We will be shooting for hitting the water 03/16/15 in Key West very early AM and sailing to the Dry Tortugas. We plan on staying to nights on Garden and completely kicking it. The plan is to return 3/18/15 to Key West. So far I have a NACRA 5.2 and will be accompanied by 2 Hobie 16's plus several other strong maybes. Able and willing cat sailors "opportunity is knocking"



Edited by jwishart on Nov 02, 2014 - 08:45 PM.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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With or without a support craft?

Yes we are working on a support boat and but do not have a commitment yet(see bills post on 10/30/14). Wind and weather must be favorable to make the journey/crossing. Also there is a commercial ferry that makes this trip daily as well as many commercial sea plains daily. Its not like we are in the middle of the ocean all alone. The water is shallow(on the bank) most of the trip which also helps with navigation and/or dead reckoning. You will need a hand held GPS and Marine radio as well.



Edited by jwishart on Nov 03, 2014 - 08:09 AM.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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One of the downsides I see is that lodging in Key West is very expensive, especially during spring break! Smathers Beach is an excellent beach to take off from. Where do you store trailers, cars etc while your gone? Support boat to carry gear, water,food, camping gear will be essential! On the plus side...there is probably not a more interesting and beautiful destination anywhere in America! If weather or other reasons prevent sailing there, take the ferry. Do NOT go to Key West and miss a chance to see the Tortugas no matter how you get there!

Yes Key West is pricey. There is a camp grounds for less money. I am checking into the Key West Community Sailing Center for storing trailers, a rigging/staging area and meeting place but have not gotten a response from the commodore yet. I am viewing this as far as supplies go as a 3 day hiking trip which can be stored in a dry bag and lashed to the tramp. Bottom line is the right wind and weather. Worst case scenario, we have cats in Key West on the beach for a week which isn't so bad at all.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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I'm in, with crew. From Memphis TN - hopefully I can talk Damon into going as well! I have a nice 6 person pop-up camper with great AC and a fridge if I could only find a way to get that AND my hobie 20 down there.
Weather conditions here:

https://weatherspark.com/averages/30220/3/Key-West-Florida-United-States

Watching this post over on the hobie forums as well............ would be stellar to get a dozen beachcats on board for the adventure. I lived in Key West for several years, unless there's a storm the water is pretty calm and shallow, shouldn't be an issue for guys on 16'-17' boats if they're good sailors.

Doug!!??? Where are you at??!?

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Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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The real problem is that the wind tends be coming out of the east most of the month of march. Great run there but will really suck on the return. You might just consider the run from key largo to key west with an overnight in Marathon. This is one great sail. Stay inside to the channel five bridge than outside the rest of the way. Mostly a downwind sleigh ride.

This sounds like a lot of fun, what kind of wind can be expected? I am newly retired and looking to do some of the cool things my job kept me from the last 25 years. I also see the post about "a downhill sleigh ride" from Key Largo to Key West, am I correct in thinking then it is pretty hard coming back? Or is the idea to make it a one way trip and go back for the car/trailer?

If the wind is direct from the east, yes it will be a challenge to beat back and there is a strong chance it will be. But if it is from NE or SE which is also a strong chance then it changes the time on water coming back. I do like to point my cat, race it quite a bit, and enjoy the challenge. So the downhill sleigh ride could be a great time as well. I guess the question here is what kind of sail do you want. Also keep in mind that if wind and weather are not favorable then the Marquesas Islands are in just out of sight of Key West, 1/3 of the plan, and very doable. Worst case scenario, I'm on Key West with a catamaran for a week(not bad at all).

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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Agreed, worst case scenario I'll be there a week as well. I'd be perfectly happy island hopping based on wind direction and speeds. From that weather history link I grabbed it looks like 12-17 mph winds, mostly from the east. This looks like a fun cruise, inshore, offshore whatever everyone wants to do there's no bad plan :) I'm down with an island a day for 4 days, camping overnight ect ect esp if there's campsites and supplies. The 75mile trip offshore sounds fun too. Let's see? More people might chime in, and go for it if the plan ends up being coastal and 20-30 miles a day? Attract a Hobie getaway or two? We can all meet on a certain day and head out together. What about marathon to key west( sail key west a couple days ) then back up to marathon? Just an idea.....
Even more fun with more boats. Safety in numbers.

