Cruising suggestions for Bayfield40

[dory36]

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We're looking at Ophelia right now, from St. Augustine, FL. If it hits it will be our first (and possibly our last). Moved aboard in January and been all over Florida. Nice timing-just when they say the seasons will be getting worse each year.

While we were cruising, we loved St Augustine! We always anchored north of the bridge - less traffic and less crowded. (But we never got to Florida before November -- just waiting out hurricane season.)

A wonderful place you may have tried... Cumberland Island, about 10 miles north of the Florida line. No protection in N-S winds, but great otherwise. Watch wild ponies on shore, nuclear submarines in the channel to the west.

By all means get to Vero Beach well before Thanksgiving for the cruiser potluck. The ones we attended were lots of fun. No anchoring there, but there are usually 100+ cruisers on the moorings there. Lots of cruisers will stop there to provision before heading to the Bahamas. Vero's municipal bus system (free, donations welcome) comes right to the marina next to the dinghy dock.

Many of our friends spend 6+ weeks or more at Vero each winter.

You will likely enjoy the annual Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) meeting at Melborne, Nov 11-13 this year. Hundreds of full time cruisers, lots of interesting stuff going on. See ssca.org for details.

Dory36