- Local News for Southern Sailors - January 2003 Next Story
Florida Keys Cruising
Destination: Beyond Key West —
Update on Sailing to Fort Jefferson
By Karen Hermanson
| Enjoy coastal sailing with both remote and historical qualities by including Fort Jefferson on your next sailing trip from Key West. Garden Key, the location of "the island fortress" of Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, is just 68 miles west of Key West. While it is possible to reach Garden Key within a day's sail from Key West, it might not be desirable. The small islands of the Marquesas dot the path westward from Key West, permitting a relaxed progression and protective anchorages along the way. While the shallow waters of the Marquesas do require some attention to the draft of your boat, an intermediate stopover in the Marquesas provides the opportunity for a daytime entrance to the harbor at Garden Key. |
Due to last year's tropical storm activity, some of the areas around Garden Key have been modified by shoaling, particularly affecting its entrance. These changes may not be reflected on navigational charts printed as recently as 2001. In fact, a nearby Key known for being a migratory bird sanctuary has now merged with Garden Key to form one boomerang-shaped island.
This merging now requires that the harbor entrance be approached from the northwest. While there are buoys and other markers near the channel, they serve the needs of the various seaplanes, touring boats, and swimmers in the area as well, so particular attention may be required when navigating. Also, shoals and reefs frame the narrow channel. Given the challenges of the entrance harbor (shoaling, recent changes to the area, wide array of activity and markers), scheduling a daylight arrival may be judicious.
By way of recent experience (June 2002), I would advise those entering the channel to focus on the green channel markers and keep them closely to port beginning with G-5. Passing G-11 should bring you safely into the channel. Anchor as far south/southeast of the channel marker R-12 as possible (watch the depth as it diminishes quickly around the harbor edges) since seaplanes use the space sandwiched between the channel marker and the fort as a runway during the day. While the harbor appears extensive, the dredged area is small, so there may be competition for deeper draft boats during season.
The national park at Fort Jefferson is open from sunrise to sunset. Entrance is free, and a half-mile, self-guided tour of the fort, its ramparts and parade grounds is well marked and sure to be of interest to each of your crew. Due to the large number of fast cat tour operators from Key West visiting the island during the day, a good time to explore Fort Jefferson is before the crowds arrive at 10:30 a.m. or after they leave at 3:30 p.m.
Though the harbor is remote, it does not necessarily provide a quiet overnight anchorage. Commercial fishing boats also find the harbor a convenient outpost, so you may be awakened in the early morning hours to the sound and smells of diesel engines. In addition, there is no trash disposal, water, fuel or other facilities in the Tortugas, so plan your supplies accordingly.
Cell phone service fades quickly from the Marquesas westward, so you may want to make those last minute or important calls shortly after leaving Key West. Anyone with a penchant for photography will also enjoy the many opportunities provided by this picturesque locale as well as the beauty of the sail along the way.
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