Gulf Crossing from Isla Mujeres Mexico to Dry Tortugas and onto Key West

Thx for the nice words and yup we will def. be vigilant. I will def. fight to the death if need be. If we all didn't take some sort of calculated risks in our lives we would all have to stay in our closets and have our groceries delivered right :)


BritLady said:
That's spot on, our son's in the USCG, he patrols that area regularly and tells me stuff that makes my hair curl:) First thing on my list is a pump action shot gun (that noise often frightens 'em off!) Folk from our yacht club were nearly boarded by pirates just off Key West a few months ago! We're off to Key West and DT's this summer so looking forward to that. Be careful, and have an enjoyable safe trip. BTW as a University Drop Out you're in good company................Bill Gates, although technically I think he earned enough credits to graduate:) Plus many other billionaires who did too. They all have that certain, "je ne sais quoi":) Good luck!
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As far as busy shipping lane goes, I don't actually mind this. More people to help if need be :) Boat has a radar reflector. 2 handhelds monitoring diff channels, and an AIS VHF hooked up to my garmin 740s to help me spot them.
 
fwebster said:
Sometimes other factors are more important than fuel economy.

Ari will be transiting some of the most dangerous waters for piracy in this hemisphere. People fleeing politically unsafe areas are very desperate, and smugglers now prefer later model family style cruisers for delivering drugs. A go-fast running 60 mph in the open ocean gets on everyone's radar while a 20 kt Sea Ray just looks like a family cruising to a distant port. Also, it is a lot easier for a pirate to stop a boat running at idle than it is to stop one running at cruise speeds and on plane. Since this trip is in "no-man's land" as far as getting help from the authorities, you wouldn't find me plugging along at 8 kts......I would be a moving target.
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Frank,

You bring up very important point. But, since we're shifting our focus on the safety of the crew due to piracy, then I have to ask the following questions. How's is the situation different for all boaters who travel at slower pace (be it sailboats, cats, trawlers, etc.)? I understand that drug dealers won't be targeting sail boaters to smuggle the drugs, but they can go for other valuables. Also, there are number of fast trawlers (those with semi-displacement hulls) out there that go 7-10kts to save on fuel, but they're capable of doing up to 20kts. Are we assuming that all of them are just trying to fly by those areas to minimize the risk of the attacks?

How does the situation of piracy improves when a 20kts family cruiser slows down to 7-10kts cruise during the runs after dark? I would think that going slow in "trouble areas" at night only adds more risk vs. going slow during the daylight.
 
Alex,

Most in this area who take their boats to Mexico follow the coast line and enjoy all it has to offer......and none of them lash down a shaft which inhibits both maneuverability and speed.

I guess this could be debated till the cows come home. Ari is making a long open ocean run across an area known for kidnapping and piracy. He didn't mention any preparations for it and nobody else mentioned it in the thread, so I felt it appropriate to bring it up, as well as PM him my concern about not being armed .....I didn't want to turn his thread into a gun control rant for pro-gun advocates. I stand by my comment: "Sometimes other factors are more important than fuel economy." You are welcome to run that area @ 8 kts, but a pirate/kidnapper is going to have to run 20+ kts and see the business end of a 12ga pump to approach me.
 
Arl798 said:
Thx for the nice words and yup we will def. be vigilant. I will def. fight to the death if need be. If we all didn't take some sort of calculated risks in our lives we would all have to stay in our closets and have our groceries delivered right :)
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Couldn't agree more, we all take calculated risks, I know my husband and I have throughout life and so far been okay. But like Frank and our son says, the area you are going to run in is very susceptible to piracy etc., and that "pump action" is a must, even our local Sheriff giving a talk to our yacht club told members going to the Caribbean to take one! The couple who were nearly boarded by pirates were only between Homestead and Key West travelling alone and they saw this boat send up a distress signal. They being good people and the Captain is an MD went to help. When they got alongside they realized the people were pirates when all of a sudden more rough looking crew appeared and tried to jump onto their swim platform. Fortunately, he shouted to his wife to gun it as she was at the helm and they outran them but they were fired at......nasty experience! Now the rule at the club is no one travels to Key West alone. Just be well prepared, stay safe and have a really good trip!
 
