long distance sailing florida keys

My friend and I are wanting to plan a trip to the florida keys, but we have a few questions.


Both of us are experienced campers and we have a 16 foot cat which we know how to sail pretty well. what we wouold like to do is sail from north key all the way down to key west, camping along the way. Then return the trip on the north side of they keys all the way back to North key.

any suggestions or ways i could start planning a trip like this would be appreciated.

Hello
Sorry I can't help, being far away from the Keys, I am however very interested in every detail of your journey, as I'm planning something like that, just in another part of the world.

Let's have a report when you do it.

_________________
Poul
FxOne 165

I'd Rather Regret The Things I Did, Than The Things I Didn't

Will do its 81.3 nautical miles from key largo to key west. has anyone done any sort of long distance sailing any input on what to pack etc would be much appreciated.

what are you planning?

I have sailed at Key Largo- Duck Key- and Key West
Beware the shallow water it goes on for miles and miles
Beware the wind that dies in the early afternoon
Beware the South Florida Sneaky T-storms with the vivid lightening high winds
Take plenty of liquid to drink The sun is hot hot hot

I found the best sailing in Key West at Smathers Beach if they still allow boats to be stored on the beach. Try a day trip to Sand Key

I took a Hobie all the way around Key West and it took most of the day but was a great sail

I saw my first Hobie 21 on Smathers Beach and just had to have one

HOWDY,20 YEARS AGO MY WIFE AND I WENT ON A CAMPING,SAILING TRIP IN THE KEYS .WE STILL TALK ABOUT THE FUN WE HAD . THE KEYS HAVE NOT CHANGED MUCH OVER THE YEARS SO YOU SHOULD STILL ENJOY THE SAME ADVENTURE AS WE DID.I NOW LIVE IN A SMALL SEASIDE TOWN, NEW SMYRNA BEACH WHICH IS CENTRAL EAST COAST FL. I SAIL A HOBIE 18SX NOW AND STILL GET OUT AND PLAY IN THE WAVES AFTER 25 YEARS OF BEACH CATTIN......TO COVER THAT TRIP TO THE KEYS WOULD NEARLY TAKE A NOVEL SO I'LL SHORTEN IT UP...WE DROVE DOWN IN JUNE[ JUNE IS GOOD BECAUSE NO STORMS NO CROWD BUT IT IS HOT] WITH TENT,H16, TRAILER AND JEEP.THE KEYS NOT LIKE THE REST OF FL. DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF SANDY BEACHES SO YOU WILL WANT TO FIND A CAMPING AREA WHERE YOU CAN SET UP AND LAUNCH .ONCE OUT IT IS GREAT,THE WATER IS VERY CLEAR ,FAIRLY SHALLOW AND NO BIG WAVES.MAKE SURE YOU BRING YOUR SNORKEL GEAR . THE H16 IS THE PERFECT BOAT FOR THE KEYS BUT BRING A SMALL ANCHOR SO YOU CAN BOTH DIVE OFF IN THE DEEP LAGOONS WITHOUT HAVING TO BEACH .WE WOULD BRING OUR LUNCH AND LOTS OF WATER [BEER] AND STAY OUT ALL DAY CRUISING THE SHORE, FINDING LITTLE ISLANDS AND PULLING UP ON DESERTED BEACHES.LOTS TO SEE AND DO. THE BUGS ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT SO BRING JUICE...WE SAILED A COUPLE OF TIMES TO SOME TIKI BARS AND HAD A GREAT TIME BUT HAD TO LEAVE EARLY TO AVOID OVER CONSUMPTION..........THE TOWN OF KEY WEST IS A FUN TOWN TO VISIT ...I FORGOT WHERE WE CAMPED SO I CANNOT HELP YOU WITH THE EXACT LOCATION BUT IT WAS ON MARATHON KEY...WE WENT WITH A MAP AND HIGH HOPES AND FIGURED IT OUT AND I THINK THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GO TO THE KEYS EVEN THOUGH RESERVATIONS WHOULD BE NICE.YOU COULD MAKE SOME CALLS TO THE PARKS AND CAMP AREAS TO FIND OUT WHATS GOING ON.THERE IS A GUY IN KEY LARGO THAT HAS A CAMP AREA AND RENTS HOBIE HIS NAME IS RICK WHITE 305-451-3287 HE WILL KNOW . HAVE FUN....LET ME KNOW IF ANY QUESTIONS......PIRATE PAYNE

WOW, thank you very helpful we would like to try and do the whole trip without a car just sailing form island to island from your experiance would that be plausable?

yes it could be done but it will take planning and to do that you would need to talk to some old salt that really knows the keys.call that guy rick would be a good start.we launched from the same beach every day for 2 weeks and got some great sailing and exploring done without any planning. your trip however will need planning but will be a great adventure.it should not be to hard to gather good info........storms come up fast but they are a lot less in the spring months. in fact we really need the rain in fl. it has been very dry ......good luck .

Sounds like fun, I sailed/camped in the keys this time last year and it was awesome. Never done a trip like you are planning, but you should definitely keep us updated with what happens. If I could be of any help here in Tampa you let me know!

ok cool, yeah i live in brevard county so i am fairly close i just have to find a friend who would be willing to go. But depending on how long it takes i may try and do it in spring or middle of june.

I will keep everyone posted

Maybe I can get a buddy and follow you for a leg of the trip?

would love for some company this will be my first long long distance sail in the ocean i have done simaliar trips in lakes and rivers but nothing this far .

I have done the Hogsbeath 100 (Key Largo-Key West) numerous times and have sailed an F/C31 around the Keys for a Winter, Great sailing!!! The first part from KL to Marathon can be done on the Bay side and there are plenty of places to stop along the way. You then pop out just North of Marathon and can sail down Hawke channel with stops along the way. Most of the sailing will be either reaching or running for the Southbound trip. I would recommend getting a Florida Keys Cruising guide. It will give you places to stop some with services and some for just plain camping. A little time with the cruising and you should be able to get around just fine.

Keep us updated! Ill be done with the CPA exam by then and ill be able to have a life again. Might be a little warm by then but it would be real cool to do a leg of the trip with you (im not intense enough to do the whole thing)

what is a CPA exam for? im in school now so thats why im planning a summer trip.

CPA = Certified Public Accountant

Exciting I know!