Sailing Marathon to Key West

[BobLoucks]

My bad,
Thought he was departing from Clearwater.
Sorry folks.

[wesevans]

Depending on the weather an alternate route is to sail down Florida bay.

[PortClydeMe]

Originally Posted by Sailingveterinarian

Set my autopilot to anticrabpot mode....it is a nuisance sailing there. That said...not a bad sail to Key West

Wow! That's very cool! I need to make a note. Which brand are you using? Does it also have an antilobsterpot mode? I spend a lot of time on the coast of Maine, and the lobster pots (little bastards!) are thick as thieves there.

[tomfl]

Last time I did that I anchored at Loggerhead Key, also known as Key Lois. It is half way between Marathon and Key West. In North to East winds it is fairly protected. If wind is from the South or West I would wait for a different weather window. Easy to locate as Fat Albert is obvious from quite a distance.

[tinkrman69]

It's 53 miles from the head pin at boot key to the live bait boat on the west side of wisteria aka christmas tree island off key west. going outside the reef, catching the counter current at 100 to 300 foot depth. no pots no markers or shoals every ten miles. head straight out of boot key on a 220 magnetic till you hit 200 ft depth and head west till you get to the stock island cut, where you'll go inside the reef. navigate the whole distance outside with your depth sounder. ten to twelve hours in around 13 + knot winds, on any winds clocking from NNW to S Altho it does get a little bouncy with winds over 20 out of the south east.

[sailingfarmer]

right you are...I stand corrected.

[sailingfarmer]

you are correct

[Dave22q]

It's a nice day sail depending on start time and winds. In navigating an unfamiliar, complex harbor like Key West I would plan on 2 hours of daylight and anchor en-route if not having it. Anywhere off Boca Chica might be good. Anywhere not close to inlets with much small boat traffic.
I would also leave my spreader lights on for extra visibility.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by sailingfarmer

right you are...I stand corrected.

Please sit back down.