Florida Cruise Dec.27-Jan 1st trip report

[aviro]

hi dave,
last whinter i was late due to a snow storm going down to Florida .
this time i hope to be there around the 28-29 with my .
i hope to joint your group, if you acept me
mi boat is call abiro blue
see you there i hope
Jean-Francois

[DaveB]

Jean-Francois,
You are very welcome, we monitor channel 71 on vhf radio.
I noticed the moderator took my phone number of previous post (didn't know I couldn't post it).
You can E-mail me for that.
xxxxxxxx@xxx.com
Were you cruising Biscayne bay last year about same time? I saw a blue hull Mac M going opposite direction, I didn't get a name on the boat.
Dave

hi dave,
last whinter i was late due to a snow storm going down to Florida .
this time i hope to be there around the 28-29 with my .
i hope to joint your group, if you acept me
mi boat is call abiro blue
see you there i hope
Jean-Francois

!	Moderator Note:
	Please folks, do not post your personal email addresses, or phone numbers on these forums. This is for your own protection. ~Rich---Hamin' X~

[seahouse]

One convenient way is to send Dave a PM (private message) through this forum…

After you log in, go to “User Control Panel” and click on the “Private Messages” tab. The "Find a Member" search will get you the contact info of whomever you want to reach.

Write your message (phone numbers, email addresses are OK here) etc, then press the “Submit” button to send it.

- Brian.

(If that's OK with you, Dave).

[Hamin' X]

Much easier to just click on the PM, or email icon under the avatar.

~Rich

[dlandersson]

Yeah!

I don't want anyone calling me at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Ph# BR-549

Jean-Francois,
You are very welcome, we monitor channel 71 on vhf radio.
I noticed the moderator took my phone number of previous post (didn't know I couldn't post it).
You can E-mail me for that.
xxxxxxxx@xxx.com
Were you cruising Biscayne bay last year about same time? I saw a blue hull Mac M going opposite direction, I didn't get a name on the boat.
Dave

hi dave,
last whinter i was late due to a snow storm going down to Florida .
this time i hope to be there around the 28-29 with my .
i hope to joint your group, if you acept me
mi boat is call abiro blue
see you there i hope
Jean-Francois

!	Moderator Note:
	Please folks, do not post your personal email addresses, or phone numbers on these forums. This is for your own protection. ~Rich---Hamin' X~

[DaveB]

Sorry about the Phone/ email. Thought I done that in past but my mind may have slipped me. Least I haven't included my bank account #.
Though getting older. Loose Minds Sink Ships.
I still think a hand shake was a deal.
Dave

Much easier to just click on the PM, or email icon under the avatar.

~Rich

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Looking at the possibility of some alternate overnight stopping points on this cruise (particularly with Elliott Key Marina shut down) and doing a bit of sat pic browsing in Google, I was just wondering if anyone has been to any of these potential stopping points and knows whether it is a good shore to get out at, socialize around a campfire, etc.:

1. On the first and last night, we typically will anchor off the beach at Short Key but if there is a stiff East wind blowing, it can make that shore be rather wavy. Has anyone explored the East side of Barnes sound anchorage off of Crocodile Lake Reserve (just south of the tide station)? ActiveCaptain has that listed as a 4 star anchorage and you can find it here: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=25%C2%B0 ... 8&t=h&z=16

2. Going North into Card Sound, there is another highly rated anchorage just South of Long Arsenicker Key that looks well protected from North winds. Anyone know if there are any hidden beaches on this island and if so, what the shore is made out of? It is located here: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=N25+22.4 ... 7&t=h&z=16

3. One of the issues when I made this cruise a couple years ago was that it was quite a long way from any of the stopping points out to the coral reefs in the Atlantic. This made it too late in the day to go diving, so I was looking at the possibility of other stopping points close to the reefs and found this interesting looking spot on Old Rhodes Bank near Broad Creek (only 3nm from the reefs). Anyone know whether shallow draft boats can navigate in here and what kind of beach it is (looks nice from the sat pic)? https://maps.google.com/maps?q=25%C2%B0 ... 4&t=h&z=17

Dave was mentioning some other potential spots around Swan and Broad Keys that might be suitable for overnighting but I'm not sure of the coordinates. <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=25%C2%B0 ... iframe><br /><small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=25%C2%B0 ... urce=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>

4. The group stopped at the tide station on Elliot Key so that is a well known beach but might not be so well protected in strong winds from anywhere other than East. There is an interesting looking hurricane hole just North of there known as Sands Key Storm Escape on ActiveCaptain. It looks super well protected from all sides and may even have a beach on the NE side of the hole from what I can see. Dave told me he has been in the cove leading to the hole but not in the actual hole itself. Seems to have deep water once you get into the channel. Anyone ever been in there and can comment? Find it at: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=N25+30.2 ... 7&t=h&z=16

5. And then just North of Sands Key is Boca Chita Key which has the park marina which is still open (and a lighthouse). I think Dave mentioned going in there once and finding it overcrowded with power yachts and from the sat pic, it does look like about 2/3 of the wall is covered with boats so stopping there might require rafting up, etc. It still looks like a nice place to stop and the only stopping point mentioned so far that has a toilet

Appreciate any local knowledge you might have to share on any of these positions or any other good spots in the general vicinity. I like to get all the good spots pre-programmed in my GPS in order to be well prepared for last minute weather changes and I could also share Garmin flavor waypoints and courses with anyone who is interested.

