How do you decide where to go?

[Lepke]

I use Coast pilots, Sailing Directions, and mostly charts to find quiet anchorages most people don't use. I like quiet away from jet skis, loud music and fighting couples. I try to pick scenic, quiet places where I can anchor for extended times. Usually dangerous anchorages for unskilled people to enter. Often I have to take soundings in new places with my shore boat before bringing the big boat in. Sometimes I make my own chart. Did I say I like quiet?

[Sailor-Gene]

In SFO, the new cruiser rule was: Place a stick of butter in a plastic box secured to deck above companionway. Go to the Golden Gate and go WEST until GG looks small. Turn LEFT When butter melts, turn right or left to practice your Spanish

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by Lepke

I use Coast pilots, Sailing Directions, and mostly charts to find quiet anchorages most people don't use. I like quiet away from jet skis, loud music and fighting couples. I try to pick scenic, quiet places where I can anchor for extended times. Usually dangerous anchorages for unskilled people to enter. Often I have to take soundings in new places with my shore boat before bringing the big boat in. Sometimes I make my own chart. Did I say I like quiet?

Hear! Hear! I do the same - and there are lots of such places around here. Fortunately not too many jetskis.

[chris mac]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Indeed.
We northerners, sail south, until the butter melts.

A friend of ours tie-wrapped a snow shovel onto his bow pulpit.
When a dockhand asked him what it was, he felt he’d found a home.

Last year we left lake Ontario and sailed to the bahamas. We posted weekly butter updates to our friends back home. It made everyone laugh.(and jealous)
But I would also be very happy to never see a snow shovel again! (Lived in edmonton alberta)

[Tanqueray]

“Which way is the wind blowing? “

Greg

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Tanqueray

“Which way is the wind blowing? “

Greg

The coast of the State of Queensland is almost a perfect cruising ground.

At the onset of winter the prevailing winds become south easterly blowing one to the warmer north and when summer comes they turn northerly to blow you south again.

About the longest daily run required is 50 or so nautical miles.

There are resupply points and marinas regularly spaced and you can drink the water straight from the tap pretty well anywhere.

I accidentally blew onto the place in 2002 and have not yet managed to escape.

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by kmv

Hi all, I was wondering how you all research destinations and whether you use any tools?

How do you assess safety/amenities and what do you look out for?

Thanks in advance!

Sometimes we toss a coin.
Has worked so far after clocking over 40k miles.

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Sailor-Gene

In SFO, the new cruiser rule was: Place a stick of butter in a plastic box secured to deck above companionway. Go to the Golden Gate and go WEST until GG looks small. Turn LEFT When butter melts, turn right or left to practice your Spanish

Good way to go..a coin toss works well too, after considering the wind direction, temp and availability of beer.

[NedX]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

The coast of the State of Queensland is almost a perfect cruising ground.

At the onset of winter the prevailing winds become south easterly blowing one to the warmer north and when summer comes they turn northerly to blow you south again.

About the longest daily run required is 50 or so nautical miles.

There are resupply points and marinas regularly spaced and you can drink the water straight from the tap pretty well anywhere.

I accidentally blew onto the place in 2002 and have not yet managed to escape.

Raymond, I saw some videos of Queensland and it looks fantastic. With all those places to duck into, it's like a warm version of New England!! I've got a question: It looks like a lot of it is inside the Great Barrier Reef. What effect does that have on conditions in there?

[st0nes]

Pin and globe. Close eyes, stick pin in, go to the nearest blue bit.

[carstenb]

WE live by;

"We have no plan; and by golly - we're gonna stick to it!"


Generally our decisions revolve around the general direction we should go -

North? - Hmmm crossing the prevailing winds on a long passage. Been there, done that, would do it again if we thought it was interesting to visit whereever "there " is

South? Like north

West? Downhill run Coconut Milk Run - beaches, tropics etc. Lots of other cruisers.

East - uphill the whole way - been there done that- don't need that kind of punishment again unless necessary


Many of our destination decisions have been made after talking with other cruisers who have told us that "this is simply an unimaginable place to visit"


Then we start reading about it and looking at charts.


As someone further up noted - there are many more destinations that I want to see than I have years left in my life.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by NedX

Raymond, I saw some videos of Queensland and it looks fantastic. With all those places to duck into, it's like a warm version of New England!! I've got a question: It looks like a lot of it is inside the Great Barrier Reef. What effect does that have on conditions in there?

It has a couple of effects. The first is no, or very small, swell which tends to limit the surf on beaches and surge in anchorages and the second that there are no big seas, maximum about two metres and they die down quickly because they tend to be locally generated.

[Jim Cate]

Of course, in lovely Queensland anchorages one has no surge, but there are lethal stingers, sharks and salt water crocs to say nothing of the Reef nazis who may find fault with your course, your boat, your fishing gear and the colour of your eyes.

But we've enjoyed a lot of time there, none the less!

Jim

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Of course, in lovely Queensland anchorages one has no surge, but there are lethal stingers, sharks and salt water crocs to say nothing of the Reef nazis who may find fault with your course, your boat, your fishing gear and the colour of your eyes.

But we've enjoyed a lot of time there, none the less!

Jim

Love being on it Jim but have not been in it for about eighteen years now.

And I'm not sure why but the reef nazi's have been awful quiet for the last five or six years.

[NedX]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Of course, in lovely Queensland anchorages one has no surge, but there are lethal stingers, sharks and salt water crocs to say nothing of the Reef nazis who may find fault with your course, your boat, your fishing gear and the colour of your eyes.

But we've enjoyed a lot of time there, none the less!

Jim

Where I sail we have white sharks, not that it affects my decision making (other than not to dive in with a wet suit and flippers). Crocs would probably mitigate against that desire for a quick sea bath....