On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:29:55 -0500, Geoff Schultz
wrote:

get underway so that you're not getting in after dark. You seem to be
doing this on a regular basis, and it isn't safe.

I certainly agree with that, especially when cruising unfamiliar
waters with a lot of hazards. I like to have my day's route laid out
on the laptop the night before. By plugging in an estimated speed it
gives an ETA estimate, and during the day the ETA constantly
recalculates as conditions change. It's also a good idea to have a
Plan B if you start running late on the original goal.

One of the issues with cruising this time of year is the steadily
decreasing amount of daylight available. Just when you need to be
making good progress south, there is less time available to do it.