Would it be crazy to go from Tampa Bay inlet to Pensacola?

[cardude01]

Looks like about 280 NM. I did the crossing from Clearwater to Panama City (about 180nm) two years ago and the boat did fine (though rolly as hell). Looking to try a longer crossing to test out the sails more extensively. Is this a decent time of year to try it? It would be nice to have 10-15 knot winds and not crazy rough seas.

Obviously I would need to watch out for tropical storms, but I should be able to get a three day weather window right?

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

not crazy at all, just watch wx.

 

[psneeld]

In the boat...in a hearbeat.

Just watch the weather like a hawk....had one form around me sailing from Key West to Miami back in the early 80s....but you have much better weather guessing now.

 

[DavidM]

In your boat, not a problem. You should be able to make it in less than 48 hours, right?

Assuming you have no long range weather receiving capability you will be beyond vhf/cell range for only about 150 NM or about a day and it will be the first day.

Weather forecasting has improved significantly and the chances of getting caught in an unexpected tropical storm during that period is near nil.

So no sweat as I see it.

David

 

[fred024]

What length is your Island Packet?

 

[cardude01]

41’ but it’s not a traditional sailboat. Has big windows in the pilothouse, a shallow 4’ keel, and can’t take huge seas. Or at least not with me on it. [emoji41]

 

[cardude01]

I figure it will take about 36 hours at 6.5 knots.

 

[Benthic2]

One thing to be aware of is that your farthest distance from shore will be at the very beginning of your journey. You could hedge your bet a little by goinng due north for 5 hours or so. That way your max distance from shore is greatly reduced, and delayed until later in the trip. I'm sure you'll be fine either way though.

Do you know the range of your vhf setup, and the location of the USCG stations enroute ?

 

[FF]

Wait at least 24 hours after you get a favorable wind.

The early breeze kicks up the 3-4 ft waves that will knock you around , after a day the waves will be bigger but much further apart , good sailing.

 

[cardude01]

Don’t really know the range of my VHF,but the antenna is on top of the mast so it’s pretty decent I think. 20-30 miles? I also have a Spot receiver I used last time in the Bahamas.

Fred: thanks for the tip on the waiting on the swell to settle down.

I wonder if I will be dodging thunderstorms the entire way? Last summer sailing in the Bahamas I seemed to be constantly running away from (but usually getting caught) by thunderstorms. Some pretty strong with 30 knots of wind iirc. I was in the Sea of Abaco however so it never got that rough, but in the Gulf it might be more interesting. I will have to be more aware of storms coming and get the sails in quicker than I did in the Bahamas. I stupidly sailed into a couple of thunderstorms because I didn’t furl the sails soon enough and by the time the wind kicked up it was too late to turn the boat into the wind and furl the main. That furling main is hard to get back in for me when the wind is blowing hard. Boat has to be pointing directly into the wind and and it’s just clunky with the sail flogging around like crazy. But I’m probably doing it wrong.

 

[k9medic]

I would not do it this time of year.

Some pretty nasty stuff pops up quickly on a regular basis in the gulf in that area and by mid week we will have a tropical storm.


I would shoot to Panama City from Tarpon.

 

[FF]

" thanks for the tip on the waiting on the swell to settle down."

NO ,NO,NO, the little slop settles into nice big comfortable swells .

Swells will lift and perhaps speed the boat if in a good direction , slop simply rocks the boat or causes pitching.

 

[BandB]

Obviously I would need to watch out for tropical storms, but I should be able to get a three day weather window right?

Wifey B: Yeah, today wouldn't be the time to do it.

Thoughts out to those around Biloxi and Mobile and that whole area as Gordon doing his thing and headed for them. Looks like he'll be a bit stronger by the time he crosses the Gulf.

 

[cardude01]

Yeah, tomorrow would be a really bad day to be boating out in the gulf. [emoji41]

 

[BandB]

View attachment 80499

Yeah, tomorrow would be a really bad day to be boating out in the gulf. [emoji41]

Wifey B: Worst I could see was 15' at 8 seconds. Now that's steep. That's a combination I've not encountered and no desire for.

 

[dhays]

Don’t really know the range of my VHF,but the antenna is on top of the mast so it’s pretty decent I think. 20-30 miles? I also have a Spot receiver I used last time in the Bahamas.

Fred: thanks for the tip on the waiting on the swell to settle down.

