Conference unifix::sailing

Hmmm, I'm curious. Where does your estimate of two weeks come from? My
rough guesstimate is that Kennebunkport to Beaufort is (via the
Intercoastal Waterway) about 900 miles. Doing the trip in two weeks
means making over 50 miles per day. By autumn there is what, maybe ten
hours of daylight? With the inevitable delays for bridges, reprovisioning, 
weather, finding anchorages, refueling, etc, I don't think this can be
done in two weeks without some or perhaps much overnight sailing. Thirty
to forty miles per day might be feasible, but would still be difficult.
The people I've talked to usually allow 4 to 8 weeks for the trip. 

Alan 

Two weeks in and of itself doesn't sound too unreasonable to me, assuming 
a) you plan to keep moving whenever possible, and b) you're willing to 
hole up and drop the schedule if the weather gets out of hand.  Limiting 
yourselves to daylight-only sailing may be problematic; a couple strategic 
overnights in favorable weather could make a huge difference in overall 
progress.

On one hand, I've made it in a 2.5-ton 30' open spritsail ketch (*very* 
low tech) from Kings Point, NY to Gloucester, MA in less than three days
round-the-clock (which included many hours in LI Sound with the Armstrong
Auxiliary cranked up.)  A 30' Pearson ought to about match this in early 
dawn to late dusk sailing.  But,...

On the other hand, you'll be traveling the prevailing summer wind
direction, which may mean less downwind and more upwind work.  Also,
weather systems become more prevalent, stronger and faster-moving as fall
approaches; this means rougher seas offshore (and you can't make time by
hugging the coast all the way) and the need to play the systems and their
windshifts as they move along.  Sacrificing three extra hours of sleep 
some morning may make the difference between catching an extra 25 miles
and turning a corner vs. beating out of a bay all day. 

The weather may also affect your key time-relevant decision:  Go up 
Delaware Bay, through the C&D Canal and down the Chesapeake, or go straight 
outside Delaware past Assateague and Chincoteague?  The former is 
obviously much safer, but at least 150 miles longer; the latter is 
riskier, but you might make it all in a single day if the wind's right for 
you.

Carry an Inland Waterway Guide to help plan stops and alternatives in
advance -- it'll save a *lot* of time over nosing in someplace and 
figuring everything out real-time.

It might be a fun trip, or just a commute, or even an "experience."  Not
much sightseeing, though. 

J.

RE: .2, a obvious editing error:

>>>  On the other hand, you'll be traveling AGAINST the prevailing summer 
>>>  wind direction, which may mean less downwind and more upwind work.  

J.

I would consider doing a part of the trip as a vacation if I knew when Your trip
was planned.  

Lee B.

    I also would consider a segment of the trip.  Do you have an itinerary
    yet?  If you can publish it with your crew requirements I'm sure there
    are plenty of folks willing to go with you.
    
    Regards,
    
    Jeff G.
    
    

    re: .5
    
    Good suggestion.  Sorry I couldn't respond sooner but I've been on
    vacation - three weeks of sailing (yes, it was fun!).
    
    Currently, our plans are coming together although we still could use
    some crew along the Long Island Sound portion.  Also, it wouldn't hurt
    if we identifed some people as possible substitutes if our original crew
    can't make their commitments.
    
    
    My husband will most likely be traveling with another boat from Maine 
    and plans to take more time enroute.  He will be meeting up with the
    boat at the Cape.  He could really use some help from August 17th through 
    the 25th.  The best guess at this point is someone would get on the boat 
    at Essex, Connecticut and get off in or near New York City.  Schedules are 
    really almost impossible to predict!  We would cover the cost of someone's 
    travel expenses as well as meals.   
    
    We're looking for people who have sailing experience either on their own 
    boat or someone elses.  Also a fair amount of navigational work experience
    (like plotting courses, using electronics etc.) is needed.  Beyond
    that, providing some good company and being a cook would be important!
    The only big rules are: acting in a safe manner is expected, no drugs
    are permitted and be respectful of others on the boat.
    
    So, give me a call if you are interested in discussing this further.   
    Thanks.  Janet Minch
             DTN: 247-2668
             PARITY::MINCH
                          

    Well, how did the trip go?
    
    How long did it take?  Did you do any over nights?
    
    Any advice you'd give others planning anything similar, either in crew
    selection or trip planning?
    
    djc