anchoring at marquesas keys?

[false echoes]

hello,
my friends and I are anchored up in Key West currently and were thinking of going out to the Dry Tortugas in a couple of days. We have been looking at the charts and have discussed anchoring at the Marquesas Keys as staging point for the rest of the way over to the Tortugas. Does any one know if this is a particularly safe place to anchor? Thanks for any advice.
cheers,
rkw

ps: i have a 5 ft draft

[fishead]

5' of draft is hard to get inside without high tide and local knowledge. You can anchor on the lee side of the islands.
The east side has as a lot of current and the north side is shallow pretty far out. The south side or the west side are better for anchoring. The west side makes a great jump off for the dry tortugas because it's an easy place to leave from in the dark. I strongly recommend you make the tortugas in daylight, which may mean leaving very early in the morning depending on your boat speed.

[yoda slayer]

I spent a night anchored out on the South side a couple years ago. I remember not getting any sleep, and it I being a very rocky-rolly anchorage. If you can, anchor on the West side of the island.

[rognvald]

Go up the channel to the NW of Boca Grande Key and anchor around R16. It is surrounded by flats that dry at low tide and has perfect 360 degree protection. We sat out some real snorters there without a ripple on the water. Leave just before dawn and you'll be in the Tortugas before dark. Good luck and good sailing. P.S. Good fishing off the boat for snapper and grouper with slop bait.

[BlackOak]

This is where we anchored last time I was there.

[false echoes]

thanks all for the advice. we will head out and give her a go. wind forecasted to be out of the east all day.
cheers and thanks again.
rkw