Newport to ft lauderdale

[markbriggs37]

Good morning. I am thinking about wintering my hylas 49 in ft lauderdale and departing newport around oct 29. Suggestions on route, and other advice for the trip? I made the reverse trip this past spring and suspect id better avoid the gulf stream on the way down...

Thanks!

[Badsanta]

ICW works well.

[skipmac]

As far as route, really not too many options. Just variations on "go south."

The only choices will be inside or outside which will depend on weather and your preferences.

Leg 1 RI to NY options. Long Island Sound to NY harbor or ocean side of LI. The former more protected water, lots of places to stop but have to deal with currents in the Sound and East River. Outside about the same distance, fewer stopping places, open water but straightforward navigation.

Leg 2 NY to ICW. No choice but to go outside. I made it in two overnights, NY to DE Bay then DE Bay to Norfolk. You could go up DE Bay to the DE Chesapeake Canal but adds a lot of extra distance.

ICW. I would definitely stay in the ICW until south of Hatteras, especially thig time of year. After that you can stay inside or take legs outside as time, weather and inclination dictate. Due to shoaling in GA and the size of your boat I would go outside from Charleston or Savannah to Jacksonville.

Once south of Ft Pierce bridges start to proliferate so might want to go outside. Hug the coast to stay out of the stream and maybe catch a counter current.