Coastal Cruising

[HenryC]

Originally schedueld for publication in Florida Wildlife, but Gov Scott pulled the plug on the magazine.  This is old hat for you salt water skippers, but for you lake sailors, and perhaps you overly timid bay sailors, here is something to look forward to.

So you have a boat, a cabin cruiser or sailing weekender, and you've done all the usual things with it.  You've sailed it around the bay, perhaps trailered it behind your car on vacation, or even darted offshore.  Maybe you've used it to camp in secluded coves and harbors for an overnighter or a long weekend, or traveled to distant marinas and yacht clubs to meet old friends, make new ones and explore other shores.  By now you have confidence in your boat, your skills, and are ready for something new, a  challenge.  You've exhausted the possibilities close to home, but you're not ready yet to strike out into the scary world of blue-water offshore voyaging. You are ready to go coastal cruising.

Florida is THE state for the coastal cruiser.  There is plenty of coastline to explore, lots of harbors, anchorages and lagoons between barrier island and  mainland. The weather is generally mild and usually predictable days in advance and our seas are relatively free of danger and hazards; aids to navigation are plentiful and well-maintained. With a little caution and common sense you can travel long distances to many destinations in relative safety, yet always have a harbor nearby to duck into if things get ugly. There is the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf Stream, the west coast has the gentle Gulf waters and endless  islands and mangrove forests. Then there's the Panhandle and the Keys, and Big Bend country.  There's wilderness and nature but plenty of civilized destinations too.   Just offshore, always near land, you can still travel long distances with the open ocean alongside and the beach close aboard. And rarely will you be anywhere that other boats are not in sight.

So what kind of vessel do you need?  The name tells it all, a cruiser, whether the ubiquitous motor cruiser or the small cabin sailboat.  There's no need for a luxury houseboat, just a stout little ship capable of carrying you and your companions out of the weather along with several days' supplies.  You will need enough stowage for your food, water and clean clothes, bedding, some basic cooking and waste management facilities and warm, dry bunks.  Although the adventurous may prefer to solo, it is a treat to have a crew to share your experiences with. How many you ask to join you will depend on the size of your boat, your tolerance for crowding, and how much privacy or quality time you expect from your fellow mariners. Most recreational mini-yachts are designed for couples and small families, but keep in mind you will not be fighting for your lives on a desperate voyage.  The whole point of cruising is to stop frequently and take advantage of shoreside facilities.  Marinas are everywhere and many have reciprocal agreements so you will have plenty of places to buy supplies, take a warm shower, eat a gourmet meal, do laundry, empty your waste holding tanks, drop off your garbage and purchase fuel.

Access to support facilities and information for the cruiser is available in numerous cruising guides and other publications which can be purchased in any marine store. Don't be shy about asking other boaters for advice and suggestions, either.  Make sure you are familiar with the operation of your radio, and remember, much of the time you will be in cell-phone range of the beach. But keep in mind, even though you will have ready access to the shore, you are also self-sufficient to a very great extent.  You should always have on board everything you need to cruise comfortably  for several days without outside assistance or supply.  You don't need a marina to anchor in a sheltered cove, and it can be a great adventure (especially for youngsters) to travel a whole night without stopping.

In my opinion, this is the charm of cruising.  You are on your own and your little ship is free and independent of the world. The bowl of stars above, the phosphorescent sea below, and always a spectacular Florida sunrise or sunset to look forward to.  If your crew is checked out, you can stand watches, some of you on deck navigating the ship while the rest are below, eating or sleeping.  In the event of rain, you can don your foul weather gear and press on.  In your snug cabin, coffee is brewing and food is prepared, ready to greet you when it is your turn to strike below and climb into a warm bunk. There simply isn't anything like a long passage offshore to get in touch with what really matters in life.

Either sail or power craft can be successfully cruised, but with the high coast of fuel these days the balance seems to be swinging to sail. Both types have their pros and cons.  For a given size, the sailer is usually more seaworthy and can operate in more rugged weather.  The power boat, on the other hand, can usually make it to safety faster.  In either case, it's up to the skipper to know the weather patterns in the area  for that time of year, monitor the  radio constantly and plan his or her passage accordingly.  Florida weather is generally well within the capabilities of the typical cruising boat.  Radio broadcasters are generous with forecasts so if anything is heading your way you should have plenty of warning. But the fact remains, you are a mariner now, and sooner or later you will be faced with bad weather.  You should plan your voyages so you can either run from it or have a boat and skills that can handle it.  The only path to seamanship is experience, but don't be afraid to read, ask questions, and learn from others; build up your knowledge and confidence gradually and systematically.   Above all, respect the sea.  No matter how good you are, it can still overwhelm you, so always have a Plan B ready and don't take chances.  A good sailor is a conservative sailor.

