Heading South

[seadaddler]

I guess most of you know I am planning to sail from Greenport,ny to Punta Gorda,Fl
this Oct mostly off shore and been working on getting all safety equipment like renting a off shore life raft and other equipment.
Any way my plans have changed sort of in that I can't be tilted over in the Okeechobee
because my 55ft plus mast too high so either will drop mast and motor to FT Myers or go around the keys.
Has anyone gone down to the keys and up to the west coast to Punta Gorda with sailboat that has 55ft mast and 5ft draft,what's the best way to go and when is the best time to make this trip.
Nick

 

[Recess]

If you are going to sail down to Key West

And then up to Naples, you will want to stay in Hawk's Channel on the way down. There is a lot of info on the internet about Hawk's channel. I am not sure if there is a clearly marked channel if you go under the new bridge in Key Largo and then onto Naples thus avoiding going all the way around the Keys. I am sure somebody will know.

Hawk's Channel keeps you from going all the way out into blue water sailing past the reefs, but it gets very shallow if you venture out of Hawk's channel towards the reefs. It can go from a deep channel to 1 to 2 feet very fast.

 

[RAD]

Nick,

 

[Buck2796]

Yup,

Been back and forth from Norfolk to Marathon (and KW) about 10 times over the past 15 years on my boat (past 7 years) and others. From Marathon (thru the high rise section of the 7 Mile bridge) to Punta Gorda is an overnight (~24hr), ~150mi run.
Have you decided whether you're going out around Montauk and offshore to
? Norfolk. ... or thru NYC, down to Cape May, thru the C&D, then down The Bay?
If it were me (on a H36), I'd stay inside... easier on you and the boat.
Anyway, I'm leaving 11/4; if I can help you with any info gained from my experiences, my E-Mail is ... sail420lat@yahoo.com

PS, Benny... I've anchored at Rodriguez several times. Once on a mooring, twice anchored, and haven't had any problems; just use plenty of scope.