'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 >
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