How long a sail from Maine to Florida?

[Steve1944]

The east coast blue water sail that seems interesting to me is the fall exidus to Florida from Maine. Or the commute to Long Island, NY.


Generally, how long a time are those routes?

[skipmac]

Depends. If you look at a chart you can see the distance to Florida is about 1500 miles.

Big fast boat, you go non-stop maybe 10 days.

Small, slow boat, take your time and smell the roses maybe a couple of months.

Long Island would take less time.

[Steve1944]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Depends. If you look at a chart you can see the distance to Florida is about 1500 miles.

Big fast boat, you go non-stop maybe 10 days.

Small, slow boat, take your time and smell the roses maybe a couple of months.

Long Island would take less time.

Partially I was told this was a typical sail for Maine sailors. Drop down to Florida for the winter; so I asked.


Didn't look at a chart and asked the same question about Long Island regarding summer jaunts from Maine. Are they as popular?

[Seagullf111a]

I don't think many Mainers cruise LI in the summer, seems more the other way round. Many heading South initially follow the coast South to LI Sound , day sailing and motoring 60 to 100 miles a day. Most snow birds do some short passages but most of the sail South is usually on the Intercoastal waterway. Some do a few days passage to the Chesapeake and then mostly the ICW further South. It is all very weather dependent and as the other respondent said, can take from 10 days to 2 months.

[atexasex]

The only data point I have is that my duaghter is planning to sail from St John to Portland, Maine in July (sport visit in Bermuda) and the captain estimated 2 weeks for the trip.

[xsboats]

10 days can be done.I delivered a large schooner from Camden to Key West in that time back in November. We had 15kt -25kt winds the whole way. 12-14 days is closer to average for most of the southbound deliveries I've completed on that run, however.

[Stu Jackson]

Ask Scoobert?

[psk125]

Besides the boat, a lot depends upon the wind. We made it from Harpswell ME to Southport CT in about 48 hours once, mostly under a reefed main. We entered the Cape Cod Canal going downwind at better than 10 knots. Other trips, beating, have taken longer.