Dimitri

[THE CUSCUS]

Last January, we were cruising in that area ( Venture 22 & Venture 25) and here are my observations. We anchored just north of Elliot Key Marina and rowed our dinks ashore to explore. Yes, the marina was closed so you couldn't go in there with the big boats, but you can still walk around on the trails and there are picnic tables and toilet facilities. We went up to the "keyhole" also and anchored just outside the entrance canal. We then rowed the dinks up the canal to the "hole". It was pretty narrow, with steep coral sides, and very thick mangrove vegatation. The hole itself is only deepwater for the first half of its area, then gets real shallow, and again all coral rock. I don't remember seeing any "beachy" area, or any area worth getting out of the dink to explore. You could probably take a Mac back in there, but it would be tight with afew and if ya hit the sides it'll def hurt. Now Boca Chita in my opinion is a must see place. It is absolutely beautiful and there is a cool lighthouse and other buildings there. Lots of picnic tables and toilet facilities also. We were there on a Wednesday and shared the whole place with just one other boat. I suspect its a busy place on the weekends though. Be advised that its a pet free zone. You can't even have a pet on your boat! I think it costs $20 or so stay there overnight (honor system in drop box). The waters around the island are pretty shallow, so keep in the clearly marked approaches.

[DaveB]

Just North of the Tide Station on Elliot Key is a streach of beach about 200 ft. long with coral heads close to beach. One can anchor in 5 ft. of water and put out strearn anchor in 3ft. depth and walk to beach and follow trail to Tide Station dock or follow trail to main Marina.
Also going to Boca Chica, follow main channel in . At last Main bouy follow SE very close to Island and round to the North staying close to shore.
You will find a nice sandy beach but coral flat bed close to shore. Anchor in 8ft. and set a stearn anchor to walk off your stearn ladder in 3ft. of water.

Elliot Key Marina has charged $10 a night for a slip in the past. (now closed) .
Dave

Last January, we were cruising in that area ( Venture 22 & Venture 25) and here are my observations. We anchored just north of Elliot Key Marina and rowed our dinks ashore to explore. Yes, the marina was closed so you couldn't go in there with the big boats, but you can still walk around on the trails and there are picnic tables and toilet facilities. We went up to the "keyhole" also and anchored just outside the entrance canal. We then rowed the dinks up the canal to the "hole". It was pretty narrow, with steep coral sides, and very thick mangrove vegatation. The hole itself is only deepwater for the first half of its area, then gets real shallow, and again all coral rock. I don't remember seeing any "beachy" area, or any area worth getting out of the dink to explore. You could probably take a Mac back in there, but it would be tight with afew and if ya hit the sides it'll def hurt. Now Boca Chita in my opinion is a must see place. It is absolutely beautiful and there is a cool lighthouse and other buildings there. Lots of picnic tables and toilet facilities also. We were there on a Wednesday and shared the whole place with just one other boat. I suspect its a busy place on the weekends though. Be advised that its a pet free zone. You can't even have a pet on your boat! I think it costs $20 or so stay there overnight (honor system in drop box). The waters around the island are pretty shallow, so keep in the clearly marked approaches.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Thanks for the insight, Cuscus. Did you see actual hurricane damage at Elliot Key Marina or is it just that the docks are getting rickety and run down? Seems like it wouldn't be that bad if they are stll maintaining the toilets. If it were lack of funding, I would have thought those would be closed too. Its hard to tell from the sat pic what it really looks like at some of these anchorages and whether a "treeless" area is sandy, rocky, etc. It sounds like Boca Chita should be a stop for this year..sounds like they might be due for a small sailboat invasion!

[THE CUSCUS]

I did not see any damage in the marina area, but then it was fenced off and we couldn't get close (see the video link below). Maybe it filled in and depths are a problem? The real damage we saw was on the ocean side of the key, where there is a walking trail. The ties are bolted to the rock. The storm broke the decking off the ties. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUxOZU-SR-w

[Retcoastie]

Ken, Last Flight, get your sorry butt down here.
Dave

Thinking of you and Teresa, Dave. We, or maybe just I again, will be down for the 10,000 Island trip. Up in the air if the New Year's cruise will be a go.

Some of my best times have been with you and Teresa after everyone else has crashed. Did you get your guitar fixed? I'm not bring two this trip.

Hi to Teresa.

Ken

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Hi Ken, I'm hoping to make both the New Year's cruise and the 10,000 islands cruise if all the moons line up right. I have some pictures of your boat from 2 years ago when I saw you on the Keys' cruise. Send me an email if you want me to send them to you. Dimitri

[DaveB]

Hi Ken,
Good to here from you. Guitar will get a new fret before I leave for the Keys. I have next two weeks off and retire end of Jan.
Probably look you up on my bike cruising up your way next summer.
Let me know if you can make the Keys end of Mo. as we have 7 boats (4 Max 26) launching at South Dade Marina.
Dave

Ken, Last Flight, get your sorry butt down here.
Dave

Thinking of you and Teresa, Dave. We, or maybe just I again, will be down for the 10,000 Island trip. Up in the air if the New Year's cruise will be a go.

Some of my best times have been with you and Teresa after everyone else has crashed. Did you get your guitar fixed? I'm not bring two this trip.

Hi to Teresa.

Ken

[DaveB]

First I would like to extend Teresa and I for all of you for a Merry Christmas and a safe Sailing for the New Year.

On the Boating role call we have.

Ron on Whisper, Sea Pearl

Dimitri on Lucky 7 , MacX

Stin on Lilly P, Potter 19

Ted on Hideaway, Sea Pearl

Jean on Abiroblue, MacM

Randy, ( ) MacX from NC.

Tom, ( ) MacX from Ga.

Dave and Teresa on Hot Tub, MacX

And maybe Ken on First Flight, on MacX , Kentucky.

That's so far.

Plans are to launch from South Dade and meet at Alabama Jacks Friday.

We will than camp out at Sands Key for Campfire and go North to Tide Station on Elliot Key Sat. Morning.

Weather permitting.
Ken, new fret, strings and plugs, sings like a guitar should.

Dave