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Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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I am good with whatever happens too. Once we finish up down in the Keys, I up for sailing any where in southern Florida for another week too.......

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Bill 404 21SE
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I'm in, 99% sure. I have an 18 with SX wings and a spin. We do a lot of "roughing it" camping on the shoal islands here around, Dunedin and Caladesi Island Florida. Have just the right gear and packing containers for a water trip. Anybody have reservations in Key West yet, any suggestions? I will make sure I keep up with this forum. Jim.

I just booked a small cabin (sleeps Two) in Old Town on Margaret St. More than I wanted to pay but was concerned about availablilty for that week considering its spring break. Does anyone have any ideas on where we could gather and launch from Key West. we would also need a place for trailers.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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Looks like we now have at least one support boat coming from Clear Water and will meet us in Key West the weekend of 03/14/15. I believe more support boats will join in.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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Great!

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Bill 404 21SE
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Talked with Key West city office and we can gather and launch from Smathers beach. We cannot store trailers and cars over night but there is storage at the marina for $6 per day so would have to move trailers/cars before setting sail.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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I have a N5.2 and so much interest in doing this! I've sailed a 31 foot trimaran in the Pacific but other than that I have never done ocean sailing. What are conditions you will see? Wave height? Wind speed? I imagine near perfect!



Edited by joejedy on Nov 22, 2014 - 01:19 PM.

Very happy to see another 5.2! From the research I have compiled March is the best time to pull this off. Average Temp is 75 degrees with the water temp about the same. Average wind speed is 11 MPH. There always can be a storm front roll through and you should be prepared for a blow. I will not leave the beach without a fair weather forecast in our favor. Wind prediction is 80% from the East and/or East South East. Waves can be hard to predict but we will be on the bank most of the trip to Garden Key(Dry Tortugas) with the wind at our back but on the way back to Key West we will be beating so the closer we stay to the bank the smaller the waves. All of the above stats is readily available on line.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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There are many different weather info sights but this one looks pretty simple. https://weatherspark.com/averages/30220/3/Key-West-Florida-United-States

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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I am in if I can get a relief at work. I am trying to find accommodations, no luck so far any suggestions?

Bill 404, my oldest and I might be up for a few more days of sailing as well. I will let you know.

Jim

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Jim
New Orleans

'83 H18 SX mods 2013 -
'65 Lavey Craft 2005 -
'69 Cal 25 1997 - 2001
'80 P16 1980 - 1996
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I used flipkey.com but also did notice that it gets cheaper the farther one gets from Key West(Old Town).

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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How about making home base another key, with a day ( couple hour ) visit in key west before the tortugas? Looks like most of us are gonna pull a boat 2+ days each way and spring break is going to double if not triple the daily lodging costs in Key West :( ........... Summerland key? Marathon?
Maybe the following weekend? Can we get a head count and just rent a house for a week and split it - usually cheaper and after boat setups get a large taxi to drop us off at beach/launch area? I'm just thinking out loud at this point, I have to make a lot of things happen between now and then to make a smooth time off work ;)

Thinking about towing behind/under my H20 a small float boat/kayak with extra supplies ect and use it to noodle around for us once the cats are beached!

The true financial win is going to be the time on the boats sailing in the keys, not the crash time sleeping in a $259 a night two star hotel with drunk teens hahaha.

We should try hard to resist a drag race, boats disappear out of sight quickly on the open ocean, even with a support boat there's a chance for things to get scary, I'm ready to sail moderately fast but I'll slow down ( or fly hull fast ) to keep the group together. I'd love to see the Nacras and anyone else join in!
The reports historically of wind/weather conditions for the dates of sailing look very very safe and good.

Perhaps an ideal plan A, a backup plan B and a no fail total blast fun inland key sail with us all : C



Edited by fxloop on Nov 25, 2014 - 01:27 AM.

