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Lake Superior to Annapolis to Pensacola

rolf

Rolf Peterson
I'm leaving next Saturday from Bayfield, WI on Lake Superior through Huron, Erie, Erie Canal, Hudson River, Atlantic to Chesapeake and Annapolis by Oct 8th. After than, I am not quite on a schedule as I will be out of the frozen and into somewhere where I don't have to haul the boat for 6 months.

I am looking for suggestions for leg 2, on how to travel from the Chesapeake to somewhere on the southern east coast where I can leave my boat from Thanksgiving through the new year. One suggestion was Beaufort if I go to Bahamas later, or the ICW if not. Being a great lakes sailor, I only have stories of Hatteras - all bad - and need to know if the ICW is available to our boats or if I just head off-shore for 2-3 days at a time, or ?.

Goal for this winter is Pensacola for the 3rd leg - after the holidays.

I would also like to meet everyone - so if any of you are in this route, let me know where and we can talk Morgans.
 
Hi Rolf,
Morgan 38s go up and down the ICW all the time. You will have no problem with bridges other than waiting on those that have scheduled openings. As you pass through Norfolk/Portsmouth VA, you will have a choice of taking the Dismal Swamp route or the Virginia Cut. We've done both and had no problems with depth or bridge height. We prefer the Dismal Swamp for it's beauty and easy stopovers. Staying at Beaufort is OK but you might also want to consider Oriental, NC, and Southport, NC. If you don't mind leaving your boat on a mooring ball, consider Carolina Beach. There are lots of good guide books that cover the ICW. One that we rely on is Skipper Bob. There's also a lot of valuable info in ActiveCaptain. If (and when) you approach know shoaling areas, it's perfectly OK to contact TowBoat US and ask for the latest advice. (It's also a good idea to buy their unlimited towing just in case you need it.)
When traveling the ICW after Beaufort, there are several good places to jump outside and come back in a day or three later. We've gone offshore from Cape Fear River to Charleston and from Cape Fear to St. Augustine, for example. It always depends on weather, of course. But that's the great thing about the ICW--you can keep going if the weather is bad. If it's favorable, make some distance on the outside.
Hope this helps.
Ken (Mary T)
 
Rolf
If you are a 382 with the shorter mast, you can leave Cape May, NJ, via the Cape May Canal. It will save you 15 miles going out and around. If the weather is good you can go outside to Norfolk, VA. But then you would miss the entire Chesapeake Bay which is wonderful in Sept and Oct. from Norfolk to Beaufort it's advised to go inside, 180nm. That time of year. The weather off Hatteras can change for the worst in minutes. Ken is absolutely right about taking the Dismal Swamp Canal. Costs you an extra day but it's beautiful. If you get good weather to jump outside from Beaufort/Morehead City, plan on going back in at Wrightsville Beach, which is about 60nm. From there go inside 18nm to the Cape Fear River and Southport. That will save you going out around Frying Pan Shoals and many extra miles. There are many Morgan owners who have done the ICW, some many times, and would love to share the experience. Just ask any question, I'm sure you'll good info.

Jim
 
Think we have discussed this previously... but just to put it out there Beaufort,NC has a few excellent DIY Yards (Bock Marine & Burbridge & Wilson to name two). The city dock has excellent monthly rates in the "off season" (November - March). Anne and I will be living in Beaufort, NC at least thru winter 2015-16. We are happy to assist with an airport shuttle to New Bern if you are traveling while the boat is hauled out.
 
Leaving Cape May, should be done at low tide. You can carry the current all the way up the Delaware Bay, through the C and D canal and down part of the upper Chesapeake to the Sassafras River or Worton Creek. You don't want to buck the current in the Delaware.
 
