Cancun to Tampa advise route?

[Sailingpatience]

Hello,
My coronado 34 is currently in Cancun, Mexico and I'm wondering if any of you have made that trip, or, know someone who has?
I have read several threads about those who have sailed from Cancun to Miami and they have to go around Cuba.(1000-1500miles)
I was looking at the ocean currents and see that they are northerly about half way into the gulf, then turn eastery then South.
I also know that the wind is easterly, S easterly or North easterly.
Seems pretty straight forward.
Head north then east, am I mistaken?
Any advise appreciated.
Thanks!
SP

[brantleychuck]

Sail straight for the dry tortugas or key west, then on to Miami. I'm guessing 5 to 7 days. Do not leave with any wind on the nose forecast . Have seen a few boats get best up pretty bad, running out of fuel. Getting towed into key west.

I've done it twice , both times it was a joy.




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[Sailingpatience]

Thank you Brantleychuck!
Perhaps I confused the issue with my comment about Miami via Cuba...
Im heading to Tampa-St Petersburg, not Miami.
But Im guessing it's a straight shot north and east to Dry Tortugas 335 NM.
Then due North to Tampa.
With the right weather window, as you say, no headwinds forecast.
Ok, thanks and have a great night.
Any other input greatly appreciated
SP Out!

[travellerw]

I'm leaving next week from Cancun (Isla Mujeres) to Key West. Pretty much a straight shot. Plan on using the Florida current to give a little boost.

A motor boat just reported doing the opposite trip from Ft. Meyers to Isla in 53 hours.

If you want some professional help, then PM me. I know someone in Isla that will captain for you at a very reasonable rate. He has made the crossing like 19 times.

[Dulcesuenos]

I'm no expert on the offshore route but am smart enough to know that the gulf can become an incredibly nasty place with steep short waves and lots of fronts that can really tear it up this time of year. We've made the trip many times from KW to Tampa and if the weather isn't perfect we will hug the coast and stay in the lee of Marco going up past little shark river then coastal or even inside ( depending on mast height) up to Tampa. We have friends who have made a straight shot from DT's if the weather is effect and it was an easy run.


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[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, SP.

[Sailingpatience]

Originally Posted by travellerw

I'm leaving next week from Cancun (Isla Mujeres) to Key West. Pretty much a straight shot. Plan on using the Florida current to give a little boost.

A motor boat just reported doing the opposite trip from Ft. Meyers to Isla in 53 hours.

If you want some professional help, then PM me. I know someone in Isla that will captain for you at a very reasonable rate. He has made the crossing like 19 times.

Excellent! Thank you so much! I may contact you,
Thanks again��

[Sailingpatience]

Travellerw,
Thank you for the post, I may contact you regarding that Captain (if I figure it out)
Safe sailing and perhaps you can post after you make that trip and tell all?

Dulcesuenos wrote:
"We've made the trip many times from KW to Tampa and if the weather isn't perfect we will hug the coast and stay in the lee of Marco going up past little shark river then coastal or even inside ( depending on mast height) up to Tampa."
Thank you for that tid-bit of useful information!
Lee of Marco, ICW, great!
Im in no rush to move the boat just gathering info for the near future.
Will surely travel in best possible season.
Thanks!

GordMay,
Thank you for the welcome!
Im green at this site, What does PM me mean and how do I PM Travellerw?

SP out!

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by Sailingpatience

Travellerw,
Thank you for the post, I may contact you regarding that Captain (if I figure it out)
Safe sailing and perhaps you can post after you make that trip and tell all?

Dulcesuenos wrote:
"We've made the trip many times from KW to Tampa and if the weather isn't perfect we will hug the coast and stay in the lee of Marco going up past little shark river then coastal or even inside ( depending on mast height) up to Tampa."
Thank you for that tid-bit of useful information!
Lee of Marco, ICW, great!
Im in no rush to move the boat just gathering info for the near future.
Will surely travel in best possible season.
Thanks!

GordMay,
Thank you for the welcome!
Im green at this site, What does PM me mean and how do I PM Travellerw?

SP out!

Ahh it dawned on me that you may not have enough posts to PM (private message). I think you need a minimum number of posts (not sure how many) before you can PM.

You can try, by clicking on my name (to the left of this post) and a drop-down menu will display. One of the options is "Send a Private Message to Travellerw". People use PMs on Cruisers Forum when they want to share private details but not in the forums (e.g. like contact information).

[woc]

I have done it in my Lagoon 450 last July isla Muljheres to Fort Meyers.
Straight shot north until you run out of the gulf stream benefit then east as you have rightly figured out. My trip took me short of 3 days most of it sailing comfortably. Pick a good weather window and you will be fine.
Bon voyage

[tinkrman69]

Hey SP

as mentioned Tortugas or KW first as it's a little to foresee a weather window very far in advance check your next window and head to Ft Myers, if the wind is NNE or NNW. the SW coast of florida's wind is a little if'ie If it's off to the east or west stay out of the lea of land and head right on up to Tampa. After the first 80 miles you won't be more than 30 to 40 miles off sore and can head in if things start to look sour. head in early tho. After Port Charlotte you won't be more than five to ten miles out. once in close it'll be mostly motor sailing unless you have the time to do 3 to 5 knots. next month is when the fronts will start and it could get hairy at times till march or april.

[gbohner]

We went more-or-less straight line from Cancun to Key West, then crossed Florida Bay to Ft. Myers and on up the FL coast (in a power boat. Be advised, when we crossed, there were three marine weather zones between Key West and Cancun. We had to wait for weather for a while to get a good forecast across all three zones. Typically two zones would be good and one zone would have bad weather developing.

The St. Petersburg Yacht Club sponsors a Regatta to Isla Mujeres every year. Here is a link to one of their newsletters where they have an article on the 2014 Regatta. Someone at SPYC could probably give you pointers.
http://www.spyc.org/files/CORRECT%20...E%202014-5.pdf

[Sailingpatience]

Thanks to all!
Im enjoying this forum, time to give back, will figure out Paypal and support CF.
Thanks!