Where to liveabaord and cruise from March through September?

[bassviking]

Hello all I've been reading here for a while and I finally have decided to seek everyones wisdom on the following subject.

I'm fairly certain I'm going to make the jump to living aboard sometime during this next summer. I'm just not sure where to do it. I'm definitely leaning to SoCal but considering Florida. The kicker is that I do overseas contract work from September until March. I'm not really familiar enought with either place to know which has a better "season" from March to September.

I also feel the need to relate that I have what I would call moderate expericence. I have owned small boats in the past (SC22 and Puffer) on small inland lakes and also crewed for three months down the Pacific Coast of Mexico. I'm looking for something right around 30' that will need some work but will still get me out sailing and on the hook for a few days 2-3 times a month.

I also have to be near a place that has lots of oppurtunity for baseball umpiring when not sailing.

What advice can you fine folks offer me.

[sailingdog]

It'd help if you said what your rough budget for buying the boat is. So. Cal. probalby has a better season overall, since the high summer in Florida can be pretty hot and miserable, and June-September is hurricane season...

[CaptainForce]

September is the peak of hurricane season in Florida. It might not be wise to close your sailing season being chased out of the Bahamas. We usually don't stray far from protection by early august; however, if your willing to spend your last month close to safe home port, there's great cruising in the Bahamas and Keys. Much more destination opportunities, but I'd consider a draft of less than 6' essential for enjoying them. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

[poopdeckpappy]

SoCa. is pretty much year round sailing, in a El Nino season ( seldom ) you may lose a week or two

[danielgoldberg]

If that's your season, I would think the northeast would do you very well. It's beautiful cruising, more places to go and things to see and do than you'd be able to accomplish in a lifetime. Likewise, it presents a tremendous mix of protected/easy and open water/challenging sailing (not that other places don't, but the variety and options are nearly unparalleled in the northeast).

For summer sailing, I would think both Florida and SoCal would NOT be good choices, as the weather in both spots is hot and windless, not to mention the hurricane problem others have mentioned.

And April to September is exactly the baseball seasons up here!

[poopdeckpappy]

Originally Posted by danielgoldberg

For summer sailing, I would think both Florida and SoCal would NOT be good choices, as the weather in both spots is hot and windless, not to mention the hurricane problem others have mentioned.

Your not serious are you ???

[thesnort]

For summer sailing, I would think both Florida and SoCal would NOT be good choices, as the weather in both spots is hot and windless

I can't speak about Florida, but Southern California was home (before I moved to Northern California). You get very reliable winds during summer as the interior heats up and draws the cool ocean air to land. Great sailing in summer, just not as interesting sailing as the Pacific Northwest, in my humble opinion. The Channel Islands are the big lure for sailors from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

[mccary]

What happens October 1st through March 1st? Most cruising grounds have so-so, good, great seasons... Here on The Chesapeake March is a bit early, but still possible. Sailing continues well into October and even November and into December. But, August can be the bad blotch on the sailing season with high humidity and high temps and low wind. So, other than a cold March wind and a blistering hot August, The Chesapeake can be a wonderful sailing home.

[CaptainForce]

I would agree that summer is the least desirable season for sailing in Florida. The typical day is quite still until a sea breeze picks up in the afternoon followed by a huge blast of wind association with the daily afternoon thunderstorm. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

[RXBOT]

While on the east coast now I grew up on west coast very close to border. March to Sept. has to be the best spot for everything you want.Washington or BC's lower mainland, temps and things to see can't be beat.