Hi Rolf and All, Great advice by all as usual. Rolf we are trying to ready our boat for departure here on Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie. We wanted to leave in the spring but after a siblings early and quick demise we felt what are we waiting for. The boat will be safe and comfortable but not completely finished (are they ever!). We are trying to leave the middle to end of September and follow your route down to Beaufort/Morehead City. When you come through the western basin of Lake Erie make sure to stop at Put-in Bay and the docks, anchorages and mooring field. Home to the battle of Lake Erie and Oliver Hazzard Perry's victory over the British in the War of 1812. Sandusky Harbor is home of Cedar Point and the most roller coasters in the world and known as the "Roller Coast". Feel free to contact us for any info or help. Kane's
 
Will you be attending the Annapolis Boat Show? You're schedule puts you here just in time. If we can ever get out of the damn marina, we will be there. We should grab a beer!
 
Thanks for all the great advice, I finally got a chance to look for posts, I'm not sure why I didn't get notified, oh well.

We planned on a stop at Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie, but both the wind and daylight suggested we push on and we had a great sail from just past the shipping lane to Erie, PA, 2 am to about 7 pm, running under spinnaker and main at 4-7 kts - a great last ride under sail before the Erie Canal.

I've been on the Canal now for 6 days, some slow and some long, but having the mast overhead and all the supports for it in the middle of things, I am grateful for the way in which I can get around the boat without trouble when things are normal.

I will check bridge heights etc on the charts, but I was expecting to be able to go into Cape May if weather dictated, from the Atlantic, coming south from NYC (Sandy Hook) on the Atlantic. I have a 383 and will be measuring my mast (to the inch) while its down so I can be comfortable with the shorter bridges. So many thinbgs to do...

I WILL BE at the Annapolis boat show, I have slip across the bay at the Annapolis City Marina, so look for Sjokolade if you come to the show, and feel free to call or email to connect.
 
Rolf, I also have a 383. The bridge in the Cape May canal is 55ft. I have been under it three times. i may have knocked the antenna off the last time.
As I said in an earlier post, leave Cape May at Low Tide, lets you carry current up Delaware, but also gives more room under bridge. I can understand measuring mast while down , but am not sure of calculations to determine height above water. Part of the mast is below water line.
 
Great, thanks for that information. I expect we'll be playing it by the weather when we get near there.

I plan to measure from the sheerline down on each side while at rest, then take the average from there. Then I have to meaasure from that point to the top of my mast boot. When I measure the mast while it is down, I will measure the location of the top of the mast boot (along with each of the other significant points along the mast. I should be able to calculate my mast height from there.... I don't expect to take the mast down often, I just got new standing rigging, but I sure want to know my heights.
 
Thanks Bert and Jim. I finally made my best measurements (and have gotten as far as Haverstraw Bay on the Hudson, mast back up and feeling like a sailboat, even though I still have been motoring only) and believe my mast is basically 57' to the top of the antenna and 54.5" to the top of my instrument set (tri-color/anchor & windex/wind instruments. End to end the spar is 60'. I might make it through the canal (I had to find it first!) but I am not a big risk taker for the dollars involved up there right now. The two sailors I will have for crew are pretty interested in seeing the Chesapeake, so we will make every effort to go all the way there (assuming weather and wind are appropriate) and then up the Chesapeake to Annapolis so they get a chance to see it and we can get a chance to sail as much as possible.

Having spent most of my sailing on the Great Lakes, I am just learning about tides and currents on the Hudson, so I will measure twice for plans for the Delaware if I go up there, looking for a low tide coming past Cape May - thanks for the advice. I've also heard there is a current offshore that can help both southbound and northbound, I'll be looking for that as well.

Thanks also for the advice on the trip south of the Chesapeake. I will look for the Dismal Swamp and despite its name it sounds a good option. I am just starting to look at the charts and plotting some courses and figuring out some timing. I will need to have some idea of timings to accommodate the needs of most crew I might have available.
 
