cardude01
Guru
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2012
- Messages
- 5,290
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Bijou
- Vessel Make
- 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Sitting here playing with my Garmin Blue Cart app on the iPad, thinking about our upcoming Key West trip in June. I've only cruised the ICW on this boat so far, so I need some advice for the three days I've roughly planned on the outside. I've planned for three days to keep the hours actually cruising to 7 hours or less since the entire family will be aboard-- I found out 10 hours of cruising makes for a very long day, and that was not a full boat. Also, I want to hug the coast and not shoot straight across on this maiden voyage on the outside, for safety and for scenery. On the way back maybe we shoot straight across from Key West to Marco Island, which looks to be about a 10-11 hour run at 7 knots. Still not sure about that.
My questions are, so far:
1. What will be the most likely wind direction be during June? From a site called "weatherspark" it looks like E and NE winds about 37% of June, which I assume I want, and W and SW winds about 16% of June which would give me a beam sea, which I don't want in my boat (round bottom and rolly). Do these wind directions sound about right? If there is a west component in the wind I can tack into it and that reduces the roll quite a bit, but it would be nice to not have to do that
2. Is there a certain distance/depth I should stay offshore to stay out of crab traps, calmer waters, safety, etc?
3. The area just south of Marco Island looks interesting (Cape Romano Shoals). Should I stay deep and go around all this or try to cut through?
4. Was planning on a stop at Shark River to anchor for the night. Anything special I should plan for, other than swarms of mosquitos?
5. After Shark River do I cut across to Key West or is some other route advisable?
Thanks!