I'd like to propose SailFar keep track of members who are willing to open welcoming arms to others coming through their area. I know a number of us have pitched in informally. I suggest just a tiny but of organization, like, oh, say, a list?
The model I am thinking of is like the SSCA cruising stations focused on support to small boats.
For example, I'm on Back Creek in Annapolis. I can help with local knowledge, transportation to groceries, chandleries, laundry, and hardware stores. I can help with taking on water and pump-outs and making slip arrangements if desired.
Excellent idea, Dave. We've been kicking around this sort of idea for a while and just never pinned down a clean, efficient way to execute it. I think you've hit upon the winning solution.
For my part:
We live in New Bern, NC on the Neuse River. We can provide shoreside transport for the Neuse (Oriental, New Bern) and Pamlico (Belhaven, Bath, Washington) Rivers as well as the Beaufort, NC/Morehead City, NC area.
I can provide local knowledge for navigation of the Neuse, Pamlico and Trent Rivers, with some experience on the waters in the Beaufort/Morehead area as well.
Can assist with planning for cruising from here to points South, with sailing experience (outside and ICW) down to Charleston, SC and in/around the Hilton Head / Port Royal Sound areas.
(If we get a lot of responses in this thread, I'll make a sticky "summary" thread that will always stay on top, including the links to the individual detailed posts...if that seems like it will be helpful).
So can I be founder, SailFar cruising stations? *grin*
I am in Halifax NS, and can pretty much help out with most Cruiser needs in this area.
Quote from: Auspicious on February 23, 2011, 02:05:07 PM
So can I be founder, SailFar cruising stations? *grin*
Founder and chief organizer *biggergrin*
For my part if any SailFar'ers find themselves on the northern California coast, Monterey Bay to Humboldt Bay, I will come out and share local knowledge and chauffeur. Though I have not sailed much of it (only the bays) I have kayaked quite a bit of it.
I'm about 30 minutes from Holland, Mi on Lake Michigan if anyone makes it to the Inland Seas.
I'm based on Buzzards Bay, Mass.
So is Dan "Adriftatsea."
--Joe
Looky here:
http://www.zeemaps.com/map?group=213281
ATTN - Security Notice: Any information you put in to this map gets posted "in the clear" for anyone/everyone to see/read/harvest; I suggest that you obfuscate your email address or other such important info that you submit.
It's an editable map. I plugged in my info, I think others can do the same, or maybe Dave, as "Founder" ;D can do it based on input in this thread...?
(Dave, will send you a PM...)
I put all the posts in the thread so far on the map. @Tim - I put you in San Fransisco - let me know if that isn't right.
I'll be happy to put markers in for you or you can do it yourself.
Kurt - How about a link to the map on the index page?
I am located in the Albany, NY area and very close to the Erie Canal--Will supply any support i can. Please put me on the map.
great job Dave! SF is just fine, though I am physically north of it.
Sign us up (map below)!
True story: An Ozzie missionary type had a trailer sailor in Oz, sold the boat, went off on mission work in Africa for many years.
Retires, buys a small piece of land just outside of Savusavu, talkes a walk on the beach, and there's his old boat, abandoned and pretty ratty! Turns into a major rebuild project (keeps sinking because of the centreboard truck leaking), but kind of neat, how it seemed to find him after 30 years! He never has figured out the chain of events that got the boat from Oz to Fiji.
Sailing directions from the West coast of US: Leave harbour, turn left, keep going straight until butter melts, then turn right.
Follow contrails to Hawai'i, then turn left onto a reach, keep going until the first high island group.
If you hear sheep, you've gone too far, turn around and come back :)
(http://www.bebi-electronics.com/aboutpics/fiji_ann.jpg)
I will try and come down river from St. Louis to Mobile in April. Plan to sail to Bermuda from there. Would be happy to hear from Sailfar members along the way.
Chuck
Michael - Thanks for signing up. I used 16?35′S 179?11′E for your location (from Wikipedia) and attached your map and directions to zero in on you.
I look forward to meeting you some day.
I'm high and dry in Maumelle, Arkansas these days. However, I am in plain sight of the Arkansas River (and have all the charts for that river), so if anyone sails past, I would be happy to paddle out in one of my kayaks. I have (or can share) the info on fuel stops/stations along the river (Arkansas), and don't mind chauffering salty SailFar creatures around a bit.
I fall a little short of Mark Twain's humor (and river knowledge), but I'll do my part.
On a brighter note, I spent a considerable amount of time poking around in an old boat last week. May make an offer shortly. It's got sails, trailer, and a nice clean interior. Could be a good thing.
