Route Planning: Isla Mujeres to Florida Keys

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by BojanglesIV

Thanks for clarifying Pete. I don't want to chance that. If I end up north of Key West, I'll just have to tack back and keep Key West to port if I want to get to the Atlantic side.

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Florida Bay has plenty of water for a 6' draft, just stay out from islands. Watch your charts. All the marked channels will all carry your draft, maybe the exception is Sister Creek entering Boot Key Harbor from the south at low tide (use the west entrance if your mast is <65').

The shortest path to Marathon is to stay on the south side of the reef - starting at Dry Tortugas. If that's your goal, wait for a weather window that enables it.

[AnchorageGuy]

Based out of Marathon for 10 years with a 6 foot draft, I can say you will have no issues at all between Key West and Marathon on Bayside as long as you have good charts and pay attention to where you are. But I don't see why you would find yourself Bayside from Isla. Pick your weather, remember the Stream runs east, than northeast here so easterlies will be against the current, and let the stream be your friend. Just be patient and give yourself a good 72 hour weather window and have a fast ride. Don't waste your time running close to the Cuban coast in the counter currents. If you want, stay close to the northern wall of the stream to bail out if you need to. Chuck

[BojanglesIV]

We ended up sailing to Key West from Isla Mujeres, close reaching most of the way and then motorsailing in once the wind dropped. Overall, not a bad sail.....

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[Group9]

Originally Posted by BojanglesIV

We ended up sailing to Key West from Isla Mujeres, close reaching most of the way and then motorsailing in once the wind dropped. Overall, not a bad sail.....

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

How long did it take?