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Where is the best cruising in the USA?

11K views 56 replies 42 participants last post by  downeast450 
#1 ·
I was wondering. Where have people liked cruising the best?

I want to go to the PNW. The only problem is the weather. Spring is gloomy, cool, and rainy and summer is short and not very windy. Otherwise is seems perfect.

How about California? It looks like there is a lack of harbors and anchorages, although I might be wrong.

The NE is cold for most if the year but Maine in the summer looks great.

The mid Atlantic, Chesapeake Bay I don't know much about.

The south is well...the south.

Florida. Maybe this looks like the best year round cruising. Lots of place to stop and good water and weather.

Anyone have some personal experience that they really loved?
 
#2 · (Edited)
At first I thought you meant for a short visit, a charter maybe. But then it sounds like you are looking to relocate permanently, is that correct?

I live and sail in the PNW, and I love it in the summer. Like you said though, the summer is short and the winters not so nice. There are plenty of good "off season" sailing opportunities on beautiful, albeit cold days if your so inclined. I had a great weekend sail the other day. Beautiful, sunny, very nice indeed. Of course there was frost on the dock when I left at 2:00pm, and it was dark by 4:30, but it was nice :)

One possible advantage over the NE is that most boats stay in the water for the winter, and there's not tons of snow, so it's easy to get out for those nice, cold weekends when you can. Sounds like most people in the NE pull their boats for the winter and can't use them at all until the next spring.

I haven't yet sailed any where else, so I can't offer any comparisons there. I know many people cruise the world and think the PNW is one of the best cruising grounds, so there's that. Of course, after sailing here for many years, I'm ready to try something new, and warmer!

Also, lots of year around live aboards here, so while it is cold and wet in the fall, winter, spring :eek: it's not THAT bad.
 
#3 ·
The Chesapeake and it's tributaries is huge and offers just about anything you want. Tons of anchorages and marinas located in big cities, small cities, quaint towns to just a wide spot at the end of the road in very rural areas.
Fantastic spring and fall weather, stifling heat and humidity in mid summer to some pretty cold weather in mid winter.
 
#10 ·
Chesapeake is a good central location for 9 months. Can go up to New England and Long Island in the summer to escape the heat amd most of the hurricanes, Then come back in the Fall and in Novemeber head for Florida and the Carribean after the names storms are not as big a threat

Chessie is a great place......so are the Great Lakes and the PNW.
 
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#4 · (Edited)
The Chesapeake Bay is heaven in spring, hot as Hades in July and August (but night sailing is a remedy), and pure magic in fall with good wind, cool but not cold temperatures and a riot of color on the trees. There are literally thousands of miles of creeks and coves, restaurants, quaint towns, and 3 major cities on the Bay's 200 miles. The Bay is home to world class racing, countless marine outfitters, and the U.S. Navy. For many, it's a 12 month season, for us it's 7-8 months.

The Bay has 3 distinct regions. The Northern Bay from the Susquehanna River to a bit south of Annapolis is cosmopolitan, faster paced, narrower, and plagued with power boaters. Mid Bay goes down to about the Potomac and is more relaxed with more open water, smaller towns but with great sailing towns like Solomons and the St. Michaels area. The Southern Bay reaches to Atlantic and except for Norfolk is very rural with very open water (25 - 30 nm wide). Slip rentals are more expensive in the Northern Bay, diminishing as you go south to around $145/mo for a 40' slip. Transient fees are about $1.50 - $2/ft throughout the Bay, but one can certainly pay more in Annapolis and Baltimore.

Weather is very predictable, with generally Southerly breezes. Northerly or NE is for storms and fronts. Since we're on the right side of the continent, storms hardly ever sneak up unannounced, and are usually gifts from our midwestern neighbors. Summer thunderstorms are common and can pack a punch with 50kt winds not uncommon but very short lived. The rule of thumb is to leave early and get where you're going by 3PM because that's when the t'storms wake up. The Bay is generally shallow with a 30' average depth although there are 120+' trenches in places. Because of this, any sustained wind of more than a few hours can heap up short, steep seas. I'll take an 8' ocean swell over 4' on the Bay any day.

In 25 years, of sailing the length and breadth of the Bay, we've only scratched the surface. It's home.
 