The map is really cool. Thanks, guys, for putting that together.
There is one issue I found, though.
It is pretty much unusable on a smart phone (at least in my case, Droid) in landscape. The zeemaps specific stuff takes up almost the whole screen and leaves a thin strip of map, less than one centimeter, in the middle. The strip is too small to do anything with, like zoom in/out or move the map to a location of interest.
It might be a little better in portrait configuration....but when I tried to use it that way, the whole map did not load. :'(
I had to wait to get back to the boat to check it out, and post, from the laptop.
Just wanted to let you know...
Such a lovely idea.
Though we are without base on land since over two years, anyone happening to be 'around?is welcome....
presently in Sea of Cortez and we'll be staying here over the summer and hurricane season before heading south for Central America and Equador.
svnanna.wordpress.com
I put myself on there, too. Looks like we've got some good coverage on the East Coast shaping up.
Add us to the list! I'm back in Brooklyn, New York- Jamaica Bay to be precise- and can advise on local anchorages, docks, other marine facilities. Also tips for going through NYC to Long Island Sound and places to anchor, get supplies in LIS. Send message for local phone #.
Just added myself in Chattanooga, TN. Hopefully can amend that coming next winter/spring as I`m getting real close to taking off.
:D
I'd happily add Charlie and Laura to the list, but I don't know what to put for an area
;D
How about - somewhere on the east coast!!
Nice idea to list cruising stations. Just added our place in Brunswick, GA to the map list and look forward to seeing more sailfar folk passing through.
James B
Thanks James
Hear Hear. Anyone coming to Austin, Tx, must give me a ring.
If you're serious about hosting travelers, meeting generous hosts when cruising, and getting local knowledge (local knowledge is king!), you couldn't do better than to sign up on Couchsurfing.org
http://www.couchsurfing.org
It's a non profit website dedicated to connecting travelers with hosts worldwide. It utilizes detailed profiles to help make strong connections and a reference system to facilitate trust. I have been a member for 5 years and Couch Surfing has enriched my life tremendously.
I will never sit, bored and lonely, in a hotel room again. It's not just about a free place to stay, but CouchSurfing makes it easy to connect with local people and get involved in what's really going on, not the "tourist" trap. There are millions of CS'ers who will gladly meet you for drinks, show you around town, welcome you home, and treat you like family.
And it's 100% FREE....
I will be in Solomons by Aug. 20, lust come to Harbor Island Marina and look up Phil on Deep Blue, and you have a lift to where you need to go. I will be on site until mid November. I look forward to meeting some of you folks. Phil
I'm in Farmville NC. that's no too far from Little Washington, and don't mind driving to most NC places....I'll Also be happy to take road trips out of state if anyone needs me.
you should add me in Dr?bak Norway to the station list. I'm right on the oslo fjord but can help anyone from stromstad sweden to oslo with transportation and tour services ;)
Put me down in Monterey, California.
Steve
Put us down for Pensacola, Florida. We have our own dock behind our home on Bayou Chico, N 30 24.329 W 087 15.767. We may have space at our dock for a few days - no charge. Otherwise, short term anchorage is permitted in the Bayou Chico turning basin, just east of our place. We will meet you and take you shopping, Publix, West Marine, etc.
In our nine years of cruising, we were treated wonderfully by many folks from SoCal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, all over the Caribbean, Chesapeake. Age and health issues have have stopped our roaming and we want to do some paybacks.
Send a PM, e mail and I will send our phone numbers.
Tom KA6WPG and Bobbie KA6WPF
I was just thinking the other day that something like this would be useful - seems that greater minds than me are already there!
Sign me up (just don't all turn up at once!).
Quite willing to:-
- point you somewhere cheap (or even free!) to moor - depends on your boat.
- give you the lay of the land and the odd ferry around by vehicle.
- a lend of some tools is not out of the question / some use of a workshop / a helping hand.
- weather / time permitting may also be willing to help navigate around the islands / nearby France - either on my / your boat or in company.
- given that in practice few will make it accross to this side of the world, would also be willing to at least consider using my home address to Register an EU bought boat (at least for a year or 2) - see seperate thread.
- an outside chance that could help out in Northern France, sometimes we keep a car over there - sometimes just visit (boat / car / campervan / Motorbike!).
The main caveat being that I am not always around here - so a heads up in advance would be prudent!
Location is Jersey, Channel Islands (just north of France (15 miles) - far south of England (a couple of hundred miles).
Quote from: bravura25 on April 15, 2012, 10:54:40 AM
Put us down for Pensacola, Florida. We have our own dock behind our home on Bayou Chico, N 30 24.329 W 087 15.767. We may have space at our dock for a few days - no charge. Otherwise, short term anchorage is permitted in the Bayou Chico turning basin, just east of our place. We will meet you and take you shopping, Publix, West Marine, etc.