Rolf, I am confused. The way to go south is up the Delaware, thru the C&D canal and then down the Chesapeake. If you go off shore to Norfolk as Jim mentioned, you won't go up the Chesapeake bay, because it is 125 miles to Annapolis from Norfolk , which you will need to repeat when you go south again. From Cape May to Norfolk is approximately 140 miles. It is 105 miles from Cape May to Annapolis, by way of the C&D canal, but there are many stopping places after you reach the canal. If you want more info, Email me at the email address on this board.
 
Rolf
If you are worried about the 55' bridge on the Cape May canal, you will get to the same place by going out and around the Cape. You will have to leave the inlet a couple of hours before low tide because you will be adding 15 miles to your trip.
You might want to pick up a copy of "Eldridge". It's a yellow covered book will all the current and tide information for the East Coast. Costs about $15. A worthwhile investment.

Jim
 
Thanks Jim, I'll look for the Eldridge, I think I saw it in the ship's store where I am staying right now. And I don't mind trading the miles for the the comfort

Bert, thanks for the straight-up numbers, it helps I can understand your confusion. I won't be truly heading south until mid to late October or early November, but meanwhile plan to go to the Annapolis Boat Show in first week of October. The two crew I have (and myself) for the NYC to Annapolis leg will be interested in "sailing" south and then north again on the Chesapeake rather than motoring through rivers and canals. Personally, after motoring 195 hours over the last 4 weeks, I want to see some open water so even though we add a few hundred miles to our trip, its the trip we are after for this stretch. I'll be watching the weather of course, and if necessary, sneak out to the Delaware and go through the C&D Canal in order to get the the show on time. Not the best time to be ocean sailing, I gather, but if the weather window is in our favor, we'll be happy to take it.
 
Thanks Jim, I'll look for the Eldridge, I think I saw it in the ship's store where I am staying right now. And I don't mind trading the miles for the the comfort

Bert, thanks for the straight-up numbers, it helps I can understand your confusion. I won't be truly heading south until mid to late October or early November, but meanwhile plan to go to the Annapolis Boat Show in first week of October. The two crew I have (and myself) for the NYC to Annapolis leg will be interested in "sailing" south and then north again on the Chesapeake rather than motoring through rivers and canals. Personally, after motoring 195 hours over the last 4 weeks, I want to see some open water so even though we add a few hundred miles to our trip, its the trip we are after for this stretch. I'll be watching the weather of course, and if necessary, sneak out to the Delaware and go through the C&D Canal in order to get the the show on time. Not the best time to be ocean sailing, I gather, but if the weather window is in our favor, we'll be happy to take it.
Hi Rolf, We are leaving Lake Erie for the Erie Canal in a week or two. Of your 195mi of motoring in the last 4 weeks how long did it take you to transit the Erei Canal's 325mi and 35 locks? Enjoy your trip and thanks for the reply, Kane's
 
Rolf, You might be interested in the Seven Seas Cruising Gam at Camp Letts on the Rhode River just South of Annapolis. Its Oct 2-4th. You may not be there by then. Jim Cleary could tell you more as he has there in past years. They have a web site and on line registration.
 
Rolf, You might be interested in the Seven Seas Cruising Gam at Camp Letts on the Rhode River just South of Annapolis. Its Oct 2-4th. You may not be there by then. Jim Cleary could tell you more as he has there in past years. They have a web site and on line registration.
Hi Rolf & All, I meant to type 195 hours so far on your journey. Jim and all thanks for all of the advice and info for Rolf and whoever follows in his path. Thank's, Kane's
 
it took 2 nights in Buffalo to get the mast down and two nights in Catskil on the Hudson to get it back up. we worked steady but not fast. we departed Buffalo on Friday the 3rd (edit: maybe we left Saturday, my notes and brain aren't connection on that) arrived Troy on Saturday 9/12. we spent one extra day in one town and motored 6-8 hour days or less, with one 14 hour day. I don't recommend traveling after dark. I do think it could be done much faster than what we did, we picked up a passenger near Schenectady and held back on our travelling to hit that date and time.

fee free to call with questions 651 four eight five 7975.

