Dry Tortugas Bound.

[cptron]

I am starting this thread in hopes that someone will possibly want to join in on a 2 week sailing jouney to the Dry Tortugas.
The admiral and I will have April 28th to May 11th off for vacation this year and will be making plans to launch hopefully out of Key West.
If there is any interest in joining up and having a vacation to remember or you just want to follow this thread, please let us know and we will try and keep everyone posted on our progress.

[JoeG]

I live in Key West and would love to meet with other owners. I am unable to take the time to go along, but if any of you are passing through please feel free to look me up at the Live Bait Lounge,

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Live-Bait ... 1936322435

my little bar inside the Key West Bait and Tackle.
http://www.keywestbaitandtackle.com

[bahama bound]

i have been trying to get intrest in this same trip ,sounds great ? i have 8 and 10 year daughter and would love to see a couple families go ?????

[cptron]

With any luck we are trying to get out two boys to go. However they are in their early to mid twenties and have lives of there own. But we are hoping anyway.

Joe: would love to hook up when we pass through. Also would like to pick your brain and find out best place to launch and leave truck and trailer for the 2 weeks. Any info. would be appreciated.

[DaveB]

I live in Cape Coral and the trip from Cape Coral Yacht Ramp is 138 NM. Its a over night sail and have done it afew times from Fort Myers beach and from Wiggins Pass from my Fathers 30 ft. Bandit rigged Fishing boat at 2-week trips.
I would be interested in doing that Trip from Cape Coral.
I have two 6 gals fuel and need to add 12 gals. more if no wind.
Min. 20 gals of fresh water and provisions.
Have to be total self reliant as once you leave dock, no one or place to aid you.
For me it's the shortest route and I like night sailing in open waters.
For me to trailer my boat to Key West would involve about 320 miles each way, gas, tolls, ramp fees and driving that far is to much cost and time spent on road when I can spent time on water, sailing to the Dry Tortugas.
I bet If I sailed there and you started out driving from Homestead and launched at Key West, I would easy have a day or two ahead of you relaxing at the Fort.
That should crank your tractor.
Dave

I am starting this thread in hopes that someone will possibly want to join in on a 2 week sailing jouney to the Dry Tortugas.
The admiral and I will have April 28th to May 11th off for vacation this year and will be making plans to launch hopefully out of Key West.
If there is any interest in joining up and having a vacation to remember or you just want to follow this thread, please let us know and we will try and keep everyone posted on our progress.

[JoeG]

cptron:
I read your last post this morning and didn't have time to respond because I was on my way out to go sailing. It was a great day by the way.

There are several public "free" ramps in Key West and the Lower Keys, however they are usually tight to maneuver around in because they are mostly used by small 17' fishing boats (and many have overhead power lines).

I launch from Oceanside Marina on Stock Island, two miles outside of Key West. They have a good ramp with a well padded dock and plenty of room to maneuver the trailer.
The ramp fee is $10 in and $10 out, or a $20 round trip. They offer gated parking for trailers and trucks. The fees for parking depend on the number of axels.
For more information their website is http://www.OceansideKeyWest.com

The City of Key West operates a good ramp with a padded dock at Garrison Bight (1801 North Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West,FL). http://www.keywestcity.com/department/d ... ?fDD=39-78

The ramp fees are cheaper than Oceanside Marina, but I do not use that ramp because it is inside an 18' bridge. You would need to raise your mast after you were underway. The parking is limited and the security is something I would be concerned about. Also there is a major road construction project right in front of the city marina which is scheduled for another 2 years!

There are other good marinas further up the keys that would be suitable, but they would add 30 or more miles to your cruse.

Be sure to look me up when you come down or let me know if I can help with any other info and the like.

[cptron]

Thanks Joe, I apperciate the information. I did look them up on the internet and they look just like what I was after. I will give them a call and see what can be worked out.
We will definately give you a heads up when we are headed that way so we can possably tip a brew to fair winds and calm seas.
Thanks again,
Ron

[Ixneigh]

I might be interested. I've been meaning to get down there and might be able to meet other boats in key west.
Ix

[Fred Rio]

I might be available as well. A Tortugas trip has been on my mind for quite some time.