In our nine years of cruising, we were treated wonderfully by many folks from SoCal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Bahamas, all over the Caribbean, Chesapeake. Age and health issues have have stopped our roaming and we want to do some paybacks.
Send a PM, e mail and I will send our phone numbers.
Tom KA6WPG and Bobbie KA6WPF
Welcome aboard! Glad you found us. What an awesome first post. ;D
Look forward to hearing more about your travels.
I live in Portsmouth, NH and keep my boat in Salem Mass. I am willing to help when I can from Maine to Mass. I work in Canada so if you need anything on lake Ontario/St. Lawrence I may be able to help (if I am there) or put you in touch with those who can.
Need one Sailfar station in Sweden ;) then I can come visit myself ;D
Any stations in Gulfport, MS area? I may be headed there for a few weeks soon.
Can provide chauffeuring services, tools, and information on local services between Port Townsend - Port Orchard, WA areas as work allows - being a Bubblehead takes up much of my time.
Message for phone #, or check map for obfuscated version - if no response within a day, work probably has me elsewhere for some period of time.
It's been quite a while since I started this thread, and this idea. I can't speak for the other SF cruising stations but I thought a report would be in order.
Since we started this concept I've had four or five SF people come through Annapolis and look me up. I've hauled a couple to laundromats, some to a grocery, handed out a lot of bus maps, and pointed everyone to Davis Pub in Eastport. *grin*
I am also one of two SSCA Cruising Stations in Annapolis. The number of folks coming through for SSCA is not too much bigger than the SailFar boats.
If you sailing plans bring you to Annapolis we will be glad you are here, and you have a cruising station to welcome you.
Been too long since you've been here.
I really enjoyed our visit with you.
An interesting concept add me @ brisbane Australia hopefully in another 18 months
We can update that to somewhere in the pacific
Quote from: Auspicious on March 28, 2013, 09:33:30 AM
It's been quite a while since I started this thread, and this idea. I can't speak for the other SF cruising stations but I thought a report would be in order.
I was wondering how the concept was going, cheers for the update - no visitors over here...........yet!
Just added myself in Tacoma WA
Cap' Couillon on board sv / Solitaire in Deltaville Va. (South-central Chesapeake) ...
Added to map, glad to offer any assistance / info we can for the local area. After late Aug 2013 you will have to catch us somewhere points south. Will update underway.
Amites
If you want to add my name to the list, id be glad to help anyone in the area
Cruiser2B aka Jason
Little Creek, VA or anywhere near Mile marker 0 on ICW
Since I'm kinda sorta in one spot (for now) I just added mine. Kinda hard to see me, cause I'm hiding behind GrimE :D :D Zoom in close to the south Texas area, and you can see me peeking out.
I'm still in Annapolis, and still here for those passing through. I'm also still the SSCA Cruising Station. I now am service manager for J Gordon & Co on Back Creek. If you have work that needs doing in Annapolis we can offer free dockage while the work is being done. On a space available basis in season you can tie up for water and pump out.
Just stopped in at Georgetown for the second time in two weeks. The good folks at Georgetown landing marina were great as always, and Kurt really helped me out. Driving me all over Georgetown to collect the essentials required by the properly equipped cruising yacht.... Extra virgin truffle oil is tough to find, and organic free range Foie Gras is even harder... But once again Kurt came through!
Barque, the new crew dog is a great addition! Smart, attentive, and polite the little guy seems to be the perfect boat dog. I had a private talk with him, and made sure he had my cell number in case he ever needs bail or someone to vouch for him in case his dad is passed out in a drunken stupor indisposed some where.
Thanks Kurt!
Craig....did you notice Kurts collection of "Foster Brooks" video's. His HERO!!! ;D
OK...how many are too young to remember Foster Brooks?
Quote from: Frank on December 04, 2013, 08:42:08 PM
Craig....did you notice Kurts collection of "Foster Brooks" video's. His HERO!!! ;D
OK...how many are too young to remember Foster Brooks?
LMAO ;D
We're in Melbourne, FL, we'd be happy to provide as much assistance to those passing through as possible!
I can't get to it right this moment, I will get the list updated soon. It needs some edits and a couple of additions.
CharlieJ, any sailing in Matagorda Bay or vicinity? What keeps you based there? Just curious as I always thought of that area as mostly shallow Intracoastal Waterway and fast fishing boats.
LOTS of sailing.
