We need to bring our 40' sailboat where it's berthed at Ft. Pierce, FL to Clearwater, Fl., for warranty repairs by the manufacturer. We have to go around the Keys as our mast is too tall for the Okachobee. We only have 15 days to do this now, otherwise we'll have to wait for late fall. What do you think? Has anyone done this trip and if so how long did it take? We'll go outside as much as possible.
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Sounds do-able alright ...
I don't know if no one has recently sailed such a route, or no one knows how to respond to this post. But sounds like win or lose it would be plenty scenic and memorable. I have not sailed this route but figure that in 15 days it can be done. You would have to cover 30 miles a day mind you, but maintaining an average of 2.5 miles per hour over 12 hour sailing days should cover it. Southeasterlies are pumping this time of year at around 5 to 10. And I am willing to bet you will do better than 2.5kts. Such trips as this on short notice isn't always the best way to swing an itinerary. Definately carefully chart your passages through and around the keys and islands as there are plently of bars and flats to make life interesting. So yeah, charts are definately well worth the money. I think I would hold off till fall, but then, I am known to be overly cautious in my old age
I don't know if no one has recently sailed such a route, or no one knows how to respond to this post. But sounds like win or lose it would be plenty scenic and memorable. I have not sailed this route but figure that in 15 days it can be done. You would have to cover 30 miles a day mind you, but maintaining an average of 2.5 miles per hour over 12 hour sailing days should cover it. Southeasterlies are pumping this time of year at around 5 to 10. And I am willing to bet you will do better than 2.5kts. Such trips as this on short notice isn't always the best way to swing an itinerary. Definately carefully chart your passages through and around the keys and islands as there are plently of bars and flats to make life interesting. So yeah, charts are definately well worth the money. I think I would hold off till fall, but then, I am known to be overly cautious in my old age
just go
If you can't make it to Clearwater in two weeks you have either serious weather or mechanical problems. The run can be, if you choose, mostly inside until upper Key Largo. From there you will have to go outside at Anglefish creek (easier to head out at Cape Florida and run inside the reef). From this area there are great anchorages along the way, Rodgigues Key, Channel 5 and Boot Key harbor. From there it is 35 miles to Shark River, 30 miles from there to Everglades city, than Marco to Ft. Myers. From there you can go inside Pine Island Sound or take the outside run to Stump pass (great pass now), Venice. From Venice we've raced up to Clearwater several times and made it in one day. Your trip should be no problem at all. This is assuming you want to sleep every night. If you did one or two overnight sails you could really crank out some milage.
If you can't make it to Clearwater in two weeks you have either serious weather or mechanical problems. The run can be, if you choose, mostly inside until upper Key Largo. From there you will have to go outside at Anglefish creek (easier to head out at Cape Florida and run inside the reef). From this area there are great anchorages along the way, Rodgigues Key, Channel 5 and Boot Key harbor. From there it is 35 miles to Shark River, 30 miles from there to Everglades city, than Marco to Ft. Myers. From there you can go inside Pine Island Sound or take the outside run to Stump pass (great pass now), Venice. From Venice we've raced up to Clearwater several times and made it in one day. Your trip should be no problem at all. This is assuming you want to sleep every night. If you did one or two overnight sails you could really crank out some milage.
cut over at Marathon
Unless you want to got to Key West. Pick up a copy of the Cruising guide to Western Florida. A fairly complete listing of marinas and places to anchor. Pay attention to the weather. Unfortunately, this time of year you either have too much or too little wind in the gulf. You should get consistantly good on-shore winds in the afternoon. Look out for wave heights. Depending on what the winds have been doing, wave heights can be uncomfortable. Then again, if the prevailing pattern is out of the east, the water can be very calm. Do NOT try to enter Sarasota Bay either by New Pass or Big Sarasota Pass. Both are shoaled in. You can enter the ICW at Venice, and motor up, and get out of the ICW at Long Boat Key if you want to. Most guides say that New Pass was dreged (and it was - in 2000) but it has shoaled again. Anchoring/dockage at Venice is limited, but there is some. Charlotte Harbor to Long Boat is a long trip, but doable. A straight sail from Key West to St. Pete, is about 40 hours depending.
