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Reply to: Key West to the Dry Tortugas

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[quote=fxloop]I picked this post up from the Hobie website - not sure if you [i]all[/i] 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 "[/quote]<em>Edited by fxloop on Nov 27, 2014 - 04:00 PM.</em> [/quote]

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