First "long" cruise, looking for suggestions.

[zeehag]

a27 catalina can do the icw easily. is a pretty place.
you shouldnt need a storm anchor of any kind--icw offers lovely storm hideyholes.
i have done this trip thru rigolets and to ft myers beach and dry tortugas 3 times when we sailed gom. there is much to see and many anchorages to hang in....enjoy and have fun.
where in nola are you berthed?? we sailed out of slidell. really close to rigolets, east side of ponchartrain.

[Cheechako]

Have your reefing down to where it's automatic for you. Practice it.
Isnt this a coastal trip? A drogue, sea anchor, storm jib should all be WAY down the list for that....

[The Garbone]

Oh, just thought of one more thing. I downloaded the tides and currents app onto my Iphone and that was great. Before you leave you can download all the Active Captain information so you can select marina and achorages and read the reviews on them, it also has navigation and hazard warning in it and it even works offline for when your out of coverage. Super app.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by The Garbone

Oh, just thought of one more thing. I downloaded the tides and currents app onto my Iphone and that was great. Before you leave you can download all the Active Captain information so you can select marina and achorages and read the reviews on them, it also has navigation and hazard warning in it and it even works offline for when your out of coverage. Super app.

+A1..

[zeehag]

that is true--i know that , in that area, the very best anchorages have not been reported to anyone, they are secret and sacred local knowledge. good storm holes. beautiful scenery. listen and talk with those who have gone before..there are a few...is a fun trip.

[marc2012]

If you have a computer on board try opencpn.marc PS also earthnc on smart phone.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by zeehag

a27 catalina can do the icw easily. is a pretty place.
you shouldnt need a storm anchor of any kind--icw offers lovely storm hideyholes. .....................

I agree with Zeehag's choice of not packing a sea anchor or specified "storm anchor"; however, despite what's nice about the ICW, it doesn't exist for a long stretch of your route. Still, you can choose excellent weather to hop to St. Marks and then to Cedar Key, or skip either of those and head for Tarpon Springs which is almost to your destination of Tampa. An overnight for a weather aware cruiser could also be the straight run to Tampa from the begining of the "Big Bend" area of Florida. Summer weather can be full of pop-up thunder storms that can be rough for a half hour or so, but anything larger will be more predictable by forecast.

[Therapy]

When are you going?

If soon then get to it. There are great east winds now and for (probably) at least another week. Would be pretty good to shoot for Tarpon I would think.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Kindle, headlamp, and a thermos full of coffee.

+1 on the headlamp.

to rebel heart's list add:
food
beer
fresh ginger snaps (seasickness remedy)
spare guitar strings
trinkets for the natives.

[MarkJ]

But dont go this week:

The Gulf of Mexico will be the place to really watch next week for potential tropical development as pretty much all of this morning’s guidance points to a tropical storm developing next week and tracking somewhere between New Orleans and Tampa.

The Gulf Of Mexico Will Really Need To Be Watched Closely For Tropical Development Next Week » Crown Weather Services - Your One-Stop Weather Information Source

[Sandiiyam48t]

pick a time or pick a place not both,,,,,,,

[CapnBrown]

Just because I got so much notice on the sea anchor I figured I'd add a note... The reason I mentioned it is because they aren't that expensive, stow easily, and the couple I mentioned that made the trip you are about to make that hit really bad weather and had to abandon ship could have left their vessel on a sea anchor and at least slowed its unmanned progress until they searched and found the vessel. $150 to increase the odds of finding your boat would be worth it to me. As far as using it while aboard to wait out a storm, the other comments about different opinions for foul weather tactics is right on. Chances are you won't ever use it and hoping from protected location to protected location should be fine and uneventful. But as mentioned there is probably going to be one over-nighter and daily Fla thunderstorms can be really powerful and nasty, then 20 minutes later calm with clearing. You can't outrun them if you're offshore so if you're being overtaken batten down the hatches, shorten sail and hang on...

The question was what we would suggest you bring for the trip right?....

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

But dont go this week:



The Gulf Of Mexico Will Really Need To Be Watched Closely For Tropical Development Next Week » Crown Weather Services - Your One-Stop Weather Information Source

Happens fast don't it?

[belizesailor]

Speaking of squalls and nasty weather...practice heaving-to. Good heavy weath tactic and also good for just taking a break or making repairs.

[gjordan]

Good heavy ground tackle!!!!!!. Just remember that more cruising boats are lost to poor anchoring skills/techniques than are ever lost at sea. Whatever West Marine or the yacht club set recommends, you should go a size or 2 larger, and use whatever you have now as your second or third anchor. As you can tell from CF there are hundreds of posts about boats lost at sea, but only a few posts about the many more boats that are damaged or lost from an anchor dragging. Good ground tackle is the cheapest insurance a cruiser can buy.____My 2 cents worth.______Grant.