The key to successful cruising is preparation. Make sure your boat is in good shape and well equipped and that you are thoroughly familiar with the skills of your shipmates.  Plan ahead and mark on your charts headings to be steered, alternate courses and destinations, hazards, safe harbors and key aids to navigation or landmarks. Make certain you have food, fuel and water, plenty of dry clothes, tools and spare parts. All safety gear should be up to Coast Guard specs.  Keep an eye on your navigation, make sure you know where you are at all times and where potential harbors and anchorages are in relation to your position.  Remember, even in ideal conditions, someone can get hurt or your boat can be damaged, you need to know where to run for cover at a moment's notice.  If you are crossing a wild stretch of coast with little shelter, then be especially vigilant.  Let someone know where you plan to be and keep in touch with them by radio or phone and inform them of your itinerary.

With a little common sense and responsible seamanship your voyage will turn out fine.  The coastal cruise can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience; you will be with people you love, family or friends, and you will be in a beautiful, even breathtaking environment. You will be the captain of your ship, the sole master of your own life in a way which is almost impossible to achieve in this uncertain and schizophrenic world of ours. And when the voyage is over, you will return to your everyday "normal" routine ashore refreshed, recharged, with a sense of renewal and restored confidence.

It is this confidence that is the major long-term benefit of cruising.  Living is always a risky affair, even for the most sheltered of us.  It always has been.  At any time, we can be thrown a curve ball, or be overwhelmed by crisis. We all accept this, but in our artificial civilization it is particularly unsettling because misfortune strikes without warning in ways we can do little about it.  The sea is challenging, and it can be unforgiving.  But we are in charge, we know its dangers and can anticipate them and prepare.  At sea you must always be alert but you never need be helpless. You are active, not passive, and there is always something you can do to help yourself.   Learning this about yourself can be the greatest lesson of all.

[Elk River]

Henry:

     That was a very nice article, indeed.  My wife and I are presently in FL, but without our 19/2.  Next year, however, we plan to trailer it down here for some nice cruising.

     Elk River

[HenryC]

Thanks. Elk River!

I also highly recommend my articles on "Piloting" and and "Dead Reckoning" in "Sail and Boat Related Articles" (June 2, 2011).  Please forgive me if I have underestimated your navigational skills, but I'm guessing if you've never done any coastal cruising, you might want to pick up a book or two on the subject.  You might also want to check out my article on "A Little Night Sailing".

[capt_nemo]

HenryC,

Once again, well written and to the point.

Should be mandatory reading as a primer article on the subject for all prospective adventurers. Reference to the treasure trove of your other related articles is spot on.

In my "old salt" opinion, based in part from reading posts on this Forum, too many sailors today place far too much emphasis on gadgets and high tech equipment rather than developing their skills in basic seamanship, navigation, sailing, and boat handling.

capt_nemo

[Elk River]

Hi Henry:

     I will check out your other articles.  We have done some coastal work on another boat of ours that we kept in Winthrop, MA when we lived there, sailing to Cape Cod a couple of times, in addition to mucking around the Boston Harbor islands.  When we acquired a mooring in Buzzards Bay, my wife and I left the Boston area and sailed overnight to the Cape Cod Canal, where we tied to a post to wait for a favorable tide change through the canal.  Once there in Buzzards Bay, we cruised that area, the Elizabeth Islands, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  Our electronics suite still only consists of a VHF radio (fixed & handheld on our 19/2).  While vacationing here in Fl., I will re-read Leonard Eyges' book The Practical Pilot; Coastal Navigation by Eye, Intuition and Common Sense.  I am not very learned in the heavens, so I also brought Find The Constellations by H.A. Rey.  I don't really need it, but love the thought of your sextant that is on the block.  I have a plastic Davis and artificial horizon that I intend to play with soon.

     Hope all is well with you,

     Elk River