Rhode Island to Florida in 460 DA

wetpaint said:
Sailor.....Keep us posted on where you stop at night, fuel, where you wished you stopeed and wish you didn't, etc.......
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I stayed at the Dennis Connor Marina in battery park Manhattan the first night. I was thrown all around at night. I thought I was going to have a clear ripped off. I left in the morning for liberty landing marine. Two miles away on the jersey side. Perfect! Quiet, no waves. Water taxi to nyc every half hour.
I wish I could have stopped in Atlantic city. I went on to cape may for the night so that I could make Norfolk in one shot. That is where I am this morning. Heading into the icw today. I will take the va cut to coinjock.
 
Turtlesboat said:
...I like the fact that I can work on the boat all year round. Up in the NE, you can't do anything until the end of march.
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Hey Mike, I hope that's not the primary reason you're gowing so far south :grin:. It's great if your schedule allows you to accumplish both, work on the boat use it for pleasure. For now I'll stick with the old fasion mehtod of using electrical heater while doing my boat projects.


Salor,

What a trip, man God bless you. Keep us posted and be safe. As you know safety is #1, getting from point A to point B is #2.
 
I hope he checks back in and lets us know some good places to stop along the way. Looking for ideas.
 
Have really enjoyed this thread so far... wow... great to hear how your doing please keep us posted and pictures if you are able... I will have to try the solo boat ride. Have not done that since I got the larger boat... Take care
 
We're going to SC. Are you down there all winter?

I got a notice to watch out for whales off the coast, has anyone seen any lately?
 
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sailorjerry said:
I bought the boat in April. It is my first powerboat. I love boating with a bunch of people and I love to clear the harbor (and my head) by being out solo. Since April I have put nearly 300 hours on her.
Take yours out solo on a calm day. You may not ask anyone to come aboard for a while....
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I'm very impressed with your hours Jerry! WOW!!!! I will take your advice and try and take a solo trip sometime soon! Unfortunately my wife and girls wouldn't like it too much if I started cruising solo! ;)
 
I am in Myrtle Beach, SC. Last time I checked in, I madei t to Little Creek (Norfolk) VA on Monday night. After averaging 120 miles per day, Tuesday was a bit of an ICW reality check. Waiting for bridges and locks, slowing for small fishing vessels, etc, made for a low mileage day.
I left Little Creek at about 10am, went through the naval yard at Norfolk. I am amazed at how big the facility is. The drydocks are incredible. Talking to warships on the VHF is a trip.
I ran into a boat that I know from Newport. It was built for Malcom Forbes back in the 40’s. I stopped in the middle of the industrial section of Norfolk, tied up and got a tour of the boat. Very cool. The bartender from the bar at the end of my dock in Newport is crewing on the boat. So weird to run into someone I know in the busiest commercial channel in the US.
By the end of the day, after the twists and turns of Norfolk and the ICW, I had made it 12 miles as the crow flies from where I started. The next bridge was a couple miles further and it closes from 4pm-6pm for traffic. By the time I got though the lock and bridge at Great Bridge, it was after 4, which meant I would not have made it through the next bridge until an hour after dark. I fueled up and stayed the night at the Atlantic Yacht Basin at Great Bridge in Chesapeake, VA. Had I known you can tie up on the side of the canal for free along the bulkhead, I would have done so.
On Wednesday morning, I got going and wound my way down the ICW through Coinjock, NC. After Coinjock, you can choose to stay in the ICW or run the outer bays and sounds that are protected by the Outer Banks of NC. It is shallow so it can cause a hard chop if the winds are strong. It was nice, so I departed the ICW and opened up the engines. I hardly saw another boat all day! I guess most people stick to the canal. I made up some miles and put in at Oriental, NC. I stayed at the Oriental Marina. Nice, old school feel and it hada great restaurant, the Toucan Bar. I had run hard for 8 hours so I fueled up, ate, had a few beers and walked to the store to get some provisions. I am not a walker. It was over a mile to the store and I was not looking forward to walking back with supplies. A nice guy stopped just before I got to the store, asked if I was on a boat, gave me a ride to the store, waited while I shopped and brought me back to the marina. He said, “This is how we are in the south.” That was NICE!
On Thursday morning, I headed out through the ICW toBeaufort, NC. Once again, the weather was nice so I went out the cut at Cape Lookout and got out in the Atlantic and made a 22 knot run to Masonboro Inlet. I came in and stayed in Wrightsville Beach, NC. I took a cab into Wilmington and celebrated the Marine Corps birthday at the Front Street Brewery. Great scenery! Semper Fi to the barmaid and waitresses!
Yesterday (Friday) was cold and windy and I debated whether or not to leave the dock. Eventually, I headed out, stayed in the ICW and made it to Myrtle Beach. It was a day of no wake zones, small fishing vessels who appreciated the slow pass and a only couple of miles of running fast. I kept the canvas on and the sun warmed the cockpit perfectly. I fueled up and stayed at the Myrtle Beach Yacht club. That is where I sit now, drinking coffee.
I will add some pics shortly.
Mike
 
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Mike, sounds like a great trip. Its good to know you have met good people along the way. It has been great to follow your journey. Keep us posted and god bless...
 
Sailor Jerry. You went south at a great time of year. Before you know it, your back in shorts like the summer never ended! I am so, so , so jealous, but I had my ride in 2010. Guess it is your turn. Make sure to get tee shirts from most marinas. Every time you put it on, you will remember that leg of the trip. Enjoy!! Jeff
 
Sailor, one more thing. I am winterizing my water system today and the season is done for me. My wife has a crisis hotline set up for me - I am miserable!!

I don't even know you and I already don't like you. Be safe out there!
 
Awesome update, good reading especially at this time of year. So..what might one say on the VHF to a mighty U.S. Navy warship?!!
 
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