Might want to pick up Frank Papy's cruising guide to the keys... There are those out there that know a LOT more than me about the gulf... my small bit is more to keep you and the boat in one piece.. watch your weather windows... and if you make a plan to sail only during the day keep to that plan.. www.bluewaterweb.com has great charts and cruiising guides.. located in Fort Lauderdale the customer service is awesome... I never said this but they carry Cuba cruising guides and maps.. I strongly suggest that IF such items find thier way to your palace..they be hidden like all those illegal drugs you are carrying (joke).. Blue Water Charts has a catalog they are delighted to send out.
If there is anything I can help you with.. or look up for you... I have not done a lot of gunkholing in the Keys.. but I plan on it not this winter but next... I am stuck up here...well I am working towards moving south to Hampton VA for this next winter.. 'bella On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 6:10 PM, Philip R. McGovern < [email protected]> wrote: > 'bella: > > Great stuff! Thanks a bunch. Have you considered publishing a "Guide to > the Gulf"? You should. In the meantime, I have printed your email and will > definitely have it aboard when we head that way. I have also bookmarked > most of the links you provided. I was not aware that "Southwinds" was > available online. Also, we will be sure to have our camera set on "video" > as we go under that bridge at Longboat Pass. It might help us in getting > the Florida taxpayers to buy us a new boat. > > Two years ago on the East coast of FL, we came VERY close to having our > mast rammed though our deck by another bridge tender who wasn't paying > attention to what she was doing. She was gabbing on the VHF to one of her > buddies on another boat and forgot that we were under the bridge. It was an > experience we will never forget. She missed us by mere inches. At least > she admitted that she screwed up. > > Thanks again for all the great information. > > Phil > s/v Sunshine > > > > > > > > > On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 8:55 AM, 'bella <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Well from about Mid January to the End of April being out ON the Gulf is >> not the wisest course... it is a wide shallow bay to to speak and the >> waves.. are NOT like the Atlantic. >> >> You truly have to time your time out there by the fronts that come >> thru... A good rule of thumb is to watch what is in New Orleans.. it will >> hit St Pete roughly 24 hrs later.. roughly... >> >> IF you have to leave to go from point A to B... time it so that the second >> the front has passed you can make your turned to go wherever and use the >> winds to push you along... however going out into the middle of the gulf of >> mexico in winter after a storm can be foolhardy. >> >> One weather deal that NOAA won't mention in thier broadcasts is that from >> about Mid December to the end of February we get cold fronts that march down >> the peninsula, stall over the Straits of Florida and then come back north as >> a warm front.. and slam into a cold front somewhere from the Keys to North >> Fla... the resulting weather is heinous in its nastyness. It's how we get >> those tornados that get reported in jan/feb every yr.. >> >> The sailing between fronts is glorious however.. those sunny clear, almost >> warm days... it is tourist season in the keys so the prices are up... >> >> please to note...when the coasties put out small craft warnings... they >> mean exactly that.. up here in the Chessie, that means there is wind on the >> bay... heed those warnings.. >> >> Did you mention going from fla to mexico? hop off from key west...swing >> down south towards cuba (and have a chat with the coasties for being so >> close while you are at it) and then head up towards Isla Mujeres.. Watch >> out for reefs... Belize has the 2nd longs living coral reef on the planet >> and it is not dying.. 186 miles of it.. >> >> Here are a few websites that might be of interest to some... >> >> Nat'l Data Bouy Center... you can click on any bouy on the globe and see >> the conditions around it.. I canot count the times I heard >> 'the C man bouy 100 miles off Venice fla wave ht 50 feet, wave >> periods.." Anything thing.. speaking of data... IN the keys you will hear >> 'insie and outside the reef'..inside it means the Hawk Channel... outside >> its teh straits of fla that run something like 3000fet deep)... wise man >> says to stay inside the reef miami to key west.. do NOT take the ICW from >> miami to key west unless you draw under 5 feet and then sometimes less than >> that.. >> http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/ >> >> weather for Cuba >> http://www.met.inf.cu/asp/genesis.asp?TB0=PLANTILLAS&TB1=INICIAL >> >> Belize weather service >> http://www.hydromet.gov.bz/ >> >> http://passageweather.com/ >> >> www.southwindssailing.com <----local to fla, sailing mag much like >> spinsheet.. it is online for free.. read the letters to the editor they are >> usually a hoot.... in the back of the mag will be windroses and such for >> each month for whatever area that page pertains too. >> >> I cannot tell you much about nother gulf of mexico sailing.. texas and >> that area.. never been that far north.. nothing of interest for me.. my home >> area is SW Fla... I can tell you that key west or the dry tortugas to st >> pete is 36 hours each way in a 40 footer.. or 40+ in a smaller boat... the >> Tortugas is nasty an cold in winter.. NO protection when the fronts come >> thru.. most of us who live down there usualy go after may 1 simply due to >> the distance and the potential for crappy weather and all that.. >> >> Swash channel north side of Boca Grande that comes and goes...another one >> just north of Egmont