S.Fl. trip Jan.13

Sumner · Dec 24, 2010

Well have fun. We will be down there probably around the 1st of April, so a little late. Hopefully you will have warmer weather than we just experienced. We had a good time, but it was cold with one cold front right after the next that limited us somewhat to traveling as much as we would of liked to.

Are you going to anchor all the time?

I've ofter wondered about trying to travel/sail with another boat. It seems everyone has there own rate at doing things, like getting up and getting going and how far they want to travel, and how much wind they can tolerate and if they want to motor or sail and the such. We would like to meet others from these boards, but wonder how well we would do actually trying to plan and maintain a schedule with another boat or two for any length of time.

Be sure and let us know what the trip was like and your experiences and adventures,

Sum and Ruth

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Sumner · Dec 24, 2010

Bonzai said:
Hi Sum and Ruth.I plan to stay on the hook/moorings most all nights. I agree with you that trying to keep a schedule between boats sounds very.....not fun...lol.I am more interested in a very loosely structured sailing/diving vacation.Just would feel more comfortable with someone else in nearby radio range...not looking to raft up, more like we keep an eye out for each other etc.After your response I am gonna have to take a closer look at the forecast temps down there for that time....I want it warm enough to get in the water...a lot.Thanks for the info and hope to see you on the water one day!

That kind of a schedule seems doable to me. We went in the fall hoping for water warm enough for us old people to get into (80's), but were a month late in leaving. The first few days we were there it was in the 80's, but by the time we got some place on the water (Cayo Costa) it was colder and the water temps where in the low 70's and high 60's according to the fish finder.

I had a full wet suit and we also have body suits for Ruth and I, but just didn't have a place to use them. I'm hoping that by late April, early May we will have some warm water down further south. We will put in next trip at either Flamingo (Everglades Nat. Park) or South Dade Marina. Don't know yet.

We hope to do the 10,000 Island area some (won't be in the water there) and then head for Marthon and either up or down the keys. We anchor every night. Well last trip we went ashore for 4 nights at Jensen's Twin Palms....

http://www.gocaptiva.com/twinpalm.htm

....during one cold spell. Nice place. We were on the boat for the next one with local temps in the low 30's and 41-43 in the boat early morning for 3 nights. We had the long underwear on and slept under every blanket we had and even had one folded in half. Still had a good time

.

You might get better temps than we did, but last spring was cold down there also.

Hope to meet up with you and others at some point,

Sum

Tom Hoffman · Dec 24, 2010

Bonzai,

My wife and I envision a trip like that some time. We went down in 2008 around spring break and spent a month. Wanted to dive, but the air was too cold and the water too rough and cold. The Spring breakers didn't even go out onto the beaches, it was so cold and windy. We mostly did time share stuff. We went over to Freeport Grand Bahama and it was in the hi 50's to mid 60's with lots of wind and very uncomfortable. We tried to go diving once and the water was so rough my wife go sea sick down below at 25 feet.

I am curious how are you going to re charge your tanks. We have two, but my 130 only last me about 45 minutes and her 80 lasts her an hour and a half. We have dove at Key Largo, Pennecamp Park, not a bad place. Not as much to see as you might hope for, but still nice.

Are you going to hang out around some of the remote keys? That would be fun, but then there is still the air refill problem.

Tom...

dscribner · Dec 27, 2010

All that way on your Lancer? Yes, that be close! Especially docking in the head! Always a good time. But, while I have you, do you ever get lots of "condensation" under the table? I cant tell if it's that or maybe the thru hull under the sink is leaking. But the thru hull is within the sink enclosure and should be watertight to a point.

soling42 · Dec 27, 2010

Shhhh. here's a lifetime local Fl guy secret weather update.

Our Winters may seem moderate to a Northerner who pulls his boat out because of ice and snow drifts while longing for a Fl trip but rest assured those cold fronts still pack a very serious punch when they blow through down here. It was gusting to 45mph just yesterday with lows in the 20's tonight as it was last week and next week too. This type of front induced wind can be expected at least every week to 10days through April when our Summer transition begins.

Our best sailing season for the most consistent and moderate days is really October and early November(barring a late season hurricane) and then the last couple of weeks in April and the first few weeks in May. Spring gets dicey with fronts and seasonal winds that can churn up our shallow waters and generally kick a$$ and test your skills. This is tempered by ideal sailing temps and good vis during our mid Fall and late Spring dry season transition into Summer.

After June 10th only the truly hardy souls can tolerate the heat/humidity or pretend to sleep at night without a/c. If our wildly electric thunder storms haven't begun by July we are absolutely roasting. By August it's full on Hurricane alert and endless days of broiling doldrums punctuated by even more violent thunder storms while I count the days to our October 1st launch to begin the season again.

Best wishes on your trip. In the keys I'd always have a backup layover marina that you can plan to escape to if the weather quickly turns lame. Also plan well ahead for your launch and retrieval spots as parking a trailer down here can be pricey. I'm sure you'll bring back good memories and have a few good dive days too. Be safe.

All our best, Mike and Kelli

soling42 · Dec 29, 2010

We generally plan a SW Fl coastal run in late April/early May. Our SW FL strengths between Sarasota and Sanabel are good holding in the anchorages, decent Tiki bars and miles of abandoned white sandy beaches lined with palms. The holding in the keys can be tricky and there are basically no beaches but the water is clearer down there except for our best days when it can be nearly as good. Fishing is good in both places but we'll have more sharks and the occasional gator who's wandered out to the coast from our many rivers.

Our diving is best(but not usually as good as the keys) when we have our dry season during late April/May if the wind hasn't been cranking too badly. Dive shops readily available by boat in the keys are few and far between up here but they can be found in-land if you plan ahead. The keys are further from Sarasota than you'd think so if that's the goal I'd trailer to marathon and just be there.

M&K

S.Fl. trip Jan.13

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