Bert - thanks for the info but no I will just be leaving NYC on the 1st or 2nd. or later if the weather acts up. I've heard of the 7 seas cruising club and maybe one day will connect with them.
 
my crew suggest I tell you where we stayed as well. in no order we liked Fairport, ice cream and $9 dockage with showers power. Beacon, where we parked free (only weekdays?) on a long dock behind the mooring field and met the local sailors and liveaboards. Canahojarie was very interesting, we spent an extra day there. the western end had more quaint towns, the eastern more nature. the Oneida was a non-event and we stayed free at the far end at Sylvan Beach on Labor day among lots of traffic. On Lake Oneida it was 105 degrees in the cockpit so we went swimming. Except for Oneida someone was always drivinfg. We had little rain but we did bring a trap that covered the cockpit on those few days.

Unlike mist boats we saw, we used three 2x8s for our cradle, one vertices and the other 2 crossed and supported against the bulwarks. We used cargo straps for fore and aft support and over the mast once in place. While it was at times difficult to move about quickly the mast couldn't be budged.

Have fun. Maybe we'll see you somewhere south.
 
Rolf
Looks like these easterlys will be gone by mid week. Hopefully you'll get some northerly wind to make the jump. Look into the Seven Seas Cruising Association. They are a nice bunch of cruising sailors. The get togethers (Gams) are fun and you can learn a lot from the experience of others. You don't have to be a long distance or world cruiser to join.

Jim
 
Rolf, be sure to send me an email or text when you know the dates you'll be on Florida's East Coast. I am a fellow 383'r and looked at your pics on your blog last night. I actually live closer to the East Coast than I do my boat which is down in Clearwater on the Gulf Coast... One day I might go to the other coast but for now, we really enjoy the Gulf and the folks we're friends with over there.... I'd enjoy connecting so let me know... text me at three 5 two, 4 zero Nine, eight one seven five.
 
Rolf, be sure to send me an email or text when you know the dates you'll be on Florida's East Coast. I am a fellow 383'r and looked at your pics on your blog last night. I actually live closer to the East Coast than I do my boat which is down in Clearwater on the Gulf Coast... One day I might go to the other coast but for now, we really enjoy the Gulf and the folks we're friends with over there.... I'd enjoy connecting so let me know... text me at three 5 two, 4 zero Nine, eight one seven five.
I put your number in my phone. It will likely be January.
 
Rolf, when do you expect to reach St Marys, GA / Fernandina Beach, FL border area?
I may be there and be able to lend any assistance. I'd like to meet you if possible.
Dave
 
Rolf
If your timing puts you in the area of the Saint Mary's River about the time of Thanksgiving, be sure to stop in St Mary's, GA. The Town, the local Yacht Club, a local Hotel & Bar and the cruisers themselves host a Thanksgiving meal that is wonderful. The year we were there they fed 150 sailors. Great stuff.

Jim
 
Today I avoided other projects by spending a few hours looking at charts of the Atlantic Coast, reading the thread here, and checking things out on Active Captain. Jim, I will miss Thanksgiving in St. Mary's, but I hope to go here in January. My first journey will be by plane to Pensacola to join the family for Thanksgiving. I believe my next sailing leg will be to Beaufort NC between Thanksgiving and Christmas, followed by another plane ride to MN for Christmas. January will bring me south along the coast, and I've been eyeing spots to stop, including Wrightsville, Cape Fear/Southport, Charleston, Port Royal/Hilton Head, Savannah, St. Mary's River, then St. Augustine?, In Florida I looked at Ponce de Leon Inlet and Cape Canaveral. I've been hearing about Stuart, Vero Beach, and Fort Francis.

If you are in the route, let me know, I'll also post here as I move, plus I have a blog I post to which in turn posts to Facebook so my non-sailing friends and family can track me.

Thanks for all the suggestions and I look forward to meeting those of you available along the way.
 
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