East coast of USA

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Hi all having jump through the hoops to get our US visa we are looking at cruising east coast of USA ext year. Will need to leave the boat for about a month during this period. Can anyone recommend marina or hard standing above the hurricane belt? Any info or cruising notes which cover the east coast would be much appreciated.

David and Emma
 
We sailed up there from the Caribbean via Bermuda in May '95. Cleared Customs at Newport, Rhode Island. We had heard that generally the officials in the USA were very strict re yachts checking in, but we found them to be anything but (although this was long before 9/11, probably a bit different now).
We were cleared in while doing our washing in the lauderette next to the Customs office by a charming gentleman who has I am sure long since retired - he had a reputation for being the nicest official on the Eastern Seaboard, and I wouldnt doubt it.

We then sailed up to Rockland in Maine, via the Cape Cod Canal, and a night at anchor at Provincetown, on the tip of the Cape.
I only visited Rockland, Camden and Rockport, but I thought it was a wonderful area to go cruising. And the natives were all very friendly and helpful, lovely people.
Some other yachts had sailed direct from Bermuda to Maine, where they encountered (stereotypical?) American customs and immigration personnel who were very finickety about everything - one boat was told to sail back to Bermuda and offload their garbage there, they were not allowed to dump it ashore for some reason..... we were lucky to have only dealt with very friendly officials!
 
Lots of marina's in Chesapeake Bay. Clear in at Norfolk if coming direct.

If coming up from the South would recommend you enter the ICW at Beaufort, North Carolina to avoid Capre Hatteras.

Online charts for planning http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/

You can also print off the Pilot Books from the noaa site for free here www.noaa.gov enter coast pilot in the search
Can recommend Zahnisers Yacht Center at Solomons Island, well worth the extra few dollars as they really take care of your boat if away for an extended period. see www.zahnisers.com we leave our boat there all year.

You may find some cheaper places in the Northern Neck of Virginia at Kinsale and Tappahannock.

I'm going out on Tuesday so can ask around for a few prices if you like.
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Thanks for posts so far. Lizzie B thanks for link info on charts very helpful. Have sent you PM.
 
I have just left my boat on the Chesapeake for a 3 week return home & am fairly up date on E Coast USA if you have any more specific questions.
Chesapeake is generally a good place to leave a boat. Moorings (known as Mooring balls) are few - Swan Creek Marina has some (situated roughly opposite Baltimore) and Sassafras Yacht Haven where I am now has moorings at a monthly rate of 45cent per foot per day. Generally rates diminish if you book for a week and more for a month. Daily rates for one day are always high.
Many cruisers use Coan River Marina which has some of cheapest slips and laying up facilities & is on south side of entrance to the Potomac. A bit out of the way but said to be v good and helpful. Remember Enterprise Car Rentals have a good price & will collect you over a reasonable distance. You might find it worwhile if you rent to arrange CDW through a UK company - Google it!
Checking in to USA - choose a place near to a/the airport you will inevitably have to go to to check in. eg Fort Pierce.
If not too late (you have gone past)try and get a Cruising Permit from Culebra or Puerto Rico - they last a year for the boat. Your entry stamp lasts 6 months.
If you are going to fly home, best deal seems to be with Zoom from JFK - but you have to get there!
Books to get - if on ICW Skipper Bob's Guide & any flip chart book.
When are you going?
Good luck
Simon
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for posts so far. Lizzie B thanks for link info on charts very helpful. Have sent you PM.

[/ QUOTE ]Did you know you can get the entire current set of NOAA charts (covering all the US and possessions) on a DVD for approx $20? It sure beats buying the 3000 or so paper charts. Ask at the first chandler you reach in the US.

Remember that the entire eastern seaboard up as far as New York is in the hurricane belt, though the risk is higher in the south. But marinas along there know how to lay up yachts to cope, and only a direct hit by a major hurricane is likely to cause problems. Also, after you leave southern Florida, marina prices rise the further north you go. Personally, I pick somewhere not far from an international airport, to simplify visits home while the yacht is laid up.

Annapolis in the Chesapeake for example is expensive, but has every facility if you need to work on your boat, and is not far from Baltimore and Washington. There is a great boat show in early October.
 
Beaufort, which is near our homeport though we're on the other side of the continent now in SF Bay, is a wonderful small town. If you go there, visit Sharpies restaurant and tell George that Josh's mom sent you--who knows what goodies you'll see come your way. If you spend time there, write and let me know--I've got some phone numbers of folk who'll graciously help.

Up the ICW is Oriental, NC, a great sailing town. And New Bern has reasonable marina prices, besides being a lovely place (my ancestors left Switzerland in 1710 to settle there). Depending on your draft, you have several choices--5 feet and under will take you to an inexpensive place to haul out up the Trent River. There's an airport, though you have to connect to fly abroad. And Enterprise Rental will pick you up.

Also, the Chesapeake is a wonderful place to sail. Annapolis is quite expensive--it's cheaper across the bay or down toward the south--but it is a delightful town. normandie at seaventure dot us
 
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