Stewart , FL to Norfolk , VA Outside June Advice Please

[jbloom]

I plan to leave in early June from Stewart to Norfolk, outside if weather permits, and would love some advice on estimated length of voyage and recommended weather resources. I am new to the boat, it is is 39', cruises @ approx. 6 Knots, has VHS, GPS, SSB. I would like to ride the Gulf Stream to save some time on my way ultimately to NYC via Chesapeake Bay. If I have a bad forecast, I will plan to make my way to Beaufort then inside.

Am I reasonable in giving myself 5 days outside to Norfolk (crew needs to leave by day certain) and what do you recommend as weather resources?

Thanks,
Justin

[speciald@ocens.]

You can stay in the stream all the way to Hatteras. If you go inside at Beaufort, it will take about three days to Norfolk if you are lucky. Outside is faster but will be wind and seas dependent. 5 days will not be long enough from Stewart inside or outside.

[cheoah]

You'll have to get lucky with the weather to make that 5 day window with your crew. Just make sure you have a plan if you have to drop your crew along the way, there are lots of good places to pull off but most efficient is to stay well off in the stream and make at least for Beaufort. Cape Fear is not a bad stop either and rising tide on Cape Fear, then out Masonboro to Beaufort is also an efficient option should conditions dictate.

I think we were 80 nm or so offshore at Savannah, which means you'll need to familiarize yourself with your SSB for weather. Southbound 2 with Herb is a great resource and there are other people like Chris Parker who will do weather routing for $. I don't have an SSB, well, er, one that can Tx legally so I've never used any of the routing services.

Have a great trip and don't rush it

csh

[jbloom]

Thank you very much for the replies. I'm planning to just head for Beaufort from Stewart given the time restraints of a crewmember. Any additional advice is appreciated.

[donradcliffe]

Stay west of the stream. We did the trip last year, and every night we could see bodacious thunderstorms east of us in the gulfstream, triggered by the warmer waters there.

[Hannah on 'Rita T']

But beware the countercurrent that goes south between the 60 and 100 foot depth lines.

[LostAtSea2011]

Where is Stewart, FL ?

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by LostAtSea2011

Where is Stewart, FL ?

Its spelled Stuart

[JRMarine]

How did you make out on your trip? Have you gone yet? I'm heading from titusville FL to swansboro NC in a few weeks and just thought I'd see if there were any things you an into. I've got a 30ft Catamaran and we plan to run the ICW up to ST Augustine, then outside for as far as the wind will take us, through to Cape Fear. Then probably back inside form there... Everything is weather dependent of course and we are not in a rush. Leaving on April 20th. Let me know how things went, and any advice!

[Amapola]

Beware of the afternoon thunderstorms in the summer. They can make life miserable.

[xsboats]

I have a short video on the delivery page of my website that covers a Miami-Chesapeake trip . wwwdotseaworthysolutionsdot net . We held the eastern terminus of the Gulf Stream until Hatteras was off our beam. Then took the gradual turn up towards Norfolk . Took 5 days. Mostly SE winds , with the t-storms holding over on the western edge of the stream most of the way. We only got into a little weather once we entered the Bay . averaged 5.2 on a Morgan 382 . The video was provided by the owner , Philippe .