We are planning a 2 week vacation in October. Panama City is about 400 miles from Key West (great circle). If you sail direct you stay pretty close to the coast in case of severe weather. A dock neighbor in a Morgan 33 is planning a two week trip to KW and back next week. He figures three or four days down a week in the keys and 3-4 days back. If his trip goes well we might try it in October. Anyone out there made the trip?? October is still hurricane season but we shouldn't be more than 100 miles or so offshore. Would this be considered "Coastal" or "blue water" Any major currents that we should factor into this trip?? Tom
Panama City Florida to Key West in two weeks???
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Depends on how ya do it..
If ya make a direct line, it would be bluewater... I have done the direct shot from Tampa, and it was about 35 hours direct as I recall. As long as you have a way of getting good weather, I wouldn't think much about staying 100 miles offshore as you would have time to get to safe harbor if a late season storm popped up. There was a nice post a couple of weeks ago with lots of pictures from a group who went to the Tortugas and they had some good info as well... Brian
If ya make a direct line, it would be bluewater... I have done the direct shot from Tampa, and it was about 35 hours direct as I recall. As long as you have a way of getting good weather, I wouldn't think much about staying 100 miles offshore as you would have time to get to safe harbor if a late season storm popped up. There was a nice post a couple of weeks ago with lots of pictures from a group who went to the Tortugas and they had some good info as well... Brian
Made the trip
I have made the trip from St. Pete. should be no issues other than watching the weather. We ran into a thunder storm otherwise, the trip was uneventful. Enjoy.
I have made the trip from St. Pete. should be no issues other than watching the weather. We ran into a thunder storm otherwise, the trip was uneventful. Enjoy.
LOL @ BillR
no offense Bill but, there is a hell of a diff between Panama City to the Keys and St Pete to the Keys! say about 380 miles difference. @ average speed of say 5.5 kts that would be about 70 hrs or 3days each way. (non-stop) BTW, it's around 800 miles from PC to KW not 400.
no offense Bill but, there is a hell of a diff between Panama City to the Keys and St Pete to the Keys! say about 380 miles difference. @ average speed of say 5.5 kts that would be about 70 hrs or 3days each way. (non-stop) BTW, it's around 800 miles from PC to KW not 400.
8oo miles?
It is 800 STATUATE miles if you drive. From the bouy outside PC to Clearwater bay is almost exactly 200 nautical miles. From Clearwater to the bouy outside of Key West is another 213 miles, for a total of 413 miles. You will need to really hug the coast and ride on a few backroads to make it 800 miles
Brian
It is 800 STATUATE miles if you drive. From the bouy outside PC to Clearwater bay is almost exactly 200 nautical miles. From Clearwater to the bouy outside of Key West is another 213 miles, for a total of 413 miles. You will need to really hug the coast and ride on a few backroads to make it 800 miles
BrianCoastal or Bluewater
Yes, it will be safer to stay costal, but a bit quicker to make a straighter shot. If you feel comfortable in blue water, the big time savings will be from Cape San Blas to Tampa Bay. Either way, you will have to be underway most of the time to make that schedule.
Yes, it will be safer to stay costal, but a bit quicker to make a straighter shot. If you feel comfortable in blue water, the big time savings will be from Cape San Blas to Tampa Bay. Either way, you will have to be underway most of the time to make that schedule.
Dan...
I sailed Galveston Bay Texas to Key West and that was about 740 miles. I just measured Panama City to Key West on "the Cap'n" and got 394 NM one way. Please take into account I was using a planning chart on large scale, so it was not the most accurate, but close enough to estimate. Weekend is here!!!!! Marc
I sailed Galveston Bay Texas to Key West and that was about 740 miles. I just measured Panama City to Key West on "the Cap'n" and got 394 NM one way. Please take into account I was using a planning chart on large scale, so it was not the most accurate, but close enough to estimate. Weekend is here!!!!! Marc
sorry guys, I assumed
everyone was talking about hugging the Big Bend, which is what 90% of the folks sailing out of this area does. sure you can make a bee line out of here and slice off a considerable amount of time and miles. I guess I should have qualified a coastal route vs- blue water route. BTW, it took 8 days to sail my C30 from St Pete to Navarre Beach (my home). that was the coastal route with no over night sailing, gung hole to gung hole. lots of pretty anchorages out there, enjoy!
everyone was talking about hugging the Big Bend, which is what 90% of the folks sailing out of this area does. sure you can make a bee line out of here and slice off a considerable amount of time and miles. I guess I should have qualified a coastal route vs- blue water route. BTW, it took 8 days to sail my C30 from St Pete to Navarre Beach (my home). that was the coastal route with no over night sailing, gung hole to gung hole. lots of pretty anchorages out there, enjoy!
