New Orleans to Florida Keys

[Mike Sibley]

My wife and I are planning a trip from New Orleans to Florida Keys starting around the last week of May. We will be sailing a 1993 Lagoon 37 TPI. We are very familiar with the first part of the trip from New Orleans to Carrabelle, but not familiar with the coast from Tarpon Springs down to the Keys. We don’t absolutely have to make it to Key West but would appreciate some "low key" island time. We would welcome any suggestions that anybody has regarding great marinas and anchorages, route strategy, things to avoid, or anything else.

We know that the normal May/June winds will not provide easy downwind sailing going down to the Keys, but should provide an easier return.

My wife and I are both retired, in our mid 60s and are not adrenaline junkies. Still, it would be ideal if we could complete the trip (there and back) in not much more than a month. We are prepared to do a few 36 hour legs. Any suggestions or comments?