st augustine to hallandale beach

[verdiales]

Hi, Sailing south against the Gulf Stream , How many hours should it take us to get from St. Augustine to Port Everglades, first week of november, 31ft. Hunter...Thank you!

[billknny]

It depends...

it's about 250 miles as the seagull flies. If the winds are favorable and you are smart enough to stay shoreside of the Gulf Stream, 48 -- 56 hours. Unfavorable winds could easily add 50%

Until you are as far south as Stuart, the GS will be far enough offshore it will have little impact on you.

This is such a basic navigation calculation, are you really ready to do this?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, verdiales.

[verdiales]

Originally Posted by billknny

It depends...

it's about 250 miles as the seagull flies. If the winds are favorable and you are smart enough to stay shoreside of the Gulf Stream, 48 -- 56 hours. Unfavorable winds could easily add 50%

Until you are as far south as Stuart, the GS will be far enough offshore it will have little impact on you.

This is such a basic navigation calculation, are you really ready to do this?

Hi Billknny, yes I,'m ready, hope winds will be advantageous, easterly preferably

[Hudson Force]

I suppose that you're planning heading out at St. Augustine Inlet and in at Port Everglades. It's always wise to familiarize yourself with the nature of the better inlet options en route,... Ponce, Port Canaveral, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie and Lake Worth Inlets. I would not consider the other inlets on your path as suitable for most conditions.

[verdiales]

Thank you for your info/sugestion

[CHM]

Or you could stay inside and go outside when the weather is favorable, especially if you are on a schedule.

[Dave22q]

Figure 40-50 miles/day or 5 days overall. If not crewed for 24 hour sailing best bet may be motoring on the ICW with at least 1 fuel stop. Offshore sailing is an option but if you sleep every night you will spend more time getting to safe anchorages than it's worth. My advice is to download open CPN or some other navigation program and the free NOAA charts and plan your route, especially your stopping points. A recent ICW guide book would also be a valuable investment.

[akprb]

Originally Posted by verdiales

Hi Billknny, yes I,'m ready, hope winds will be advantageous, easterly preferably

If you intend to sail the whole way then leave on the back side of a cold front. Catch the W to NW quadrant and zip down in relative comfort offshore and do not stop. You’ll only have that weather for 24-48 hours.

Easterly winds in settled weather will have a southerly component to them and it will be rough going regardless. Plenty of fetch across the stream.

No matter what be prepared to motor, a lot ;-)

[kmcshane]

The sailors down here in Biscayne Bay advise staying out of Stuart, Hillsboro, and Jupiter inlets: shoaling, wind against current square waves, delays in the mouth waiting for a bridge opening from outside, nightmarish groundings.

Port Canaveral is a very cool experience: wide mouth, one big lock, easy anchorage inside; ditto Ft Pierce, Lake Worth, Port Everglades and Government Cut.

One piece of advice: Port Canaveral is a relatively long haul to get inside to the ICW from outside, so not such a easy overnighter. The ICW bridges don't really become much of a hassle til you get down to Lake Worth. Might want to break up your trip, esp. of weather kicks up, by Port Canaveral inside to Ft Pierce to head back out, or even Lake Worth. Easy anchorages near both of those inlets, and a quick motor outside (be aware of the strong currents at mid-tide).

Port Everglades is another wide, easy inlet for your ICW ride to Hallandale. Be sure to get the Waterway Guide or equivalent. Outside, it's all about the weather.

[Sea King]

Rumor has it the Canaveral lock, going from the port to the ICW, will close from Dec 1st to the end of March for maintenance.

[macart]

I recently had a charter on my 41' Morgan OI from Ft. Pierce to Key Largo (~200 miles) and we were stuck on the ICW all the way due to bad weather. Took us 4 days due to waiting on bridges for what should have been a 2 day trip.
Everything will depend on the weather and how gung ho you are to travel at night which means you'll need a decent size crew to maintain 1 guy at the helm and a watch in case you fall overboard.
Conservatively I would say count on 6 to 10 days, or more if you are not sailing at night.
Be safe and don't get stuck offshore with a 20 knot cold front pounding into 6-10 foot seas and only making 2 miles per hour. Been there, done that.
Capt Don
Pineapple Princess, LLC Boat Charters

[Hankasail]

I did this trip outside all the way many years ago. My biggest regret was going around Cape Canaveral when I could have taken the ICW to Canaveral where there are very few bridges, then going outside at Port Canaveral. Ft. Pierce, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale are all good inlets to stop overnight with no problems.

Good luck and enjoy the trip.

[psneeld]

Might want to check ocean current charts.....I thought there was a southbound counter current alongshore for part of that trip.

Also there is a notice to Mariners about the Canaveral lock closure this winter ...may want to double check it.