West Matagorda itself is about 15 x 19 or 20 miles, average depth 12-15 feet. Interconnects with Espiritu Santos, San Antonio, Aransas, Corpus Christi Bays to the south west.
Below that is the Laguna Madre, which IS shallow- best stay in the channels.
Up to Galveston Bay to the north east. All pretty primitive except for Aransas which has the towns Rockport, Port Aransas, and Aransas Pass to go visit.
And of course you can jetty jump inlet to inlet. Brazos Santiago to Port Mansfield to Aransas to Matagorda to Colorado River to Galveston to Port Arthur. All pretty much one day sails.
Be careful at Galveston- Port of Houston is the busiest in the nation.
first Picture was taken sailing in Matagorda. See any land back there? 18 miles of open water to port.
Second one sailing same bay, other direction, on the 4th of July. We almost ALWAYS have wind
Nice shots! How are the beaches? Anchorages? Any other sailors around?
Well, I live 5 blocks away from the only beach you can DRIVE to for some 60 miles.
Most of the beaches are on the gulf side of the barrier islands, and on Matagorda Island, you MUST have a boat to get there. Used to be a State Park but was reverted back to feds. Docks are still in place, and maintained, and are free. From there it's a 2 mile hike to the beach, and that is usually deserted- even on Labor Day- Most are too lazy to walk :D
Not a whole lot of sailing done right here where I am. Over in the next bay- Tres Palacios there's a good bit. Usually Grime and I are about the only sailboats out, and they've had some medical troubles which have stopped them lately.
I'm just waiting on this never ending winter to go away, so I can start weekending again >:(
Galveston Bay is heavily sailed. That general area has probably 10-11 thousand slips
Corpus Christi Bay is also fairly heavily sailed, as is the area around Rockport and Port Aransas.
Most folks in our marina are either liveaboards, or are from out of town
Some more on the subject.
WHY we don't have that many sailing is sort of a mystery. Unlike say the Chesapeake, we have ALWAYS got wind, all year round. The Texas coast is renowned for winds among fishing people. Salt water fly fishermen have to learn to deal with it, or not fish.
Normal summer time winds are 10-12 early, building to 12 - 15 later, almost a certainty from the SE. If it's REALLY hot inshore a ways, the afternoon sea breeze can hit 18-20 or more.
That second pic in an early post was on the 4th of July
Feb, March, early Apr can see winds into the 40s though, which on Matagorda Bay can be deadly- akin to Albemarle Sound
In fact, I knew some folks on smaller boats who kept the first reef permanently tied in :)
Oh- and what keeps me here? A paid for house with a full bore woodshop, and a 93 year old Mother.
Cap'n, you can add this new member to the Sailfar Cruising Station list.
I am working on a Columbia 24 in Los Angeles Harbor . The slips (temp or otherwise) are cheaper than other SoCal marinas and management is very tolerant of in the water boat projects so it's a handy spot to layover and get some work done if needed. There is an small inexpensive DIY yard just down the road for anything 30' and under as well for haul outs... Oh and great shakedown sailing once you run the big ship gauntlent getting out the channel!
Quote from: CJ on April 06, 2014, 02:19:53 PM
Cap'n, you can add this new member to the Sailfar Cruising Station list.
I am working on a Columbia 24 in Los Angeles Harbor . The slips (temp or otherwise) are cheaper than other SoCal marinas and management is very tolerant of in the water boat projects so it's a handy spot to layover and get some work done if needed. There is an small inexpensive DIY yard just down the road for anything 30' and under as well for haul outs... Oh and great shakedown sailing once you run the big ship gauntlent getting out the channel!
;D This is going to be VERY confusing ;D
Ya'll will have to use something other than CJ for me now :D
Welcome to the forum CJ
Oops :D
Thanks for the welcome.
New screen name here ! :D
Just edited the List Only 'sticky.' I think it is up to date.
If anyone else wants to be added to the list or if there are any additional corrections, please post your details HERE in THIS THREAD.
Update to the email (to adam@b29seeker{dot}net) as I'm trying to break my sailing related emails from my non-sailing related emails (actually, I have several accounts...I think it is making my life easier; although I suppose it is debatable).
While I'm physically located in Middle River, I am close enough to Baltimore to help folks out there (and, indeed, have met a couple sailfarers there over the past couple years). Anyone who comes through can count on a beer at the least, and what information I can provide. I will also do what I can to help with showers, laundry, groceries, etc...
I did eventually sign up; but I guess that since I didn't originally make my entry I can't go and change it.
Hi, I'm Jack in San Diego. I can help with local knowledge, ride to the store, etc. I noticed there is no one for San Diego, so here you go!