Blue Water a Catalina 28 tall?

[LarryDiDonato]

I would like to sail my 28 foot around the Gulf of Mexico starting in Houston, around the coast to New Orleans, to Biloxi, then making a run to the west coast of Florida. Is the boat big enough for this? Would also like to sail it to the Keys on the same trip and maybe over to the Bahamas. I would have at least one other to crew with me at all times. Am I ok?

[jbanta]

You can sail any boat anywhere the question is it safe... Sailing is like most adventure sports not that safe. A 28 Catalina IS capable of making that trip. It sounds like you won''t really be doing a lot of "Blue Water Sailing" Make sure of your weather and your skills. You''ll be fine..

[WHOOSH]

Larry, there are many different categories of ''safe''. You''re zooming in on one ''tree'' (your boat''s ability to arrive in the next port, unbroken) but don''t overlook the forest. E.g. how will the crew work the boat& handle the sails on deck, while staying aboard, avoiding too much sun, staying hydrated, deal with an injury, etc.?

I would guess your boat is up to all of your stated routing plan with one cavaet: that you be sufficiently knowledgeable about weather systems along the Gulf Coast & Bahamas, and that you insure you have ways to obtain current weather f''casts (and use them). Presuming that and making sensible choices about when to make the longer hops, you should be fine...altho'' it would have been helpful to hear which brand 28 footer it is.

Jack

[owenmccall]

Well, the Topic Title contains "Catalina 28 tall" [ rig], so that''s probably the boat in question.

Owen

[WHOOSH]

Boy, I must have given the above reply at the end of a l-o-n-g day; thanks, Owen.

Jack

[sidney777]

[sidney777]

[sidney777]

[c172guy]

I would sail along the coast to Saint Joseph pennisula them head across. Then it is only a short crossing. Mobile bay is easy to enter if you stay in the channel and you can anchor in Navy cove if the wind is not out of the north.
From Mobile (Navy cove) to Pensacola''s Fort Mcree is a long day sail. Leave at first light!!! Fort Mcree is a snug anchorage. Then it is about 24 hours to Panama City/Andrews Bay. A lot of people anchor north of Shell Island and farther back in Andrews Bay if the wind is up. Watson''s bayou is considered a hurricane hole. Next a day sail to Saint Joe and anchor inside the hook under most conditions. Next head to the rest of Florida with about 150 mile passage. then you an hop to the Keys. entering the pass at Destin or Perdido is tricky by most accounts.
Tom

[Yemanj]

Your question caught my eye only because a couple years ago, I sailed Catalina 30, tall rig, solo in the Gulf - Tampa to New Orleans.
My advice - do your research, your planing, your trial runs, etc. This might end your cruise before you even start it, but you''d have a sure answer to your Q: Am I ok?
Only after you plot your legs you can start asking more specific Q''s.
People have sailed around the world in smaller boats than yours, so dont get discouraged.
Sincerely,
Yemanjá