything
in Maine (yet) but have come close and would if I hadn't had sudden
inexplicable needs to look at my charts. Can't say the same for Florida, but
happily it was just sand each time.
Another, closer option is Corpus / Padre. I've not sailed there, but looks
like it's also worth a try.
BF


"Brian Whatcott" wrote in message
...
What a wonderfully helpful thread, addressing exactly the question I
posed - but with some interesting alternatives worth considering!

Thanks to Worldwide Wiley (Yes its an SC22 - my brainfart)
Rosalie B., BF, 2462, Thomas W., Wayne B., Roger Long, Jeff,
GM1234, Don White, DSK, DB Ohara, Glenn Ashmore,

I heard the Bimini rush idea, the island hopping proposal, the Maine
cruise (pity its so far) the reading list, and above all the
appropriate season for sailing out, and the weather/wind/fetch
warnings.
Thank you all.

Brian Whatcott and Richard Whatcott