Sailing on the Mississippi

[goldbeard]

Has anyone here sailed the Mississippi? I considering sailing North to Chicago. Does anyone know about the currents and the transit in general? I've seen people have sailed South, but I haven't found anything about going North. And I don't want to motor.

[READY2GO]

I just finished going south from Cairo to New Orleans. I would not try a northbound trip. We found the current to be anywhere between 2 and 6 mph. You had better have a good motor, and a high theoretical hull speed to make up for the current. After a little while you learn where the fast water and the slack water is. Sometimes though you can't get away from the fast water. Going down I tried to stay in the fast water, going up you would be staying about the same track as the barges. We have a blog for more info on the river. It is a great river and a fun trip.

[Nik]

I have been in the Mississippi River on both sailboats and commercial boats. Sailing north would be very difficult if not impossible. As READY2GO stated there are always currents in the river. If you were going north during the spring, you would also have the snow runoff (floods) to content with. Also the river is not wide enough to tack in especially given other river traffic.

Major corridors on the river have Vessel Traffic Service. Having traveled in New Orleans going up the river, I would not sail up the river.

Most people use the Tom Bigby to head north then come down the river or east coast to return.

[goldbeard]

Thanks!

[Tony B]

Originally Posted by Nik

........Also the river is not wide enough to tack in especially given other river traffic............. Having traveled in New Orleans going up the river, I would not sail up the river.
Most people use the Tom Bigby to head north then come down the river or east coast to return.

Agree 100%.
All things considered, I would say it would be almost impossible.