Hi Dan of Navarre
8 days seems like a long time from St Pete. How much time do you estimate that you spent sailing towards your destination?? When I anchor out every night I lose at least a couple of hours getting in and setting anchor etc. Same thing next morning. On our recent sail from Pensacola to Panama city we sailed right past you!!! Could see the bridge but I was too chicken to sail into Destin. we made good time all afternoon but the wind started dropping a little after dark and kept dropping until we were doing less than 2 kts around 2 am. Motored for a couple of hours then the wind came back and we were at hull speed going into PC. But it ended up taking about 26 hours. I should have started motoring sooner. Overnight at sea was pretty nice except for the swell. As to safety what's the concensus opinion on this board, is it safer to go in and out of gunkholes hugging the coast or to stay offshore and sail through the night??? When we were offshore from Pensacola to Panama City we had almost no boat traffic. All of the excitement was leaving Pensacola and entering at Panama City. Panma City Pass is a zoo!!! Big power boats jet ski's ,ferrys to Shell Island, divers in the water with dolphins all between the jetties with a strong current. 10 miles off shore was all peace and quiet. Opinions please.
8 days seems like a long time from St Pete. How much time do you estimate that you spent sailing towards your destination?? When I anchor out every night I lose at least a couple of hours getting in and setting anchor etc. Same thing next morning. On our recent sail from Pensacola to Panama city we sailed right past you!!! Could see the bridge but I was too chicken to sail into Destin. we made good time all afternoon but the wind started dropping a little after dark and kept dropping until we were doing less than 2 kts around 2 am. Motored for a couple of hours then the wind came back and we were at hull speed going into PC. But it ended up taking about 26 hours. I should have started motoring sooner. Overnight at sea was pretty nice except for the swell. As to safety what's the concensus opinion on this board, is it safer to go in and out of gunkholes hugging the coast or to stay offshore and sail through the night??? When we were offshore from Pensacola to Panama City we had almost no boat traffic. All of the excitement was leaving Pensacola and entering at Panama City. Panma City Pass is a zoo!!! Big power boats jet ski's ,ferrys to Shell Island, divers in the water with dolphins all between the jetties with a strong current. 10 miles off shore was all peace and quiet. Opinions please.
hello p323ms
we hired a pro capt'n to bring our boat back. we had planned to bring her back ourselves but, ran out of vacation time before we could get the deal done on the boat. you are right you do lose some time anchoring up and getting settled in for the night. when traveling the Big Bend area you also have to account for all gung holes NOT being evenly spaced. some are only 35 miles apart where other are 65. I dont recommend entering some of these anchorages at night without local knowledge so, some days are short days and other are long. I recommend picking up a copy of Clayboune Young cuising guide for the West Coast, Big Bend, and Panhandle of Florida. probally a good thing that you didnt try to tuck under the Destin bridge, charts show 50ft but on a good day you might have 48! we have done the trip to PC several times and once to Appalichiacola.(sp?) next time you come over try the ICW. fun trip! we plan to do the Keys and on to the Bahamas 2 yrs from now when we retire, cant wait!!
we hired a pro capt'n to bring our boat back. we had planned to bring her back ourselves but, ran out of vacation time before we could get the deal done on the boat. you are right you do lose some time anchoring up and getting settled in for the night. when traveling the Big Bend area you also have to account for all gung holes NOT being evenly spaced. some are only 35 miles apart where other are 65. I dont recommend entering some of these anchorages at night without local knowledge so, some days are short days and other are long. I recommend picking up a copy of Clayboune Young cuising guide for the West Coast, Big Bend, and Panhandle of Florida. probally a good thing that you didnt try to tuck under the Destin bridge, charts show 50ft but on a good day you might have 48! we have done the trip to PC several times and once to Appalichiacola.(sp?) next time you come over try the ICW. fun trip! we plan to do the Keys and on to the Bahamas 2 yrs from now when we retire, cant wait!!
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