Favorite Cruising Destination!

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Comment by svJazz on August 1, 2008 at 7:56am

Well, if you mean landfall for me that would have to be Horta in the Azores. A wonderful place, most people arrive there by boat, as we did after a 15 day passage from Bermuda. One of the long standing traditions there is to paint your boat name on the mole at the jam-packed marina. Another is to visit Peter Cafe Sport, one of the coolest places in all sailingdom.

But for cruising destination, I have to say it doesn't get much better than Francis Bay, St. John, USVI. We've been up and down the entire eastern Caribbean and I still haven't found a place I like better.

Comment by MNSailor on July 21, 2008 at 3:32pm

Cruising the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior for the hardy souls. Short season, but worth every minute.

Comment by CruisingEditor on July 8, 2008 at 9:08am

Thanks all, for writing about your favorite spot. I love the photo too! Keep 'em coming!

Comment by Dave B on June 28, 2008 at 4:50pm

Hello all, cruised the eastern US and down Yonder were the time doesn't count.
Nothing like getting some air from your Job..or retirement and cruise the open waters for fresh air and relaxation.
Typical cruise for me thats Salt water and every chance I get we (Teresa) and I head for the Gulf of Mexico and after 10 miles of so we see cristal clear water, put on a good CD and lay back, take a swim,
and return we usually anchor in 2 ft. of water off Sanibel Island and swim.
At night we will anchor maybe at Picnic Island or some of the many others.
Main thought is...None..your away in your own world!! :>)
Dave

Comment by Richard on June 21, 2008 at 11:21am

Although I've sailed abroad, why would a favorite cruising destination have to be out of the US?

Though I haven't sailed there, I've spent a lot of time driving along the coast of Maine and it seems to me that one could spend years exploring the nooks and crannies there. Besides, summers are delightful in Maine...I understand it was on a Tuesday last year.

Comment by Banana Wind on June 13, 2008 at 10:20am

Hmmmm...favorite cruising destination eh ? What an awesome group to start! Well, unfortunately - the bulk of my travels to other countries over the years wasnt done aboard a sailboat. However, with that said ...if I had a favorite destination that ive ever been to it would probably have to be Greece. The sights, sounds, & treasures to be found amongst the land have a certain romanticism ..unlike anywhere else i've ever had the pleasure of going! It is our dream to one day visit these wonderful places again by sea ...im sure it would give us a whole new perspective!

Comment by Franc on June 13, 2008 at 8:06am

CADAQUES: 42°17.0500'N, 3°16.9505'E

One of my favorite cruising destinations is in the Western Med, right where Pyrenees die in the water separating France and Spain. Cadaques, is the small fishing village where Salvador Dali used to live. It is frequented by artists and often skipped by cruisers choosing to sail from more popular ports like Barcelona straight to France across the Golf de Lleo. That's why it remains "the best kept secret" of the Spanish coast and a favorite for locals. There is no proper marina for sailboats in the area so anchoring in front of the town is the only option. The altarpiece in the church of Santa Maria in the heart of town is well worth the walk uphill. Our favorite eatery is a local pizza place in the promenade by the water on the East side of the cove called La Gritta. It has a perfect view of the town and church. Nothing fancy. You won't find it in the guide book!

Comment by Robbie Johnson on June 12, 2008 at 10:01am

Ahoy, Cruising Editor:

Sure, I'll jump in.

My favorite cruising area is the Atlantic and Pacific side of the Republic of Panama.

Not only is the weather simply fantastic, the variety of anchorages and the diverse kinds of people you will meet there is awesome.

The Panama Canal and its workings are a feat of engineering. Transient sailors will have ample opportunity to transit the canal with other sailors and their boats. A great opportunity to experience not only the international crews of those sailboats, but to meet some really interesting sailors from all over the world, Brits, Norwegians, Swedes, French, Italian, Germans, Aussies, Kiwis, you name it.

If you're a history buff, Panama has plenty of it, and not just the Canal. Take a look at the ruins of old Panama City and see the destruction that Sir Francis Drake wrought and you can imagine the violence and savagery of warfare between Spain and England a few centuries ago. Visit the fort and treasure vault that the Spaniards build in Porto Bello to hold the vast gold and silver that they were transhipping via Cartagena, Colombia, to Spain. Porto Bello was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his 4th and last voyage to the New World, and it is a lovely place to anchor, less than 15 miles from the Atlantic entrance to the Canal. And just a few miles further East, you can visit Gracias de Dios, the open roadstead anchorage that Columbus used in his earlier voyages.

Everyone knows about the Cuna (Kuna) Indians and the Camarca de San Blas, and their beautiful craft of mola making. There are 4 tribes of the Cuna, and the one most accessible and best known live in the 365+ off-lying islands of the eastward-tending ismuth. Fantastic sailing, unlimited anchorages, and a chance to meet and interact with human beings who see our world in a very different context.

On Lake Gatun, the man-made lake that vessels cross when making a transit of the canal, there is an island that has been converted into a nature preserve, and has all the animals and fauna of the rain forest there. You can spend the night on the island in native-style palapas, by reservation. It is a mind-blowing experience! And Peacock bass fishing on the lake simply has to be experienced to believe. They'll bite a bare hook!

The Pacific side of Panama is a whole other story, and quite different from the Atlantic side. The first thing sailors will note is the tidal range. The Atlantic side was 3-4 feet on average, but the Pacific side is closer to 20 feet! This poses some challenges when going ashore. The Bay of Panama is said to have the largest population of sharks in the world. The bay contains a number of groups of islands that offer excellent anchoring, one of the largest, Contadora, is where the Shah of Iran was parked until a country could be found that would grant him political asylum. The island has a large hotel, casinos, and is kind of touristy.

Panama City is an international port, of course, and sailors can find anything their hearts desire there, from engines and parts, to exotic cuisines, to airline connections to the world. There are over 150 international banks in Panama, and every currency of the world can be exchanged there.

How's that for starters?

Best regards,

Robbie Johnson

Comment by Andrea on June 11, 2008 at 6:53am

The Syechelles! Many of the photos on my page are from there. I will add more later, but for now, check out what was already written...

My husband and I had an article published in magazine # 64 on La Digue Island in the Seychelles (pg 109).

Click here to take you to the archives.

Comment by Richard on June 10, 2008 at 7:03pm

This should end up being a good group. Great idea.

My favorite cruising destination is the next one.

Impossible to say. How about the Mohawk River and upper Hudson in the fall when the leaves are turning?

The gorge of the Rio Dulce in Guatemala? Anchored along the reef in Belize? The French Riviera? The Costa del Sol? The Bahamas? Each was a favorite in its time.

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