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Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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I have booked a room for my son and I on Key West but did notice it is cheeper the farther you get from Old Town Key West.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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Plan A: would like to gather on Smathers beach Key West Sunday noon(ish) 03/15/15. Discuss wind and weather and prepare to sail early AM Monday for the Dry Tortugas. This will allow us to take full advantage of the week. I am wide open to other plans if there is not an acceptable window and we do need an solid Plan B. And yes for saftey issues it would be nice to stay together at least in sight.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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I mentioned eailier that there was 2 Hobie 16's but both of them has dropped out. At this time looks like we have 7 cats and it is still to early to to determine the number. The more the better.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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Are there any boats that need a crew member? I have my own nacra 5.2 but it would be a pita towing it down there and back. I still might bring it but if there is someone that is looking for someone to split costs and help keep the cat pointing up let me know! #180 lbs and in shape.

I'm interested but I have a H16 and have concerns about the return trip (likely 12+ hours of tacking) as well as the support. Bigger boat, like a 21, not so worried. At the moment I'm probably more interested in a downhill run from Largo to Key West, plus maybe a trip out to the Marquesas Keys or at least Boca Grande.

One option would be to launch at Key Largo and leave cars there, then go get them when the sailing is done. In that case, what kind of camping have you found in Key West, and where can we keep a boat without a trailer overnight?

Also, is there any overnight camping on nearby islands? As far as I can tell everything from Mule Key to the Marquesas are in the protected zone. Does it count as camping if you beach the boat and sleep on the tramp? :)

I picked this post up from the Hobie website - not sure if you all are following BOTH forum threads on both sites but any information concerning beachcats sailing offshore in open water are serious. This was what was just posted, not my post but it does raise questions we should all consider. If doing mostly inshore island hopping in the keys I'd be willing to take on one more crew on my Hobie miracle 20. It does have hobie magnum wings installed and the jib rigging simplified to a 2 way system to allow for better seating, more tramp realestate and backrests.......

Im on board with the BIG sail plan, but everything I'm reading points to the Largo to key west with some day sail offshore runs from key west sounding like a good plan B - especially if it kicks in more boats!


"

Quote

Thought I had posted on this must have forgot to hit enter

Well well well here we go again on a long offshore Hobie trip. The great Key West to Fort Jefferson (Dry Tortugas) and hopefully back again. I have sailed and motored this area many times. This is not a good idea. One of the posts stated that it is only 75 miles which is true however unless the wind is perfect a tack or two or 50 tacks will slow the boats down quite a bit. There is a strong current that must be accounted for also the weather is not very predictable. There is not a whole bunch of daylight in the early spring and getting caught sailing at night would be no fun. There are many many coral heads just below the surface.

I have noticed that most of the boats interested are Hobie 16's which is a great boat but not intended for this kind of sailing. The mighty Hobie 21 is a better choice. The hobie 16 is much slower than the 21 on any point of sail the 21 will carry heavy loads. A tent food and water supplies will slow a 16 down a lot.
I have sailed around Key West- Rigged the boat on Smathers Beach-Sailed to Sand Key and most of the close islands and would never think of sailing to the Dry Tortugas.

This is my experience on going to the Dry Tortugas. Spend weeks waiting for weather to be good not perfect. Stocking the boat with food water clothes ice coolers life jackets vhf radio strobe safety lights. Good Gps and backup VHF and backup gps and current paper chart. anchor and adequate rope tool kit spare parts on critical stuff.
Started the trip a 06:30 and got home @ 7:30 pm sore and sunburned.
This was on my Hydra Sports 24 foot center console with a 250 hp motor going straight line at 35 mph or faster.

It would be fun sailing near Key West
Captains consider safety of crew and vessel carefully

Former Hobie Cat Admiral Gary
Hobie 21 SE Stars and Stripes
Hobie 16 (I have a two)
Hobie 14 and a 14 turbo in distant past
Four time winner and current champion of the Key West to Cuba Race "

Edited by fxloop on Nov 27, 2014 - 04:00 PM.

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Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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If we do the Largo-KW ride, it may not even be during Spring Break. Camaraderie aside, there's no need for support or for paying Spring Break prices. So I suppose there are a few separate ideas being floated around. 1) the DT trip, which I haven't ruled in or out but I have concerns about, 2) a group trip within the keys during Spring Break, and 3) something I do on my own. I can keep compiling information for 2 and 3.