#5 ·
I can't imagine how any where compares to the year round, clear warm water, subtropical Fla. Key's and S.W. coast of Fla. Every where else is seasonal and short at that. The secluded lagoons, the desserted beaches, the Dry tortuga's, the Everglades and it's rivers. Key west, it's history and culture. Not to mention the cool little wharf Bars, live aboard freindly anchorages. The fishing, the only coral reef in the states,. The laid back attitude of the locals. The mangrove creek's, the mom and pop boat yards and marinas, the palm tree's. It's close proximity to the bahama's and mexico. The swimming year round in clean clear water, the spear fishing, diving with out a wet suit, the good holding and well marked channels night and day. It's Americas Caribbean. The S.W. coast with it's calm waters and big deep bay's, sun rise and sun set views from many of the anchorages. The Marqueses, Boca Grande, the Back country....................................
 
#9 · (Edited)
.....Coconut Grove, The back bay's of key largo, Isla Morada and the anchorage there, the turqoise lagoon at sun set. The basically east winds at northern most edge of the trades. Predictable weather which is alway's some form of warm and balmy. One million places to duck in from a squall....12 months 24 seven sailing in water that begs you to dive in and grab a lobster for dinner, swimming with dolphin and sea turtles the manitees.....
 
#11 ·
It is like asking what is the best boat. They each have pluses and minuses. I love the area in which we sail, eastern Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, but wish the season was longer. It's hard to beat Mystic, Essex, Sag Harbor, Montauk, Block Island, Newport.
 
#16 ·
Yes yes, I would rather sail in cold muddy water, which is actually what the Key's are really like. And the average temp. is 50 degrees. rainy most afternoons it's alway's a little too windy or not windy enough. Everybody has a crappy uptight attiude, no anchorages without hassle from the local law etc. Stay where you are everybody, I was lying, the key's are possibly the worst place to sail;)
 
#19 ·
The reality for most folks is that having a boat usually means you have to work for a living. (I said MOST folks.)

That said, the best time to enjoy cruising for MOST folks is in the summer, when vacation time permits. If you look for a venue that has reasonably predictable winds, tolerable air and water temperatures, and allows multiple ports of call within a week or two, southern New England, from Long Island Sound to Nantucket, including Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay, and Nantucket Sound is hard to beat. If you are looking for solitude, however, look elsewhere.

North of the Cape Cod Canal, the water is colder and fog is more likely in the summer, especially along the Maine coast. If you can handle a cooler cabin at night and don't fall into the water, Maine is absolutely delightful. You could sail in Maine for many years without getting bored.
 
#25 ·
I am not sure what the intention are of the OP, but if your simply looking for a place to visit, don't for get the Great Lakes. Between May and November we have some of the best sailing around and lots of places to explore / visit with a rich history of early American Wilderness.
 
#57 ·
Priscilla is right! Too many choices here. It can get confusing. Lobster pots, lots of shoals in places you would never expect them (unless you checked a chart);) Privacy on the hook, no noisy crowds to party with. All the 5 star restaurants are seasonal. Water is too cold for comfortable swimming. Strange birds and animals. You can get lost among the islands, not to mention walking around on them. A surplus of lobster means every place you stop wants to serve it to you. Summer days are terribly long this far north. Maine is not worthy of your list;). Capt A has the answer.

Down
 
#29 ·
Rather like asking "where is the best place to live." Do you like...

Desert golf
Mountains
Historic towns
Trout fishing
Warm waters
Skiing
Farm land
Big city life

A pointless question. I've lived all of the above and they all have there pluses... and minuses. Some are great to visit, while some are pleasant year-round.

And should I tell you my favorite place, or should lead you elsewhere to preserve the solitude and keep marina rates down?
 
#30 ·
So the moral of the story is that the "best" place to sail is extremely subjective and everyone's favorite place is the best place and there will never be one answer to the OP's question so I'm not sure how helpful the responses could possibly be.

Might as well just throw a dart and head there. Start with the Keys. :)
 
#33 ·
So far..

The best place we have found so far is SE Alaska. Granted, the weather ain't so great in the winter, but it really is not much different from the Pacific Northwest (Another favorite area) and much less crowded. The problem with any place with good, warm year-round weather is that it will be crowded, at least by our standards. Here in Alaska we found several spectacular, secluded anchorages that we shared only with whales, salmon, sea lions, eagles and bears.
 
