Today's the day for the Big Bend Gulf Crossing, based upon Tom (the weather guy) Conrad's prediction -- see below.
We have filed a float plan with C Quarters Marina in Carrabelle and will be traveling within radio range with two sailboats, Viele Narcoses and Byrdketcher who left a few hours ago. The sailboats are heading to Tarpon Springs. We are heading to Clearwater. We are leaving at noon. ETA Clearwater 10:00 AM Saturday.
We have filed a float plan with C Quarters Marina in Carrabelle and will be traveling within radio range with two sailboats, Viele Narcoses and Byrdketcher who left a few hours ago. The sailboats are heading to Tarpon Springs. We are heading to Clearwater. We are leaving at noon. ETA Clearwater 10:00 AM Saturday.
We will have little or no internet connectivity and will be turning off our cell phones to conserve the batteries.
November 9, 2012
by tomconrad
» November 9th, 2012, 7:59 am
Hello Loopers, Near and Far,
Today is Friday, November 9th.
The Gulf is calm this morning but will kick up some as the day starts. Six boats left Carrabelle yesterday afternoon for an overnight crossing but their names were not available. If any are Loopers, please give a crossing report. As I said yesterday, the Gulf will have calm spots around but not predictably straight across to Tarpon Springs or Clearwater. For the larger boats with seasoned crews, you could try a departure this afternoon and an overnight. It shouldn't be terrible uncomfortable if you do get out of the calm spots. This weekend will continue in the same style, spotty calm places, but Monday could be a better weather window for going straight across. Then a few days of a maybe before the Gulf closes down for a fun crossing.
The question of where to start a Gulf crossing has been asked many times. Some folks have used Government Cut going out of Appalachicola, a town with more to do while waiting for a weather window and it avoids a ½ day to get to a better starting place. I prefer Carrabelle, east of Apalachicola, because it is a natural pass, not subject to constant shoaling as is Government Cut. When going into Carrabelle, a boater can, before taking an anchorage or a marina, first poke their bow out to the sea buoy at East Pass and create a track line on their GPS, called bread crumbs, which can guide them if they leave Carrabelle in the early hours in the dark. Carrabelle is also a shorter distance for crossing and closer to land to reduce wave fetch from the typical NE winds. If a boater findsthe distances just a little long for them, they can anchor overnight behind Dog Island and get about an hour's jump on the distance. Finally, Carrabelle has more transient dock space and they really care about you and want you to give them a float plan for your crossing schedule. They will chase you down if you don't call them back with a safe arrival message.
Stay Safe,
Tom
Today is Friday, November 9th.
The Gulf is calm this morning but will kick up some as the day starts. Six boats left Carrabelle yesterday afternoon for an overnight crossing but their names were not available. If any are Loopers, please give a crossing report. As I said yesterday, the Gulf will have calm spots around but not predictably straight across to Tarpon Springs or Clearwater. For the larger boats with seasoned crews, you could try a departure this afternoon and an overnight. It shouldn't be terrible uncomfortable if you do get out of the calm spots. This weekend will continue in the same style, spotty calm places, but Monday could be a better weather window for going straight across. Then a few days of a maybe before the Gulf closes down for a fun crossing.
The question of where to start a Gulf crossing has been asked many times. Some folks have used Government Cut going out of Appalachicola, a town with more to do while waiting for a weather window and it avoids a ½ day to get to a better starting place. I prefer Carrabelle, east of Apalachicola, because it is a natural pass, not subject to constant shoaling as is Government Cut. When going into Carrabelle, a boater can, before taking an anchorage or a marina, first poke their bow out to the sea buoy at East Pass and create a track line on their GPS, called bread crumbs, which can guide them if they leave Carrabelle in the early hours in the dark. Carrabelle is also a shorter distance for crossing and closer to land to reduce wave fetch from the typical NE winds. If a boater findsthe distances just a little long for them, they can anchor overnight behind Dog Island and get about an hour's jump on the distance. Finally, Carrabelle has more transient dock space and they really care about you and want you to give them a float plan for your crossing schedule. They will chase you down if you don't call them back with a safe arrival message.
Stay Safe,
Tom
Have a safe crossing!
ReplyDeleteHi Christelle and Gary: Thank you -- we made it safely and soundly. We're at a free dock on Treasure Island, Isle of Palms, FL -- owned by Jeff and Suzanne Wright. Ralph saw this on Active Captain and we called. They offer a beautiful dock, water and electricity. So that's where we are. We're both bone tired but don't want to go to even lie down before we're ready to sleep for the night. Where are you??
ReplyDeleteCeleste and Ralph