For those who have sailed from Key West to Dry Tortugas. We are bareboating in June (I know, hot) and my lovely wife would like to know approxiamtely how long we will be out of sight of land? We have been to BVI three times and she really likes the idea of always seeing land. Obviously there are a lot of variables, but I need some type of an answer for her.
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Paul Mieszczenski
How fast can you go?
Hey Brian, If I remember correctly you chartered a catarmaran which should make 7 knots easily. If you take the oceanside route, the first 35 miles or so will be dotted with small islets and shallows. After the Marquesas the next 35 miles is pretty much ocean sailing. The islands in the Keys are mostly low in height so they start to dissolve into the horizon sooner than a larger land mass. Depending on the days visability, My guess is that they dissapear at about 5 miles. Less than an hour at your cruising speed. Fort Jefferson is massive so you might get to look at it for an hour before you get there. The Gulf route north of the Marquesas takes you out of sight of the small islets because of shallow water to the south. If your traveling at 7k you're probably only going to be out of sight of land about 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Have a great trip, PM
Hey Brian, If I remember correctly you chartered a catarmaran which should make 7 knots easily. If you take the oceanside route, the first 35 miles or so will be dotted with small islets and shallows. After the Marquesas the next 35 miles is pretty much ocean sailing. The islands in the Keys are mostly low in height so they start to dissolve into the horizon sooner than a larger land mass. Depending on the days visability, My guess is that they dissapear at about 5 miles. Less than an hour at your cruising speed. Fort Jefferson is massive so you might get to look at it for an hour before you get there. The Gulf route north of the Marquesas takes you out of sight of the small islets because of shallow water to the south. If your traveling at 7k you're probably only going to be out of sight of land about 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Have a great trip, PM
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Dave
60 miles
trip is about 60 miles so you will be out of sight of land for probably 45 miles. At say 6 knots thats about 7 hours dave
trip is about 60 miles so you will be out of sight of land for probably 45 miles. At say 6 knots thats about 7 hours dave
It will be a long day
Leave Key West early (before daylight if possible) on a rising tide (will push you up the Northwest Channel) so you can make Fort Jefferson/Garden Key with enough light left to negotiate the channel on the west side. The trip may take up to 10 hr in a monohull. You'll be out of sight of land for 4 to 6 hr. If you take the inside (northern) route you'll see several charted communications towers on the way, as well as the seaplanes, powerboats and high-speed catamarans going back and forth, so you can't really get lost. Notes of caution...the channel on the north side of Garden Key is gone and not all charts have been updated. Don't attempt this channel. Make sure your holding tank works and take PLENTY of water and ice. Have fun! Peter H23 "Raven"
Leave Key West early (before daylight if possible) on a rising tide (will push you up the Northwest Channel) so you can make Fort Jefferson/Garden Key with enough light left to negotiate the channel on the west side. The trip may take up to 10 hr in a monohull. You'll be out of sight of land for 4 to 6 hr. If you take the inside (northern) route you'll see several charted communications towers on the way, as well as the seaplanes, powerboats and high-speed catamarans going back and forth, so you can't really get lost. Notes of caution...the channel on the north side of Garden Key is gone and not all charts have been updated. Don't attempt this channel. Make sure your holding tank works and take PLENTY of water and ice. Have fun! Peter H23 "Raven"
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Bryan
Marquesas
We plan on making an overnight stop at Marquesas to break the trip up. I am taking 3 boys and they would mutiny on a 10 hour non stop.
We plan on making an overnight stop at Marquesas to break the trip up. I am taking 3 boys and they would mutiny on a 10 hour non stop.
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R.W.Landau
Bryan, Charts
Bryan, Make sure you have recent charts. The Marquesas have a limited depth. We sailed a 45 Dufour there last July and could not stop because the Dufour had a 6' draft. We Motor sailed from Keywest to Fort Jefferson. A 13+ hour trip at about 6 to 7 knots. We had an east wind going back to Keywest. We motored back at about 6 knots, 14 to 15 hours. We were very productive fishermen both ways which had us stopping every 25 to 30 minutes landing fish. On the way back, we saw a water spout and also go tangled up in a crab pot that took 20 minutes to untangle from the prop.( I was not at the helm) r.w.landau
Bryan, Make sure you have recent charts. The Marquesas have a limited depth. We sailed a 45 Dufour there last July and could not stop because the Dufour had a 6' draft. We Motor sailed from Keywest to Fort Jefferson. A 13+ hour trip at about 6 to 7 knots. We had an east wind going back to Keywest. We motored back at about 6 knots, 14 to 15 hours. We were very productive fishermen both ways which had us stopping every 25 to 30 minutes landing fish. On the way back, we saw a water spout and also go tangled up in a crab pot that took 20 minutes to untangle from the prop.( I was not at the helm) r.w.landau
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Mark Major
Make two days of it
The overnight west of Marquesas Key is shallow, but if you look at your charts you will notice it says "the quicksands"...it's a very soft bottom to rest in at low tide (walking on bottom you will sink to just below your knee). What will impress you while at anchor is when you look north you will see the domes of light from the cities of the Florida West coast...the Everglades will be the long dark patch from Key West to...use your sextant (or buy the $34 Davis sextant from Sailnet) to get an angle and determine what you are looking at, (if a sextant is new to you, along the way you and the boys can learn a bit about celestial navigation; this will open a new world of understanding time and tide for you). Don't try the distance in a day, unless pressed by weather; navigating into anchorage along the north shore of Garden Key has many hazards best negotiated in daylight (coral heads). I did this last year and if you care to contact me, feel free at memajor@juno.com Mark Major, s/v Lesismor 86H23
