Made it to Key West, now what?

[flightlead404]

We're in Stock Island Marina and Yacht Club for a month, looking for:

1) Recommendations for day sails/weekend overnights. We are working during the week and need the marina wifi, so unfortunately Dry Tortugas are too far to do a there and back in an enjoyable weekend.

2) Recommendations on where to move on to from here. As mentioned above, we're both still working and need to have reliable Internet connectivity during the week. I was considering sailing up the FL West coast in early Feb to maybe Naples area. Other possibility is just heading back north a bit.

Thoughts

[GordMay]

Guide to Anchorages in Southwest Florida ➥ https://anchorages.flseagrant.org/an..._inventory.php

Collier County Anchorage Sites Map ➥ https://anchorages.flseagrant.org/co...county_map.php

[valhalla360]

1)
Key West is kind of an isolated place for a slow cruiser. Assuming you look at a range of 50 miles, you can basically run back up the keys a ways.

If it's a long weekend and a good weather forecast, the Dry Tortugas is possible with two long days. Likewise, you could get up to the Everglades NP.

2) If you go up the west side, setting aside a few days to stop by Flamingo can be fun but may not work as well if you need to work.

Working up the west coast and even into the panhandle can be some nice cruising and much different feel from the east coast.

[AA3JY]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

We're in Stock Island Marina and Yacht Club for a month, looking for:

1) Recommendations for day sails/weekend overnights. We are working during the week and need the marina wifi, so unfortunately Dry Tortugas are too far to do a there and back in an enjoyable weekend.

2) Recommendations on where to move on to from here. As mentioned above, we're both still working and need to have reliable Internet connectivity during the week. I was considering sailing up the FL West coast in early Feb to maybe Naples area. Other possibility is just heading back north a bit.

Thoughts

There are daily sea plane flights as well as a ferry out to Ft Jefferson, Dry Tortugas. A very magical place and well worth the trip..

[geoleo]

Woman ISland is close to KW and has a good anchorage and beach.

[smj]

Boca Grande and the Marquesas are a short sail to the west of KW. Also the back country is easily accessible for a weekend.

[AA3JY]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Guide to Anchorages in Southwest Florida ➥ https://anchorages.flseagrant.org/an..._inventory.php

Collier County Anchorage Sites Map ➥ https://anchorages.flseagrant.org/co...county_map.php

Well kept secret..Smokehouse Bay on Marco Island with access to the Winn Dixie provided dock for cruisers

[markpj23]

Originally Posted by smj

Boca Grande and the Marquesas are a short sail to the west of KW. Also the back country is easily accessible for a weekend.

x2. Anchor outside Marquesa and take the dink into the lagoon. Mind the preserve regulations. A great weekend exploration.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

1)
Key West is kind of an isolated place for a slow cruiser. Assuming you look at a range of 50 miles, you can basically run back up the keys a ways.

If it's a long weekend and a good weather forecast, the Dry Tortugas is possible with two long days. Likewise, you could get up to the Everglades NP.

2) If you go up the west side, setting aside a few days to stop by Flamingo can be fun but may not work as well if you need to work.

Working up the west coast and even into the panhandle can be some nice cruising and much different feel from the east coast.

50-60nm is a reasonable daily run with the current number of daylight hours, but will get longer as the days do.

Yes, I can get out and back to the Dry Tortugas in that time, maybe. But can't spend any time there. I think it would become a race out and back.

I'm kinda thinking running up the west side, or maybe heading back up to Marathon and going through at channel 5.

[flightlead404]

Originally Posted by smj

Boca Grande and the Marquesas are a short sail to the west of KW. Also the back country is easily accessible for a weekend.

Is the back country accessible with a 5' draft sailboat? I googled around a bit and there were specifically comments about needing shoal draft etc.

[smj]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

Is the back country accessible with a 5' draft sailboat? I googled around a bit and there were specifically comments about needing shoal draft etc.

Some areas accessible but others not.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

50-60nm is a reasonable daily run with the current number of daylight hours, but will get longer as the days do.

Yes, I can get out and back to the Dry Tortugas in that time, maybe. But can't spend any time there. I think it would become a race out and back.

I'm kinda thinking running up the west side, or maybe heading back up to Marathon and going through at channel 5.

Marathon is certainly doable for a weekend and if you study the charts, there are other stops along the keys...depends what you are looking for.

Up to the mainland is going to be tough for a weekend trip. Technically doable but it's all sailing with little or no destination time.