#34 ·
I have to agree with Capt. Aaron. Sw Fl and the keys offer year round sailing as well as all weather sailing. In a gale you can still sail in the bays and hawk channel. Within a days sail you can enjoy solitude or a major metropolitan city. But the best part is the proximity to the Bahamas which arguably has some of the best cruising in the WORLD! Just my $.02.
 
#35 ·
Well, to date I have sailed and spent time in S California (Oxnard to Catalina Island - San Diego), the Pacific NW (some time on the sound), and all overthe gulf from Texas to Key Largo.

South California is fun sailing, and Catalina Island is a fun place, but I found it devoid of great anchorages unless you want to go south to Mexico (which I did not). Good friends of ours did that and they fell in love with the locals in the Sea of Cortez. They were only going to visit and stayed there five years. But the actual area of Southern California was pretty busy with commercial traffic and I would probably opt for somewhere with warmer water and more destinations.

The PNW is gorgeous. I can see why it is considered one of the top destinations in the world for cruising (during season). The mountains literally go straight into the water and it is calm and protected for the most part. There are a LOT of parks and places to go - no shortage of them. Washington especially has done a great job of making them inviting and well kept. I wll also say that the PNW boasts the most friendly people I think I have ever met. And if you enjoy a variety of wines, microbreweries, and great coffee houses, you will fall in love with it. The huge negative for the PNW (and its a big one) is the winters, parts of fall and parts of spring SUCK!!! If you are a South Florida boy used to sun most of the year, you will be in for a shock. I was. I am not sure I could ever live there again or spend more than the summer months there. It was tough on me and the family. Also, the summers are generally pretty light winds. Kinda sucks for sailing.

We have spent most of our time in Florida. I do not care for Miami, and can only stay in Ft Lauderdale for short periods. Pensacola is beautiful but gets too cold for me in the winter. Same for Panama City. Certainly one of the most beautiful areas has to be the keys and Tortugas. Drop-dead gorgeous waters, super clear, warm weather, and Key West is a lot of fun for adults (and a bit for kids... a bit). Marathon pretty much is the hub for taking off anywhere you want to go. If you have not seen Boot Key during season, it is amazing and stuffed with hundreds of boats. Outside of that you can grab a ball at Sombrero light and snorkel the reefs, anchor off Washer woman, or head out and east to one of many other great snorkeling/diving spots. The fishing is fantastic too. The negative of the keys is that it is expensive and there is a bit of a cultural clash. No offense, but Marathon itself has people that are insanely wealthy and those that barely get by (or don't get by at all). Compared to other small "cities", it is not as new and young and vibrant (and I am trying to be nice). The only real crime we have ever had was in Marathon (someone stole our credit card numbers), and I just found out that has happened to very good friends of ours too (their first as well). Another set of friends had their tender stolen, etc. Key West is a whole other country, and I found the people more enjoyable, but it is a tough place for kids and the bar scene gets old before long. Not to mention, Key West is insanely expensive for slippage.

One of the most fun, exciting, and beautiful places we have been has suprisingly been St. Petersburg. The people are some of the most friendly anywhere in Florida, the rates for slippage are ok, there are a lot of yards and competition which makes for good services at reasonable costs (half of the keys), you can get anything you want in St Pete or Tampa marine related, most everything is walkable, there are gorgeous beaches, there are a multitude of parks to go to and explore (Egmont, emerson, Desoto, etc, etc) with Emerson being the best I have ever been to anywhere in any state, and it is very young, new, historic and vibrant. Of all the places I have been, I would probably put St Pete on the top with the Keys a close second.

Brian
 
#36 ·
Hardcore New Englander. We say:
don't like the weather- wait 5 minutes
don't like the harbor - there's another 10m up or down the coast.
want to see something completely differrent - go cruising ( cliffs/fjords in Maine v. long gradual beachs of the cape and islands v cities)
Need something done or fixed -be done by tomorrow - no island time.
Still the idea of cruising the coast and eastern carribean as the seasons warrent hold great appeal. Was last flight out of Boston before the storm and had a lovely time sailing around St John's .Being base in USVI doesn't seem that bad a choice either. But any day on the boat is better than any day working on the hard.- ANYWHERE- go have too much fun.
 
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