Easiest location to ease into the cruising lifestyle

[brettnkay]

Our plan is to set off on an indefinite length cruise in a couple of years.

We've been sailing for 10 years, own a 22 foot lake boat, and have chartered quite a bit in So Cal, Caribbean, British Columbia, Florida, etc. We've seen enough weather to know things can get bad, people can get seasick, and we need to respect the weather and take time to learn how to handle it in our chosen boat.

We had originally planned to start on the East Coast of the US, thinking there are plenty of harbors to duck into, interesting historical places to see on land, and as west coasters we really haven't seen much of that part of the country. Assuming we were still enjoying it, we could head down to the Caribbean, and beyond as we gained experience/confidence.

Now, with the increased hurricane activity we are wondering if this is really the best plan. Many storms seem to head north along the coast and it seems nowhere is really safe in summer/fall. The prospect of trying to find a safe harbor, presumably battling hoards of other boats also trying to find a safe spot, does not seem like an appealing way to start the adventure.

So, for those with experience on the East coast, is this a valid concern? How hard is it to find a safe spot as a storm approaches?

Are there better places to start a cruising lifestyle - Med, Caribbean, Australia, etc?

Thanks for any input -

Brett

[Hudson Force]

So much of the ability to "hide out" for tropical storms depends upon the dimensions of the boat. We spent many years with great success cruising on the US East coast and Bahamas with a ketch rig giving us an ability to pass under 55' fixed bridges and with a shallow draft allowing us access to inland, up river safe anchorages with few other boats.
A boat with no more than a 6' draft and a vertical clearance allowing passage under 65' bridges would still find safe hurricane holes with a three day window. With greater clearances requirements than these, there are very few opportunities.
It's been our experience with 45 years cruising and living aboard on the East Coast that very few boat owners are piloting their boats to safe places to escape major storms. Most people are concerned with protecting their houses, businesses, relatives, etc. and the boat concerns come later. Most are left in their marinas with extra lines and fenders.
We always searched for a safe location three days before any potential hit; looking for a place well inland with little fetch, good holding at a limited depth. We also favored a high surrounding topography or forests or higher buildings, with a a forgiving shore (no rocks, cement bulkheads,etc.). We always found something suitable and only damaged a foot of rub rail over our 45 years. There are also some very well protected docks in some areas, but they are often taken if you're not searching early.

[brettnkay]

Very helpful, thank you. I had not focused on the air draft before, but that makes sense.

[model 10]

Fly down to Guatemala, buy a boat and just hang out for a while. Years maybe. Work on the boat, drink beer, catch a few rays and get into the lifestyle. Then when you think you're ready, sail to Belize. It takes several hours.

[polaris2.11]

Originally Posted by Ecos

Fly down to Guatemala, buy a boat and just hang out for a while. Years maybe. Work on the boat, drink beer, catch a few rays and get into the lifestyle. Then when you think you're ready, sail to Belize. It takes several hours.

[emoji14]

[thinwater]

Start in the Chesapeake Bay in the spring. A great learning ground, lots to see, and tons of huricane shelter. Then head south in the fall, after huricane season has passed.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by brettnkay

So, for those with experience on the East coast, is this a valid concern? How hard is it to find a safe spot as a storm approaches?

At least for here on the Chesapeake: yes but it's relatively easily manageable, and usually not all that difficult given prior planning.

-Chris

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Start in the Chesapeake Bay in the spring. A great learning ground, lots to see, and tons of huricane shelter. Then head south in the fall, after huricane season has passed.

===


That's a good plan in my opinion. The Chesapeake has a lot to offer during the warm weather months: Lots of interesting harbors, excellent repair and re-provisioning opportunities, and many protected creeks, rivers and harbors. It's a good place to get your feet wet with cruising. After a summer of that you'll be ready for the trip south to warmer winter weather. Once in Florida you've got easy access to the Bahamas, the Florida Keys, and the Florida west coast - all with excellent cruising spots. After a couple of years with that routine you should be ready to tackle the Caribbean if that is one of your goals.

[contrail]

This may not be helpful, but to an extent you have already done the "easing". Whatever you do, you aren't cruising till you are cruising, so at some point and place, you have to jump in. Best of luck.

[Lowcountry]

Bahamas for sure.

[BobFord]

I've cruiser most places in the World , accept Asia. To date , I reckon East Coast Australia as a favourite. Spectacular scenery and anchorages , good communication ,approx. 2000miles of coast ,easy to shelter or avoid Cyclones. Easy access to New Caledonia and South Sea islands, no natives with exotic diseases !

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Start in the Chesapeake Bay in the spring. A great learning ground, lots to see, and tons of huricane shelter. Then head south in the fall, after huricane season has passed.

Plus the bay is as wide as 30 miles and maybe 150 miles long. You can sail from the lower Bay all the way up to Annapolis, MD and beyond

You can sail out in the Atlantic Ocean to Chesapeake Light which is about 12 miles Offshore. The Southern By has ocean and bay waves mixed but as you sail north you have just the bay waves

There's lots of shipping traffic which gives you a chance to adjust to that

Winds can quickly go from 5-35 knots or more during a passing front or squall.