Key on the NW chanel locals use them to cut thru to >> avoid having to go way the heck out to sea to get around the rocks... rocks >> on the north end of ana maria island that extend out about 5 miles...IF you >> are going up or down the GICW from the Manatee River resist the temptation >> to cut any corners short.... if you do, Capn Finn has the boat us franchise >> to tow... tell him bella said hi... be very very careful lof the bridge >> tender at longboat pass.. she has a tendency to drop the bridge to soon and >> more than a few masts have been scrunched ... it would ruin your visit to >> the sunshine state... >> >> NEVER tell anyone you are a liveaboard.. esp the cops, state, local, >> coasties... you are simply a cruiser passsing thru.. keep your head thru >> hulls shut at all times... inspections come out of the blue these days... >> and the keys are a NO discharge zone... they enforce it.. do not be >> surprised at a random middle of the night bording in the keys in jan.. its >> thier tradition to route you out of bed at 1am rummage thru your boat, run >> background checks on you and then leave...they have to justify all that >> homeland security money somehow and we are evil terrorists boaters.. of >> course all you vets out there... well, since Janet from the planet exposed >> you for the terrorists that you are.. well.... (she says tongue firmly in >> cheek)... I know I have forgotten something.. if you want to know more ask >> specifics.. my brain is not entirely cafienated at the moment.. >> 'bella >> aboard sv maja >> working on sv to be named later.. she keeps telling me she is named >> Evangeline.. but I keep telling her it won't fit the transom.. Fred looks >> better.. :P >> >> >> >> >> >> On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 6:57 AM, Philip R. McGovern < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> 'bella: >>> >>> No, we don't know much about the winter weather in the Gulf of Mexico, >>> although we are somewhat familiar with winter on the East coast and in the >>> Bahamas. Since others may be interested in the Gulf, why don't you share >>> your local knowledge on here? >>> >>> No matter how bad winter is on the Gulf, it can't be as bad as it is here >>> in Indiana. Also, any advice you might have regarding the oil rigs would be >>> very helpful. Many thanks! >>> >>> Phil >>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 12:18 AM, 'bella <[email protected]>wrote: >>> >>>> Phil... you ARE aware that the Gulf of Mexico is not in the same galaxy >>>> as benign during the winter? YOu must be very very careful about your >>>> weather windows.. >>>> If you are not familiar with Gulf weather and fla weather in the >>>> winter.. send me email back channel.. having grown up as a gulf coasters I >>>> do have local knowledge that NOAA does not advise boaters off.. or if you >>>> and all prefer I can mention it here.. >>>> 'bella.. >>>> sv maja >>>> sv am working on a name decision.. lol.. >>>> >>>> On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM, Sam Densler <[email protected]>wrote: >>>> >>>>> Tell us when you are coming through. Not sure when we will return, >>>>> probably late October. But the trip in the opposite direction is long >>>>> pushing against the gulf stream. We usually cross the okeechobee >>>>> waterway in that direction. >>>>> >>>>> Sam >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Philip R. McGovern wrote: >>>>> > Sam: >>>>> > >>>>> > That sounds like a great trip. Maybe we can buddy boat and do the >>>>> same >>>>> > trip in reverse in the fall. Our plan is to spend the whole winter >>>>> > exploring the Gulf of Mexico. I'd like to get over to New Orleans >>>>> and, >>>>> > maybe, down to Cancun. I'm a little concerned about all the oil >>>>> rigs, >>>>> > but at least they don't run you down like the ships do. >>>>> > >>>>> > Phil >>>>> > >>>>> > On Sun, Jun 21, 2009 at 11:54 PM, Sam Densler <[email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>>> > >>>>> > Gina and I just completed out Charlotte Harbor, Keys, Biscayne >>>>> Bay, >>>>> > Offshore to Ft. Pierce and on to Melbourne trip. Had a great >>>>> time, >>>>> > great weather, can't wait to do it again. >>>>> > >>>>> > Sam >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > Steve Weinstein wrote: >>>>> > > I've only been checking in every 4-5 days and also noticed it >>>>> > seems really >>>>> > > quiet. Hopefully everyone's out sailing?????? >>>>> > > >>>>> > > >>>>> > > Steve Weinstein >>>>> > > S/V CAPTIVA >>>>> > > 1997 Hunter 376, Hull #376 >>>>> > > Sailing out of Oyster Bay, NY >>>>> > > >>>>> > > All outgoing mail protected by VIPRE A/V >>>>> > > >>>>> > > >>>>> > > ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> > > From: "Stephen Petri" <[email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]>> >>>>> > > To: <[email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]>> >>>>> > > Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 5:16 PM >>>>> > > Subject: [Liveaboard] Test - Anyone There? >>>>> > > >>>>> > > >>>>> > >> Haven't seen a post in days. >>>>> > >> >>>>> > >> -- >>>>> > >> Stephen Petri >>>>> > >> S/V Witchcraft, Ranger 33 No. 161 >>>>> > >> http://www.teamwitchcraft.com < >>>>> http://www.teamwitchcraft.com/> >>>>> > >> >>>>> > >> _______________________________________________ >>>>> > >> Liveaboard mailing list >>>>> > >> [email protected] <mailto: >>>>> [email protected]> >>>>> > >> To adjust your membership settings over the web >>>>> > >> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >>>>> > >> To subscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> > >> >>>>> > >> To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> > [email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> > >> The archives are at >>>>> > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >>>>> > >> >>>>> > >> To search the archives >>>>> > >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >>>>> > >> >>>>> > >> The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >>>>> > >> >>>>> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >>>>> > > >>>>> > > _______________________________________________ >>>>> > > Liveaboard mailing list >>>>> > > [email protected] <mailto: >>>>> [email protected]> >>>>> > > To adjust your membership settings over the web >>>>> > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >>>>> > > To subscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> > > >>>>> > > To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> > [email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> > > The archives are at >>>>> > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >>>>> > > >>>>> > > To search the archives >>>>> > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >>>>> > > >>>>> > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >>>>> > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >>>>> > > >>>>> > >>>>> > -- >>>>> > **************************** >>>>> > >>>>> > Sam Densler >>>>> > mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> > http://www.islandfx.com/lady >>>>> > >>>>> > S/V Lady of the Lake >>>>> > PDQ 36, Hull #15 >>>>> > Melbourne, FL >>>>> > >>>>> > S/V Stories She Could Tell >>>>> > Endeavour 37, Hull #454 >>>>> > Destroyed by Hurricane Frances 2004 >>>>> > Reborn and sailing again in 2007 >>>>> > >>>>> > **************************** >>>>> > >>>>> > "If you ever wonder why you ride the carousel, >>>>> > you do it for the stories you can tell." >>>>> > >>>>> > Jimmy Buffett >>>>> > "Stories We Could Tell" >>>>> > A1A >>>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>>> > Liveaboard mailing list >>>>> > [email protected] <mailto: >>>>> [email protected]> >>>>> > To adjust your membership settings over the web >>>>> > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >>>>> > To subscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> > >>>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> > <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> > The archives are at >>>>> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >>>>> > >>>>> > To search the archives >>>>> > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >>>>> > >>>>> > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >>>>> > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> > >>>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>>> > Liveaboard mailing list >>>>> > [email protected] >>>>> > To adjust your membership settings over the web >>>>> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >>>>> > To subscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>>> > >>>>> > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>>> > The archives are at >>>>> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >>>>> > >>>>> > To search the archives >>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >>>>> > >>>>> > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >>>>> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> **************************** >>>>> >>>>> Sam Densler >>>>> mailto:[email protected] >>>>> http://www.islandfx.com/lady >>>>> >>>>> S/V Lady of the Lake >>>>> PDQ 36, Hull #15 >>>>> Melbourne, FL >>>>> >>>>> S/V Stories She Could Tell >>>>> Endeavour 37, Hull #454 >>>>> Destroyed by Hurricane Frances 2004 >>>>> Reborn and sailing again in 2007 >>>>> >>>>> **************************** >>>>> >>>>> "If you ever wonder why you ride the carousel, >>>>> you do it for the stories you can tell." >>>>> >>>>> Jimmy Buffett >>>>> "Stories We Could Tell" >>>>> A1A >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Liveaboard mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> To adjust your membership settings over the web >>>>> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >>>>> To subscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>>> >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>>> The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >>>>> >>>>> To search the archives >>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >>>>> >>>>> The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >>>>> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Liveaboard mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> To adjust your membership settings over the web >>>> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >>>> To subscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>>> The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >>>> >>>> To search the archives >>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >>>> >>>> The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >>>> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Liveaboard mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> To adjust your membership settings over the web >>> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >>> To subscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >>> >>> To search the archives >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >>> >>> The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >>> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Liveaboard mailing list >> [email protected] >> To adjust your membership settings over the web >> http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >> To subscribe send an email to [email protected] >> >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ >> >> To search the archives >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >> >> The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > [email protected] > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >
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