USA's best cruising areas (esp the East Coast)?

[sailingdog]

Just be aware, the further north you go...the more important the tide tables become... the tidal currents and tides up in Maine and points further north can be truly hellacious.

[labatt]

I second, third and fourth cruising New England (CT, RI, MA, ME). It's one of the most beautiful areas I've visited, and is rich in history, great cruising grounds and excellent food. If you are going to be there in late fall make sure you have a diesel heater or some other form of good heating. I hear Nova Scotia is also supposed to be incredible and we plan on visiting there in the next couple of years.

[PBzeer]

All the various areas have something different to offer. The main thing is to decide what it is that interests you and your family the most.

[kwaltersmi]

I'll cast a vote for Maine. I've been from Portland to Pemaquid Point and agree that it's some of the most beautiful coastline anywhere. I'm sure it's more of the same, if not better the further north and east you go.

I'll throw out another possibility too, even though it's not quite the U.S., but is still highly excessible from the east coast: the Abacos in the Bahamas.

And lastly, though it's definately not the east coast, it may well be "USA's best cruising area" (per your thread title): Pacific Northwest

[camaraderie]

I'm not telling!!

[norsearayder]

the maine coast ,portland north is mecca fr de blow boats

[lbdavis]

Cruising in Maine would be great for your family if you like mosquitoes, granite ledges, fog, black flies, rippin' tides, cold weathah, and lobstah pots you can walk across.

I'd stick with the Chesapeake.

[kwaltersmi]

Originally Posted by lbdavis

Cruising in Maine would be great for your family if you like mosquitoes, granite ledges, fog, black flies, rippin' tides, cold weathah, and lobstah pots you can walk across.

I'd stick with the Chesapeake.

Spoken like a true Maine resident with hopes of keeping the rest of us wannabe cruisers out of his beautiful local waters!

[billyruffn]

Originally Posted by jakmedic

Thanks Billyruffn...how late in the season is reasonable for Maine? Would Rockport in say, October be out of the question? October in CT is still warm enough with a sweater, but my crew (wife and 14 month old daughter) might scoff at anything bordering on icy...

Depends on your definition of "icy", but for my sensibilities October is probably the tail end of the season in Maine. Late September and early October are normally nice times to be sailing around the Cape Cod and further south, but Maine is probably getting a tad frosty. Perhaps others will comment.

Make sure you keep the little girl on a tether and have fun.

[soulesailor]

Originally Posted by jakmedic

how late in the season is reasonable for Maine? Would Rockport in say, October be out of the question?

There can be days in October when the sailing is great. There can also be days that are legitimate nor'easters. That means butt cold and blowin' stink. If you can wait at anchor for these days to pass October can really be rewarding, and far less crowded. You'll still be wearing plenty of clothes though, even on the nice days.

Hopefully nothing on your hull catches lobster pots. If it does you may not want to sail at night. The mosquitos and black flies never go away. Either do the rocks. Come to think of it, the Chesapeake does sound...