The overnight west of Marquesas Key is shallow, but if you look at your charts you will notice it says "the quicksands"...it's a very soft bottom to rest in at low tide (walking on bottom you will sink to just below your knee). What will impress you while at anchor is when you look north you will see the domes of light from the cities of the Florida West coast...the Everglades will be the long dark patch from Key West to...use your sextant (or buy the $34 Davis sextant from Sailnet) to get an angle and determine what you are looking at, (if a sextant is new to you, along the way you and the boys can learn a bit about celestial navigation; this will open a new world of understanding time and tide for you). Don't try the distance in a day, unless pressed by weather; navigating into anchorage along the north shore of Garden Key has many hazards best negotiated in daylight (coral heads). I did this last year and if you care to contact me, feel free at memajor@juno.com Mark Major, s/v Lesismor 86H23
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Bryan
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R.W.Landau
Lures
If you stop in Key West, Look for dolphin busters. They are differant colors bodies but have a silvery/clear skirt with a metal flake look. We had red, chartruse and blue. They all caught fish. When you are trolling, let out line until the lure skips the surface of the water about 35 to 50% of the time. Set the drag light and make sure the clicker is on so that you hear the hits. Be perpared to heave-to at any moment. You may want to keep a log of fish caught on the way there and in the park. Last year a student was doing research on this. The rangers are friendly but go by the book. Remember that they are stationed there for long periods at a time and there is NOTHING BUT THE PARK AND PEACE AND QUIET. They will visit the anchorages normally around 4 to 5 pm. They sure enjoying a time of communication. I think we talked to them for about a half hour each day. If there are fishing boats there, you may try to barter some of their catch. Remember it is illegal for them to sell anything in the park. Beer is an excellent bartering medium. Take all provisions and ice. Our refrigeration quite when we were there and the ice melted half way through the first day. Warm beer and food do not make it! You can only buy park trinkits there. There is no food, water, nor ice to be had anywhere. For History sake, The Fort is the biggest brick structure in the United States. All that brick was shipped there from the states. Amazing structure. Good sailing (and fishing) r.w.landau
If you stop in Key West, Look for dolphin busters. They are differant colors bodies but have a silvery/clear skirt with a metal flake look. We had red, chartruse and blue. They all caught fish. When you are trolling, let out line until the lure skips the surface of the water about 35 to 50% of the time. Set the drag light and make sure the clicker is on so that you hear the hits. Be perpared to heave-to at any moment. You may want to keep a log of fish caught on the way there and in the park. Last year a student was doing research on this. The rangers are friendly but go by the book. Remember that they are stationed there for long periods at a time and there is NOTHING BUT THE PARK AND PEACE AND QUIET. They will visit the anchorages normally around 4 to 5 pm. They sure enjoying a time of communication. I think we talked to them for about a half hour each day. If there are fishing boats there, you may try to barter some of their catch. Remember it is illegal for them to sell anything in the park. Beer is an excellent bartering medium. Take all provisions and ice. Our refrigeration quite when we were there and the ice melted half way through the first day. Warm beer and food do not make it! You can only buy park trinkits there. There is no food, water, nor ice to be had anywhere. For History sake, The Fort is the biggest brick structure in the United States. All that brick was shipped there from the states. Amazing structure. Good sailing (and fishing) r.w.landau
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Griffin
Sidenote
Having done that a few times, it is traditional to bring the rangers at Fort Jefferson something from shore...magazines, a book that is relatively recent or my favorite was wine...as a gift. Also, consider bringing a couple bottles of cheap (really cheap) whiskey or rum. I have traded with commercial fishing vessels there for fresh Yellowtail and Lobster! (Too bad it won't be lobster season). I got a half-case of Yellowtail for a fifth of Canadian once... Griffin. Formerly of s/v Sabines Witchcraft Now (new boat) s/v Brighid's Crossing
Having done that a few times, it is traditional to bring the rangers at Fort Jefferson something from shore...magazines, a book that is relatively recent or my favorite was wine...as a gift. Also, consider bringing a couple bottles of cheap (really cheap) whiskey or rum. I have traded with commercial fishing vessels there for fresh Yellowtail and Lobster! (Too bad it won't be lobster season). I got a half-case of Yellowtail for a fifth of Canadian once... Griffin. Formerly of s/v Sabines Witchcraft Now (new boat) s/v Brighid's Crossing
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Bryan
Trading
I have been told about bringing beer to trade with the fishermen for ice and fish. I like the idea of rum because you can get more return for less space. And maybe a better deal if most other cruisers have beer. Thanks for the note about the rangers. We will bring something for them too.
I have been told about bringing beer to trade with the fishermen for ice and fish. I like the idea of rum because you can get more return for less space. And maybe a better deal if most other cruisers have beer. Thanks for the note about the rangers. We will bring something for them too.
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