I wonder if I will be dodging thunderstorms the entire way? Last summer sailing in the Bahamas I seemed to be constantly running away from (but usually getting caught) by thunderstorms. Some pretty strong with 30 knots of wind iirc. I was in the Sea of Abaco however so it never got that rough, but in the Gulf it might be more interesting. I will have to be more aware of storms coming and get the sails in quicker than I did in the Bahamas. I stupidly sailed into a couple of thunderstorms because I didn’t furl the sails soon enough and by the time the wind kicked up it was too late to turn the boat into the wind and furl the main. That furling main is hard to get back in for me when the wind is blowing hard. Boat has to be pointing directly into the wind and and it’s just clunky with the sail flogging around like crazy. But I’m probably doing it wrong.

A furling main can be difficult. Every rig is different but make sure the furling gear is lubed properly and often you will find that the main will furl more easily if it on one side or the other. Typically on the side where the sail doesn’t have to make as sharp a bend as it going into the furler. As such, often it is easier if you aren’t headed directly into the wind but are slightly off the wind so the sail moves to the favored side for the furler. You can control it then with mainsheet tension.

 

[cardude01]

A furling main can be difficult. Every rig is different but make sure the furling gear is lubed properly and often you will find that the main will furl more easily if it on one side or the other. Typically on the side where the sail doesn’t have to make as sharp a bend as it going into the furler. As such, often it is easier if you aren’t headed directly into the wind but are slightly off the wind so the sail moves to the favored side for the furler. You can control it then with mainsheet tension.

Interesting. Thanks. I will experiment with that next time I’m out.

 

[FootballFan]

Maybe I misunderstood. Tampa Bay to Clearwater is only 20 or so NM. Surprised that it showed to be a 100 NM on the trip.

 

[Captain K]

I've done that Tampa-Pensacola route perhaps 8-10 times in both sail and trawler. As others have said, key is to watch the weather like a hawk. Alternatively, you might want to shorten the distance you're exposed to potential bad stuff by coasting north to either Clearwater or Tarpon Springs, then shoot over to Carabelle (about 144 NM), entering the GIWW between Dog Island and St. George Island. The inside route via the GIWW westbound from there is spectacular! Obviously you'll need to check your mast height against fixed bridge clearances. Good luck!

 

[cardude01]

Awesome. Thanks. My mast is only 40’.

 

[rgano]

40 feet? No problem. Take your time and smell the roses. take a 70-mile run to Cedar Keyand anchor overnight before setting off to either Steinhatchee or Dog Island (80 or 110 statute miles respectively). Once you hit hit Dog Island Pass you can go up to Carrabelle then meander over to Apalachicola before cruising up the Apalachicola River travel through Lake Wimico and thence down the Gulf Cutoff Canal to Port Saint Joe before taking to the outside again to make an idyllic anchorage at Crooked Island Sound about a dozen miles up the coast. Another dozen miles puts you at the St Andrew Bay pass into the Panama City area.

You can cross the Big Bend area any time of year, but some times of year, you have to wait for your weather window longer. We like the early spring and fall before the fronts begin to run through the area every 3-5 days.

 

[cardude01]

That does sound like a fun cruise. Last time I went straight across from Clearwater to Panama City. I think it was like 22 hours?

I know it may sound strange, but I really like the longer open water passages. I enjoy the solitude of the open water and it gives me time to fiddle with the sails. If I could figure a way to do it single handed I would, but I don’t think I can stay up for 24-36 hours.

 

[Sailor of Fortune]

That does sound like a fun cruise. Last time I went straight across from Clearwater to Panama City. I think it was like 22 hours?

I know it may sound strange, but I really like the longer open water passages. I enjoy the solitude of the open water and it gives me time to fiddle with the sails. If I could figure a way to do it single handed I would, but I don’t think I can stay up for 24-36 hours.

I agree! No better feeling in the world than being on watch at night on your own little ship,engine purring below your feet. Imagine all the peeps that never get to experience that sense of pleasure.

 

[McGillicuddy]

It’s not so hard to do the trip solo. I’ve done it several times. Try leaving in the afternoon for an ETA about 3-4 hours before dusk next day. If you can manage a nap before you go you can probably make it through the hours of darkness when your circadian rhythm would normally want you to sleep. Once the sun comes up next morning that need seems to fade away. I always enjoy an open sea passage and very rarely want to sleep once I’m ‘out there’. Last year I did the trip from Tampa to Gulfport Mississippi, 48 hours. Second night was harder.
I agree with rgano’s idea also. That trip can be done solo also. I did that in reverse this spring. Was a fun trip.