either way i'd recommend reefing at night. on a trip from alligator
point to cedar key, the wind came up from 5 kn to 25 kn like somebody
turned on a switch at 2:30am. if you check the bouy data this seems to
be a pretty common occurence.

also, since the gulf is pretty shallow, seas seem to be steeper with
less period between crests.

i like the coastline just 'cause there's some pretty neat,
out-of-the-way places inbetween (if you've got the time) like dog
island, st, marks, steinhatchee, cedar key, tarpon springs, etc...


On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 03:09:42 GMT, "Rob Laymon"
wrote:

Hello folks,

A friend and I hope to get his 36 footer from Pensacola to Tampa, leaving in
early January. I've never sailed in the gulf for any length of time, and
thought it might be sensible, and maybe humiliating, to lay myself open for
any, and I mean any, advice you may wish to give me. If I had to ask
particular questions, they would be:

Is it sensible to stick to the coast or cut straight across?
Anything out there I should know about?
Do the currents present any sort of problem?

I joke but I take this seriously. If you have any advice I'd take it very
kindly if you posted it or emailed me at .

Many thanks,

Rob