Unless you want to got to Key West. Pick up a copy of the Cruising guide to Western Florida. A fairly complete listing of marinas and places to anchor. Pay attention to the weather. Unfortunately, this time of year you either have too much or too little wind in the gulf. You should get consistantly good on-shore winds in the afternoon. Look out for wave heights. Depending on what the winds have been doing, wave heights can be uncomfortable. Then again, if the prevailing pattern is out of the east, the water can be very calm. Do NOT try to enter Sarasota Bay either by New Pass or Big Sarasota Pass. Both are shoaled in. You can enter the ICW at Venice, and motor up, and get out of the ICW at Long Boat Key if you want to. Most guides say that New Pass was dreged (and it was - in 2000) but it has shoaled again. Anchoring/dockage at Venice is limited, but there is some. Charlotte Harbor to Long Boat is a long trip, but doable. A straight sail from Key West to St. Pete, is about 40 hours depending.
Good Information
Thanks so much for your good information. We realize that this is not the best time of the year to do this, but we have time now, and the hurrican season is upon us, so we want to get the boat to Clearwater before that happens. We'll hit Key West on the way back which will probably be in late fall. Thanks again.
Thanks so much for your good information. We realize that this is not the best time of the year to do this, but we have time now, and the hurrican season is upon us, so we want to get the boat to Clearwater before that happens. We'll hit Key West on the way back which will probably be in late fall. Thanks again.
Positive response
Thanks for the optimistic response. Makes me feel a lot better about the trip. I'm sitting here in the mountains of Vermont right now, where it's nice and cool. Not really looking forward to the hot, sticky, buggy weather of Florida, but this must be done. Thanks again.
Thanks for the optimistic response. Makes me feel a lot better about the trip. I'm sitting here in the mountains of Vermont right now, where it's nice and cool. Not really looking forward to the hot, sticky, buggy weather of Florida, but this must be done. Thanks again.
Fort Meyers, Cape Coral
Don't mean to hijack the thread but I did not get any responses when I posted the question in the Destinations Forum and it is related to the question at hand, sort of. My wife saw something on the TV about renting house boats and now she is planning a trip with another couple. Anyone have suggestions of things to do and see there or when or not to go. We'll have three preteens with us so kid friendly stuff is important.
Don't mean to hijack the thread but I did not get any responses when I posted the question in the Destinations Forum and it is related to the question at hand, sort of. My wife saw something on the TV about renting house boats and now she is planning a trip with another couple. Anyone have suggestions of things to do and see there or when or not to go. We'll have three preteens with us so kid friendly stuff is important.
Entering Sarasota Bay
Actually, you can safetly enter Sarasota Bay from the south via New Pass. However, you need to stay to the south side as there is shoaling on the north side of the channel. Do not stay on the greens, or you will run aground in 1 foot of water when you approach shore. I go through the pass all the time and have found that as you return, you will see a sailboat mast of sailor who was not familiar with the shoals on the south side of the pass. The best thing to do is to actually head towards the sunken sailboat, but be sure to pass it on the northside. It went aground while on a S.E. heading into port, so if you keep 50 yards or so to the north of the sailboat, you are fine. Treat the sunken sailboat as a red marker. Once you pass the sunken sailboat, head towards the big houses on the beach in an Easterly direction, but don't head N.E. and you will be in 7 - 15 ft. of water the rest of the way in. New Pass was dredged in 2001, but they did it as a straight E - W channel and New Pass has always had a half moon curve around to the south. Within 2 years, the northside has indeed filled in. I don't know why they didn't follow the natural contour of the pass - your tax dollars at work. Bill
Actually, you can safetly enter Sarasota Bay from the south via New Pass. However, you need to stay to the south side as there is shoaling on the north side of the channel. Do not stay on the greens, or you will run aground in 1 foot of water when you approach shore. I go through the pass all the time and have found that as you return, you will see a sailboat mast of sailor who was not familiar with the shoals on the south side of the pass. The best thing to do is to actually head towards the sunken sailboat, but be sure to pass it on the northside. It went aground while on a S.E. heading into port, so if you keep 50 yards or so to the north of the sailboat, you are fine. Treat the sunken sailboat as a red marker. Once you pass the sunken sailboat, head towards the big houses on the beach in an Easterly direction, but don't head N.E. and you will be in 7 - 15 ft. of water the rest of the way in. New Pass was dredged in 2001, but they did it as a straight E - W channel and New Pass has always had a half moon curve around to the south. Within 2 years, the northside has indeed filled in. I don't know why they didn't follow the natural contour of the pass - your tax dollars at work. Bill
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