Florida west coast anchorages.. St Pete to Tortogas in May

[Gboy]

Hi all

Looking for 2-3 good overnight spots from St Pete to Dry Tortugas

Thanks for feed back


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[four winds]

I'm assuming anchorages here correct?

It would be a easy first hop from St. Pete to Cayo Costa State Park in your boat. The channel in at Charlotte Harbor is wide but can have a strong current with the tidal flow.

The Park is just to the south, all natural surroundings and well protected. The rangers sell ice but that's about it. Nice spot.

[scuba0_1]

Yep 2nd that. The entrance to the park is a little tricky it's actually closer to shore than the middle of the channel that opens up to a nice large body of water. From there to the Dry Tortugas straight shot.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by Gboy

Hi all

Looking for 2-3 good overnight spots from St Pete to Dry Tortugas

===

As usual, Active Captain is your friend. Pelican Bay at the north end of Cayo Costa is a good choice but there are many others depending on which route you prefer.

https://activecaptain.com/

[denverd0n]

Active Captain is very useful. So is this site...
Florida Sea Grant - Boating & Waterways - Anchorage Inventory

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Gboy

Hi all

Looking for 2-3 good overnight spots from St Pete to Dry Tortugas

Thanks for feed back


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

What is your draft? And, are you trying to avoid night sailing? If so, you'll have to go a l-o-n-g way out of your way to do so. While you can coast as far as Boca Grand or Sanibel easily enough, from either the most sensible route (IMHO) is direct to Ft. Jefferson. From Sanibel its about 120 miles direct. Assuming on your boat you can average 8 knots, that's about 15 hours. You'll want to arrive during daylight so you'll need to back into your departure time based on what your average speed really is.

[Gboy]

Thanks for replies

Trying to avoid overnite as much as possible, just me and girlfriend on this one, she's a smart one but little experience
I realize the last leg to and from Tortugas we will have to do so..


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Gboy

Thanks for replies

Trying to avoid overnite as much as possible, just me and girlfriend on this one, she's a smart one but little experience
I realize the last leg to and from Tortugas we will have to do so..


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

The only way I see that is heading south from Sanibel Island to Capri Pass at Marco Island, from there heading down to the Little Shark River (where there is an excess of mosquitoes that will welcome your arrival), from there threading your way south across Florida Bay to Boot Key, from there to Key West, from there to the Marquesas Key and then to Ft. Jefferson. That sure seems an awfully long way to go to avoid an overnight to say nothing (more) about the bugs and fish traps you'd have to deal with. But, of course, "one man's ceiling is another man's floor" eh?

Good Luck...

[Cap Erict3]

There is plenty of <30' water 5 miles off of the beach south of Marco Island.

I would think it preferable to rhumb line to the DT and heave to when tired.

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

The only way I see that is heading south from Sanibel Island to Capri Pass at Marco Island, from there heading down to the Little Shark River (where there is an excess of mosquitoes that will welcome your arrival), from there threading your way south across Florida Bay to Boot Key, from there to Key West, from there to the Marquesas Key and then to Ft. Jefferson. That sure seems an awfully long way to go to avoid an overnight to say nothing (more) about the bugs and fish traps you'd have to deal with. But, of course, "one man's ceiling is another man's floor" eh?

Good Luck...

OLD SPANISH channel thru keys into Hawk Channel then down to Ft Jeff