Key West to the Dry Tortugas, FL
Key West to the Dry Tortugas, FL
Seventy nautical miles from the nearest settlement in Key West the Dry Tortugas are the westernmost of the Florida Keys, the most remote and, in some respects, the most fascinating and beautiful. With careful preparation a voyage to the Dry Tortugas can be most rewarding.
Because of erratic and sometimes severe weather in the area (unpredicted fronts packing high winds are not that unusual) passage to the Dry Tortugas requires planning for the unexpected. Weekend trippers, Caribbean-bound cruisers and fishermen alike often find themselves holed up for a week or more in the modestly protected harbor off Garden Key in persistent 25- to 35-knot winds from stalled fronts in the Gulf of Mexico or off the Cuban coast. If weather conditions are less than ideal a trip to the Dry Tortugas should be postponed. (Or opt for a seaplane ride!)
Marinas, Dockage, Service & Navigation
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Boating Destinations near the Key West to the Dry Tortugas, FL
When Commodore Ralph Middleton Munroe was sailing and exploring the Keys at the turn of the 20th century from his home on Biscayne Bay, he ducked in and out of Hawk Channel through the myriad channels along the islands and spent many nights anchored in their lees.
The Commodore's reminisces of the settlements and people of that time are delightful reading and portray Florida as a new frontier and destination for visitors seeking warm weather and a tropical paradise.
Today, the Keys remain worthy of discovery and those who make the journey are seldom disappointed. Boating, kayaking, cruising and biking in the Florida Keys are just as magical as they have always been.
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