Timing; NY to FL

[aliddell]

What is the latest practical time to take a sailboat south from New York to Florida? No time restraints, I can take my time.
Thanks,
Andy

[Snore]

Originally Posted by aliddell

What is the latest practical time to take a sailboat south from New York to Florida? No time restraints, I can take my time.

Thanks,

Andy

What type of boat? Full enclosure? How thick are your thermal underwear?

[Nicholson58]

Offshore? ICW, draft, air draft, Power, sail?

Generally, the risk of hurricane prevents you from heading south before November 1. After that, it’s the underwear thing. If you travel ICW it will take weeks to months. If you go offshore and well east it could be a few days. We did the trip offshore Hampton, Va to BVI in great conditions, 2016, 7.5 days under sail. It may be too late to join the Salty Dawg rally from Hampton this season. It is worth having access to or subscribe to Chris Parker for weather planning no matter what you choose.

Given unlimited time, a mast below 63 feet and draft not too deep you can enjoy the ICW sights. Be sure to do the Great dismal swamp. Too late and you may need skates on deck.

[aliddell]

Thanks for the insight. 34' monohull, 4'1" draft, dodger and bimini w/connector. Probably inside as I haven't done that yet.

[Nicholson58]

You’ll have a great time inside. Pick up chart books and cruising guides. Read up on on CF and Noonsite for things to know, places to stay/avoid. There are some local shenanigans by certain water cops. Make sure your Y valve is locked. If you can, get a courtesy inspection and compliance sticker from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This will help you avoid a few nuisance inspections. Tow Boat US can tell you a lot about local knowledge. If you are not a member JOIN. This is a trip where the cost is very cheap insurance. I get good forecast multi day reports on Sailflow.com. I mentioned before, Chris Parker for weather planning.

[a64pilot]

I’d leave tomorrow, but then I really dislike the cold.

[Cheechako]

Inside you could go anytime I would think.

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Inside you could go anytime I would think.

Outside too provided that you've got good cold weather gear; one of our more enjoyable passages on the US east coast was NC to Florida in December. We found the US coastal weather forecasts to be comprehensive and accurate and whilst they might not be where you want to go/stop, you're rarely if ever, more than 50M from a bail-out harbour. The OP reports having no time constraints, so watch the weather, pick your slots and do it anytime; though as noted, it's going to get colder the later you leave it.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

Outside too provided that you've got good cold weather gear; one of our more enjoyable passages on the US east coast was NC to Florida in December. We found the US coastal weather forecasts to be comprehensive and accurate and whilst they might not be where you want to go/stop, you're rarely if ever, more than 50M from a bail-out harbour. The OP reports having no time constraints, so watch the weather, pick your slots and do it anytime; though as noted, it's going to get colder the later you leave it.

Maybe yes, maybe no, roll the dice. Was caught in worst water/weather I've ever had (with good forecast) south of Hatteras once. And I've sailed down the Pacific Coast. My 47 footer was like a leaf in a washing machine. Every port and hatch dripping water, waves covering the boat.

[Symphony]

Hatteras! best to stay away from her any time of the year. For me two out of three times she was relatively benign but the other time yeow.

Once you get away from the coast and past Bermuda, it's warm out in the Atlantic.

[TBW]

match your variables to what you want to do; boat, time, money etc.
But:
It is all Weather.
Sort of like Warren Buffets two rules: Do not lose money; never forget rule one.
Weather.

[Scaramanga F25]

Should you leave now, inside figure a month. Get a warm Mustang float coat,
LOL

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by aliddell

What is the latest practical time to take a sailboat south from New York to Florida? No time restraints, I can take my time.
Thanks,
Andy

===


We've done the trip many times in our trawler. Our goal is to be into Chesapeake Bay by late September or early October, take our time in the Chesapeake until mid to late October, and then make the final push south depending on the hurricane outlook, trying to arrive northern Florida by early November. If we head south too early, we inevitably end up ducking from a hurricane.

[skipmac]

Left Martha's Vineyard on Tuesday the 8th and have spent half our time hold up waiting on a weather window. Even then we had to go down LI Sound instead of outside as we had planned,.

Basically it all depends on the weather and that varies a LOT year to year. I made the trip about the same time and had warm, comfortable weather if not much wind. This year; cold, wet, rainy and blowing gales offshore.

By the way, in case you weren't already aware, the ICW starts in Norfolk VA. So unless you go all the way up Delaware Bay, across the canal and all the way back down Chesapeake Bay, from NY south you are in the ocean.

[captmikem]

I have left Maine twice in November, went thru the Chesapeake, once otherwie outside all the way. Weather was a bit cool, both times, a bit of weather off Cape Hatteras on one trip, stopped in Charleston, otherwise a pleasant sail both times

Left Maine Late December one time, I was to tall to go thru the Cape Cod Canal (200 ft on the main mast), so had to go way the hell east, it was a bit of a rough trip until I got just north of Hatteras, then it was okay, stopped at Savannah, then down to Lauderdale. Not a really great trip.

I left Lake Champlain early November, last boats out, put the rig back up in the Hudson, went in at C&D then back out at Beaufort, that was a nice trip.

I really dislike the intracoastal, much more relaxing offshore.

Hope you have a good sail.

M