[foursail]

We tried it last March Put in at Garrison Bight Marina. Left Key west at 2PM with the Marqueses being the anchorage for the night. We had a following wind of 15 knots, which made a nice trip with dolphins on our bow. We found a nice spot to anchor for the night and then the wind picked up. 25knots with gusts to 30 Not what was forcasted. It blew for 3 days. We were pinned down there with some other boats when the wind let up enogh with decided to head back. we had only alloted 5 days for the trip. Was going to try again this spring but instead are heading for the mountains. Tomorrow it is suppossed to have calm winds, so i am going to head out to the reefs and set the spinaker. Have a good trip I will try to follow your travels.

[Sumner]

We tried it last March Put in at Garrison Bight Marina. Left Key west at 2PM with the Marqueses being the anchorage for the night. We had a following wind of 15 knots, which made a nice trip with dolphins on our bow. We found a nice spot to anchor for the night and then the wind picked up. 25knots with gusts to 30 Not what was forcasted. It blew for 3 days. We were pinned down there with some other boats when the wind let up enogh with decided to head back. we had only alloted 5 days for the trip. Was going to try again this spring but instead are heading for the mountains. Tomorrow it is suppossed to have calm winds, so i am going to head out to the reefs and set the spinaker. Have a good trip I will try to follow your travels.

I've read other similar reports. Going to the Dry Tortugas is not to be taken lightly. It is further than going over to Bimini. Any trip over open water needs to be taken without a fix time schedule in my opinion,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[cptron]

I've read other similar reports. Going to the Dry Tortugas is not to be taken lightly. It is further than going over to Bimini. Any trip over open water needs to be taken without a fix time schedule in my opinion,

I understand where you are coming from, however for those of us that are still living from vacation to vacation have to take what we can get. That is why I am allowing 2 weeks and pray for fair winds and mild weather. If not then we will have fun sailing the keys as we have done before.

[Sumner]

. I am allowing 2 weeks and pray for fair winds and mild weather. If not then we will have fun sailing the keys as we have done before.

I'd feel very comfortable with a 2 week time table for that destination. Go as soon as you can at the beginning of the trip and if you get caught there for a few days then there is no problem getting back in time.

Have you read the Conch Cruisers trip out there?

http://www.conchcruisers.net/Page2.html

Some good info there and maybe some lessons to be learned. We hope to get out there ourselves,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[DaveB]

Sumner,
Sat-Sun launched at Cape Coral Yacht Basin and went sailing South. N-NE wind as the cold front moved us at 4-6 knots cruiseing past Ft.Myers Beach, in the direction of Dry Tortogus, We were only doing a over night but instead of going further past Lovers Key we did about and headed for Popcorn Bay.
Cold fronts sailing SW is a great overnight trip to the Dry Tortogus.
Usually as the cold front passes in a few days the SE wind picks up and a nice Sail back to Cape Coral.
Open window is a must.
Distance from Cape Coral to Dry Tortogas 138NM.
Personally, I like Biscane Bay and just spent 5 days sailing as I do every year from Dec.27-Jan.1
Dave

. I am allowing 2 weeks and pray for fair winds and mild weather. If not then we will have fun sailing the keys as we have done before.

I'd feel very comfortable with a 2 week time table for that destination. Go as soon as you can at the beginning of the trip and if you get caught there for a few days then there is no problem getting back in time.

Have you read the Conch Cruisers trip out there?

http://www.conchcruisers.net/Page2.html

Some good info there and maybe some lessons to be learned. We hope to get out there ourselves,

Sum

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I might be interested as well, although going to have trouble taking too much vacation this year. I guess for the West Coast route, you could hug the coast down to Cape Romano and then its about 90 nm shot SW to the Dry Tortugas. Without a rotatable crew, that sounds kind of like a difficult passage, compared to leaving from Key West and having to do only 18 nm to the Marquesa's and then another 40-45 nm to the Tortugas. I've also thought about Cape Romano to Key West which is about a 75 nm passage. And on that kind of route, you are never more than about 20-25 nm from shelter.