From here: http://www.keyshistory.org/MileMarkerChart.html

Largo is around 100 miles from Key West. If you put in farther away, access seems to be harder and you need to navigate some channels. For instance I got to thinking that we could actually sail from Fort Lauderdale, across Biscayne Bay, and down the ICW. It's possible; I just don't know if it would be fun or worth the time if we could be in the lower keys instead.

MM 67 Long Key State Park - http://www.floridastateparks.org/longkey/
MM 56 - Curry Hammock State Park - http://www.floridastateparks.org/CurryHammock/
MM 37 - Bahia Honda State Park - http://bahiahondapark.com/
MM 20 - Sugarloaf Key KOA - http://koa.com/campgrounds/sugarloaf-key

For campers, that covers any kind of 2~4-day trip from Largo. I haven't contacted these parks yet to see if there's a problem arriving by beach cat but I will. There may also be other commercial campgrounds that are closer to bars or restaurants. With the right following wind maybe one day is possible?

Don't know about KW itself. Here's the Community Sailing Center: http://keywestsailingcenter.com



Edited by antonlargiader on Nov 28, 2014 - 12:49 PM.

Sunburn will be your biggest problem. For my Mexican sailing I have a 6' x 7' piece of nylon with grommets on the edges. This works for Tornado & Prindles with loose footed boom as it lies over the boom and ties off to shroud & trap wires (tape the wires so string stays in place) so you're sailing under a shade canopy. With good music & chocolate chip cookies it's tough to beat! Pete

There is back county camping on Nest key.http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm.
This is an incredible place to sail. One of the few native islands you can camp in the Florida bay.
http://www.stayadventurou…ional-parks-florida-key/

Just curious at this time who is seriously considering this trip from Key West to the Dry Tortuga's? I would like to get a count so far. It may work out that I will be in the area on Saturday PM 03/14/15 which gives us extra prep time for a departure on Monday very early depending on wind and weather of course. We are still working on a several chase boat possibilities.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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My plan is to still meet with other participants on Smather's beach Sunday at noon 03/15/15 to evaluate the real time situation.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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I'm in for sure. I've already been approved off time at work. As the date nears and the weather situation pans out with a pretty solid forecast I'll be good for Dry Tortugas. If the risk/wind looks bad I'll do a upper to mid keys sail. Key west is a loooooong drive from Memphis.

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Tim Grover
1996 Hobie Miracle 20
Two Hobie 14's
1983 G-Cat Restored
Memphis TN / North Mississippi
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Hey "joejedy", I'm working on a crew member for you but do not have anyone solid yet. Sure would be great to have a second 5.2!

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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Still wondering who is considering a possible SUPER SAILING EXPERIENCE? Looks like "fixloop" "Bill40421e" and "jwishart" are strong yes's. Please let me know! Plan A is Dry Tortugas and plan B is the upper, mid or lower keys. Still want to meet at Key West on Sunday 03/15/15 around noon to kick wind/risks.

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Jan Wishart
NACRA 5.2
J24 #4305
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pbegle

Sunburn will be your biggest problem. For my Mexican sailing I have a 6' x 7' piece of nylon with grommets on the edges. This works for Tornado & Prindles with loose footed boom as it lies over the boom and ties off to shroud & trap wires (tape the wires so string stays in place) so you're sailing under a shade canopy. With good music & chocolate chip cookies it's tough to beat! Pete

Would love to see a pic of this...

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Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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I unfortunately cannot make it. BUT a sailing event like this is extremely enticing, were it to be held again in the future I would do everything I could to make it.

I totaled my tow vehicle and can not make this trip....

Two boats headed down from Indiana this week and hopefully they are ready and all well rested from the grueling drive...I hope the wind and weather is nice.

Keep us in the loop on your progress and the have the best of times....

I should have a different tow vehicle in May just as the season get into full swing here in Southern Indiana.
We are planning a small party in early May at our regular hangout...Paynetown State Park....

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Bill 404 21SE
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How did this go?

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Goodsailing

Laser-Standard Rig (Sold 6/15)
H18 (Sold 7/15)
Building 19' Tacking Outrigger
Balt-Wash Area
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Just wondering if this trip happened. If so, would love to hear about it complete with pictures!