Ft. Lauderdale to St. Augustine

[Richandcreamy]

Hi, Sailing North in the Gulf Stream, How many hours should it take us to get to St. Augustine from Port Everglades.
Thank you!

[FSMike]

Take the distance from starting point to destination, divide by boat's average speed in whatever weather conditions you anticipate, factor in the boost from the Gulf Stream for the portion of the trip that you will be in it, and there you are.

Since none of us know how fast your boat is, or what kind of weather you plan on sailing in, or where/when you plan on exiting the Gulf Stream, it's kind of difficult for us to answer your question.

I would hope that you would not undertake a trip of that sort without being able to calculate how long it should take you.

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by Richandcreamy

Hi, Sailing North in the Gulf Stream, How many hours should it take us to get to St. Augustine from Port Everglades.

===

Taking the normal, near shore route, you will get very little assistance from the Gulf Stream. Since the total distance is about 250 nautical miles, just divide by your average sailing speed and there's your answer.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Rich.

About 25 to 75 hours.

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by Richandcreamy

Hi, Sailing North in the Gulf Stream, How many hours should it take us to get to St. Augustine from Port Everglades.
Thank you!

You say nothing about boat size, boat type ect ect -- in a canoe it can take a long time - in a cigarette boat not so long

[tdh1849]

Its hard to estimate the time due to a few variables. If you are coming out of Port Everglades, the Gulf Stream can be felt 2 to 3 miles offshore
BUT, the most important factor is the wind !
Watch the wind direction carefully, do not go when it is from due north or NNE, you will get beat up big time. Obviously from the south or southeast is preferred, easterly is ok and then one can only hope for a westerly wind that will make the sea go flat and then you fly. The wind during the winter months is usually N or NE so check carefully beforehand.

Fair winds and a safe trip.

[hamburking]

There is an easy rule of thumb which seems to work regardless of boat size, speed, and weather:

100 miles a day
1000 miles a week

[Cheechako]

Don't forget the time to get out and in. Seems like every day I left from Fort L. , it took forever to get into open water! IIRC , ditto for St A.

[Enchantress]

7 x 100 != 1000

[captmikem]

Say you are mid 30's to 40', boat probably averages 5kts.

if you head about 040 out of Port everglades for 20 miles that would put you in the fastest current, then turn north for about 130 miles until about abeam Canaveral. (Florida turns west after Canaveral, stream starts to move east) then about 325 for another 100 miles puts you about 20 miles off shore and a bit south of the St Augustine sea bouy. you should get about 3kts help for the first 150 miles and 1 to 2 average the last hundred. So off Canaveral in about 19 hours, and another 19 hours for the last 120 miles. These are conservative but better to be early than late. So, I would figure 40 hours sea bouy to sea bouy. I have done this trip a few times and seen 9 or 10 kts over the bottom in my 46' boat, but I would not count on it, let it be a pleasant surprise.

St Augustine shifts a bit so it is good give the local Sea Tow a call and get the best info for the entrance, especially at night when you can not see the edges breaking.

Hope this helps, have a good trip,

Michael

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by Enchantress

7 x 100 != 1000

When crossing the atlantic, my skipper (with a degree in math) felt the same way. But I told him...3000 miles = 3 weeks. No adjustment for waterline length, wind speed or direction, season, engine, fuel capacity...nothing.

Turned out to be correct within a few hours.

Its a clever rule. Please feel free to test it out with your own passage logs to check its validity.

Plus its easy to remember:

100 miles a day
1000 miles a week

[david knowles]

Go 90 straight out to the stream and ride it till you get to a little north of Daytona. Then head straight toward St Augustine. Cast off early in the morning and you'll be there the next day. Watch for cruise ships near Lauderdale and Canaveral. Space shots sometime have interesting rules on where you can be too, as usual watch the weather. Stream where you are starting is only 6-10 miles offshore

[Stu Jackson]

Great answers.

Why do you ask?

[david knowles]

Captmikem is giving you good advise off Daytona the stream may be 30-50 miles offshore and the stream can make square waves with a north breeze

[malyea]

Inlet's currently well dredged. Stay to the north side (reds) and you won't see less than 10' at low tide. Use binocs and sight the next red before passing the close aboard red. Keep sight aft so current doesn't set you out of the channel. If you turn up Salt Run BE CERTAIN to leave the first green ICW mark to starboard while hugging the rocks to port for your turn into Salt Run channel. PM me if you'd like to discuss. Cheers
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