How OffShore to be an 'Offshore" passage?

[barnakiel]

I think one way to define the 'offshore' is like when you know that the passage may entail inability to seek shelter inshore if the boat meets adverse weather.

So to say, it is not, to me, about distance between ports, nor about distance from the shore.

b.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

So Hatteras to Lauderdale would be offshore...

Not to me.

I think in terms of weather forecasts. If the passage is long enough to extend beyond a departure forecast AND there are no bailouts within 24 or 36 (ish) hours it's offshore.

Offshore: Newport to Bermuda, Norfolk to Bermuda, SF to Hawaii

Not offshore: Norfolk to Ft Lauderdale, Cape May to Newport, SF to San Diego, Ft Lauderdale to anywhere in the Bahamas, ...

Of course this is my definition. Yours may be different. Some coastal stuff and certainly the Great Lakes (which defy definition to me) can be really bumpy and unpleasant. Still not offshore by my definition.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

When I'm sailing between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, off in the middle of the inland sea known as Lake Superior, the shore can be 70 nm north or south of me, and well over 120 nm east or west. No land in sight. No one to help if things go wrong.

So, am I "offshore"?

Mike, when one has been on a "real" offshore passage, and one gets to 70 miles from land, well, one feels like one has nearly arrived and starts planning where to anchor!

Cheers,

Jim

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Mike, when one has been on a "real" offshore passage, and one gets to 70 miles from land, well, one feels like one has nearly arrived and starts planning where to anchor!

Cheers,

Jim

Indeed

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Mike, when one has been on a "real" offshore passage, and one gets to 70 miles from land, well, one feels like one has nearly arrived and starts planning where to anchor!

Cheers,

Jim

Last summer I spotted Vancouver Island from about 60 miles out. For some bizarre reason we had cell coverage and I sent a "land ho" text message to the friend who was maintaining the blog. It felt like we were there. We still had a 100 miles to Victoria and and 12 hours to Vancouver.

[JPA Cate]

"Offshore" is about crossing large bodies of water, and you are definitely clear of continental shelves, and I'll bet each nation has its own definition, too! The passage from California to Hawaii, for example, is an "offshore" passage. Even though crossing the great lake can have you out of sight of land, it is still "protected waters."

Cheers,

Ann Cate, s/v Insatiable II

[jackdale]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Even though crossing the great lake can have you out of sight of land, it is still "protected waters."

Cheers,

Ann Cate, s/v Insatiable II

I am not sure I would say that to the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

[twistedtree]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

and you probably can't get WIFI.

Now THAT'S a definition I can understand :-)

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by tomfl

I would guess the most common route to the Bahamas is Miami to Bimini, at least in terms of numbers. There is no place to anchor using this route. Some folks do sail past Bimini for other landings, but you are suppose to check in at the first port you pass. Some folks do leave from other points than Miami and head for places well inside the Bahamas stopping to anchor on the Bahama Banks, but many folks advise against this option.

.

Most folks that leave from Miami now no longer stop at Bimini. Most go to Nassau, some go to Fresh Creek. I don't think you're supposed to check in at the first port you pass. For many this is not possible. I've cleared in at Nassau listing my last port as Miami for the last ten or more years and never have the authorities questioned this. The same rule applies to sailboats as ships as far as clearing in is concerned. On a voyage from A to B, you clear in at B. Now if you stop somewhere else rather than complete your voyage, that's another matter.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Mike, when one has been on a "real" offshore passage, and one gets to 70 miles from land, well, one feels like one has nearly arrived and starts planning where to anchor!

I'm sure that's true Jim. My longest passages are three days. Some day soon I'll get to live the "real" offshore. In the meantime I'm confined to the easy and protected waters of the biggest lake in the world .

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I'm sure that's true Jim. My longest passages are three days. Some day soon I'll get to live the "real" offshore. In the meantime I'm confined to the easy and protected waters of the biggest lake in the world .

Mike, I didn't say that the Great Lakes couldn't be challenging... far from it, mate. I actually grew up on Lake Michigan and have seen it pretty ugly!

But we were discussing distances offshore relative to terminology...

and 70 miles isn't that far.

And yes, many (most?) boats are lost closer inshore than 70 miles, probably because that's where most boats are most of the time.

Anyhow, it is a pretty silly definition to be arguing about.

Meanwhile, I hope that you get to do some salt water sailing. I think that it is chalk and cheese with the lakes, no matter how rough they can be when angry.

Cheers,

Jim

[DumnMad]

Another for Growlymonster's description. Ive never been there but read plenty about it. Is "out of range of a shore based rescue helicopter" too far or about it?

[JPA Cate]

HEY JACKDALE,

Most normal cruisers look at weather forecasts before leaving on a passage. The men on the Edmund Fitzgerald didn't have the luxury of waiting for weather.

I think my definition of offshore passage ain't that bad.

VTY,

Ann Cate

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Mike, I didn't say that the Great Lakes couldn't be challenging... far from it, mate. I actually grew up on Lake Michigan and have seen it pretty ugly!

But we were discussing distances offshore relative to terminology...

and 70 miles isn't that far.

And yes, many (most?) boats are lost closer inshore than 70 miles, probably because that's where most boats are most of the time.

Anyhow, it is a pretty silly definition to be arguing about.

Meanwhile, I hope that you get to do some salt water sailing. I think that it is chalk and cheese with the lakes, no matter how rough they can be when angry.

Cheers,

Jim

Sorry Jim, I didn't mean to sound snarky. Poor attempt at humour on my part. You're right of course, by any distance measures, nothing on the Great Lakes can be considered offshore. As far as challenging conditions we have plenty to brag about, but it is hard to compare. As you say, "chalk and cheese" -- an idiom I had never heard before. Gotta love international forums like this!

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Sorry Jim, I didn't mean to sound snarky. Poor attempt at humour on my part. You're right of course, by any distance measures, nothing on the Great Lakes can be considered offshore. As far as challenging conditions we have plenty to brag about, but it is hard to compare. As you say, "chalk and cheese" -- an idiom I had never heard before. Gotta love international forums like this!

And for a bit more trivia As different as chalk and cheese or even http://www.chalkncheese.com.au/