You can crisscross the bay and back and forth depending on the wind for new anchorages or secluded marinas

Pictures are of the West Side South near the York River just before a squall and on the East side two days later on a more pleasant day just North of Cape Charles near Smith's Beach

[AJ_n_Audrey]

From Chesapeake down to Miami, there is a lot to see, lots of anchorages and marinas, and you can always choose to go ICW, when you wake up and it's blowing 27 knots in the marina 5 miles from the ocean where you stayed for the night. Once you get to Florida, you'll have some experience under your belt, and if anything broke on the boat coming down, there are lots of places in FL to fix it. From FL, you can jump across to the Bahamas. Many people leave from where I am (NC) to head south just about now or even a little earlier. Not too cold yet, hurricane season is past, and it warms up as you go south. As long as you have time to wait for a window, you can cross to the Bahamas in November, and you have until the next June to get somewhere safe for hurricane season.

That's my two cents. I don't like the ICW when I can avoid it, but when the weather sucks, or to avoid going around Hatteras or Frying Pan Shoals, it's nice to have it as an option.

[W3GAC]

Cruised West Coast... not a lot of places to go, all marinas are crowded/ expensive, very very limited anchorages. Southeast is way to hot & humid for us to just cruise/ hang on anchor. NC inland waters very shallow, but more place to anchor, lower marina cost.

Northeast... back to expensive crowded marinas, but good anchorages, short season.

For my money... I think Chesapeake Bay offers best mix of what cruisers in Training need: almost unlimited protected anchorages, reasonable cost marinas, plenty of boatyards for repairs/ upgrades, lots of places to duck into if wx seeks up on you (did you know you can legally tie-up to any dock if you feel your boat/ crew would be in possible danger from approaching storm), 65 free over air TV viewing options... several are 24/7 local wx with live wx radar. Lots of history, walkable restaurants/ grocery and hardware stores. Recommend you join a no-frills yacht club that has reciprocality, that allows you access to reduced dockage fees/ lower restaurant food costs as visiting guests and hang with other sailors in a relaxed environment and discuss their experiences/ recommendations. Also, highly recommend getting a ham radio license... it not only provides another short and long distance communications option... it’s also opens up another great group of sailors/ cruisers to chat with, travel in a pac with, get recommendations about marinas, anchorages, restaurants, social gatherings from. I grew up around the Chesapeake Bay area... and after retirement and extensive cruising... we returned for a combo of traditional house & yard and stints of shorter cruising on our Cal 46 ketch. At 72 not cruising as far, but totally comfortable anywhere in Chesapeake Bay (120 miles long) and all its tributaries... more coastline in Chesapeake Bay/ tributaries than all of West Coast! When you’re ready you can either head South via ICW down by Norfolk, VA, or many a port turn and head out into Atlantic for either direct to Bermuda or St Thomas... or hopscotch South down the coast. You could ease into just long day coastal sail plans or one over-nighters, to 2-3 or more as you feel comfortable/ wx looks threatening... so many East Coast ‘get back inside’ options. Good luck on your adventure! Hope you enjoy it as well as we have.

[David B]

Originally Posted by brettnkay

Our plan is to set off on an indefinite length cruise in a couple of years.

We've been sailing for 10 years, own a 22 foot lake boat, and have chartered quite a bit in So Cal, Caribbean, British Columbia, Florida, etc. We've seen enough weather to know things can get bad, people can get seasick, and we need to respect the weather and take time to learn how to handle it in our chosen boat.

We had originally planned to start on the East Coast of the US, thinking there are plenty of harbors to duck into, interesting historical places to see on land, and as west coasters we really haven't seen much of that part of the country. Assuming we were still enjoying it, we could head down to the Caribbean, and beyond as we gained experience/confidence.

Now, with the increased hurricane activity we are wondering if this is really the best plan. Many storms seem to head north along the coast and it seems nowhere is really safe in summer/fall. The prospect of trying to find a safe harbor, presumably battling hoards of other boats also trying to find a safe spot, does not seem like an appealing way to start the adventure.

So, for those with experience on the East coast, is this a valid concern? How hard is it to find a safe spot as a storm approaches?

Are there better places to start a cruising lifestyle - Med, Caribbean, Australia, etc?

Thanks for any input -

Brett

Give thought to the Med. Like many, you may never leave.

If you have not come across it yet, look for the book 'Letters From The Med' by Ian and Andrea Treleaven. It gives you a good perspective. They went there with the thought of sailing for a year then bringing their boat back to Australia - they realised after the first year, that was never going to happen!

We are following in their wake to a certain extend. Seven seasons in, we are still happy there, and can see that lasting a while yet.

Sailing is one thing, but for most cruisers it's an end to a means, and the ports, the architectural and cultural diversity, are a big draw card. You can be in a whole new world just a day sail away.

You can cross oceans to visit new countries, or you can sail the Med!