BritLady said:
The couple who were nearly boarded by pirates were only between Homestead and Key West
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Goes to show that even in US waters with good police and USCG surveillance you have to be always vigilant and prepared. Just curious, the couple that thankfully escaped, were they traveling inside on the ICW, or Hawks Channel, or further out in the blue water of the Florida Straits?

Art
 
Art said:
Goes to show that even in US waters with good police and USCG surveillance you have to be always vigilant and prepared. Just curious, the couple that thankfully escaped, were they traveling inside on the ICW, or Hawks Channel, or further out in the blue water of the Florida Straits? Art
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Neither my husband or I can remember their route for certain, but our Fleet Captain will know I'm sure, I will ask him and report back. I don't think it was the ICW though. Brenda
 
I had absolutely no idea there was piracy of off Key West and I pay attention to the news. Wow.
As I read this there are two concerns I would have.

1. Mexico. As corrupt of a place as ever was. Even in resort towns therr is no help available for a tourist. It wasn't that long ago where the Fedearlies raided yachts in port over a sales slip issue or something and sized the boats in port. Most of which were paid up.

2. Now that I am aware of pirates in the Gulf I would have more than a 12ga. shotgun. That would work in close quarters. But at a distance if fired at I would prefer a 5.56x45 AR or the stopping power of a 7.62x39 AK. I wouldn't want them close enough to smell them.
 
First thing on my list is a pump action shot gun (that noise often frightens 'em off!)
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If someone is close enough to hear the action close on a shotgun then there should have already been a round in the chamber...

BACK ON TOPIC- What about SCUBA gear? When I brought my boat back I was concerned about fouling a prop and having to get in the water to cut it free.
 
Just heard back from the Yacht Club Power Fleet Captain on the couple that managed to thwart an attempted boarding while travelling to/from the Keys. The Club actually sent an email (which I must have deleted) to all members at the time warning members not to travel alone. This is the Power Fleet Captain's response: "I do recall this story from 3 to 4 years ago and if I remember correctly it was in lower Biscayne Bay or the upper Keys area. I did a little research and have not found any info for the Florida Keys area at all. It is recommend that you travel in pairs or more when cruising if possible. Most incidents probably go unreported (although they should be reported). Below is a link that I did find on Cruisernet.com.
Caribbean Safety and Security Net
 
I do remember that incident of about 3-4 years ago. If I remember correctly it was a group of Haitians working in the Bahamas over in the Miami area perhaps trying to "earn" a little extra money.
Advise about not cruising the Keys alone is not practical. We're headed there next month and then up the AICW. I have not heard of any recent incidents of cruisers having problems, but if I'm wrong please post.
 
To anyone who cares or has been following this thread...The University Dropout has successfully crossed the Gulf of Mexico. On Aprill 11 bright and early we left Isla mujeres mexico. 37 hours, 550 gallons, 10-15 footers later we arrived in the Dry Tortugas. Boat held up great and the beers never tasted so good. Spent 2 nights in the national park then cruised at 16knots to Key west in 1 footers. Never felt so good to be on land.
 
Welcome to the USA! Glad you made it safe and sound.
 
Arl798 said:
To anyone who cares or has been following this thread...The University Dropout has successfully crossed the Gulf of Mexico. On Aprill 11 bright and early we left Isla mujeres mexico. 37 hours, 550 gallons, 10-15 footers later we arrived in the Dry Tortugas. Boat held up great and the beers never tasted so good. Spent 2 nights in the national park then cruised at 16knots to Key west in 1 footers. Never felt so good to be on land.
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Ready for a return trip? Haha..... Congrats!
 
Arl798 said:
To anyone who cares or has been following this thread...The University Dropout has successfully crossed the Gulf of Mexico. On Aprill 11 bright and early we left Isla mujeres mexico. 37 hours, 550 gallons, 10-15 footers later we arrived in the Dry Tortugas. Boat held up great and the beers never tasted so good. Spent 2 nights in the national park then cruised at 16knots to Key west in 1 footers. Never felt so good to be on land.
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Trip report please! This sounds like a crazy trip!
 
Pleased you made it safe and sound! 15 footers sounds a tad hairy:)
 
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