2008 REED’s East Coast Edition - Pilot Notes
Florida East Coast
Off the Beaten Track
REED’s RECOMMENDS: The attractions and services of boating
hubs like Fort Lauderdale and Miami are well-documented, so in-
t
dulge us as we ramble off the beaten track. The cruise from Key West
ilo
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to the Dry Tortugas is an enjoyable one, but most people break it up
into two parts. One of our favorite places to spend the night, or sever-
al nights, is the Marquesas Keys, 24nm from Key West. Boats drawing
4ft or less can navigate the SE entrance, located at roughly 24°33.8N,
82°05.6W with local knowledge and a very careful watch at the bow.
o
ast
Mooney Harbor, surrounded by the mangroves of the Marquesas, is a
shallow anchorage with its greatest depth just inside the SE entrance.
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You may find the navigation less intimidating if you go to the west of
the key, but whether you go inside or anchor nearby, you’ve found one
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of the gems of the Keys. Uninhabited, with great fishing, the Marque-
sas can be yours with a little careful eyeball navigation. Coral heads F
lor
abound, but the bottom is mostly good sand or mud.
From the Marquesas, it’s a good day’s sail, roughly 50nm, to the
Dry Tortugas National Park. We like to make the passage across the
Straits of Florida in the dark, because the loom of the Loggerhead Key
lighthouse can be seen almost as soon as you clear Rebecca Shoals.
With the current in the Straits of Florida, where the Gulf Stream fun-
nels through at up to 3 knots, it’s nice to have your destination in view.
With the Dry Tortugas as your destination, make sure you have ev-
erything you will need, including water, for the duration of your visit.
Although it is a national park, there are no concession stands, no sup-
plies, no diesel, nothing but the exquisite brickwork and architecture
of Fort Jefferson, a pristine marine environment and a unique cruis-
ing experience. There are restrictions in effect regarding where you
can anchor, so contact the Park Service on VHF 16 when you make
your arrival.
When you get back to Key West, a daily event not to be missed is the
sunset celebration in Mallory Square. Hard to imagine that an event as
predictable as the sun going down would be an occasion for merriment,
but this is Key West. Things begin to happen some two hours before the
sun’s daily departure, and it can become crowded, so arrive early.
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