Day 4 - Key West to the Dry Tortugas

Gentle readers – there is no cell service or wifi in the Dry Torgugas. I apologize for the hiatus in the blog posting.

Miles cruised 68, fuel purchased $0, slip fee $0, daily high temperature 83°f

Dolphins swam beside us as we sailed passed the Marquesas Keys on our way to the Dry Tortugas. We were underway at 7:15 am because we have a long way to go today and we want to arrive with enough time to explore Fort Jefferson. The fort is open from sunrise to sunset. This time of year sunset is around 6:30 pm.

We have had favorable winds for four days. The winds have been blowing 10 – 15 mph from the N and NE as we have traveled SW and W. Saturday we will experience our final day of favorable winds. We will sail east with winds from the north. Another broad reach sailing day. On Sunday we will start our three day slog ENE into NE winds. We will do more motoring than sailing. However, we will have enjoyed the five days with perfect sailing weather.

A breakthrough event occurred on our cruise to the Dry Tortugas that would have made Papa Hemingway proud. Gabriel caught his first fish on Pilar. We were trolling just outside the restricted fishing zone in the Dry Tortugas.

Captain Gabe with a Cero Mackeral.

Our tour of Fort Jefferson was educational. This fort was also the prison that housed Dr Samuel Mudd. The man that the phrase was coined for – “your name is Mudd.” Dr Mudd set John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg after Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Dr Mudd was found guilty of conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison. As a prisoner he worked as a surgeon at Fort Jefferson during the yellow fever epidemic. He was eventually pardoned by President Andrew Johnson as a result of his good efforts during the epidemic.

an arial view of Fort Jefferson.

A view of the moat around Fort Jefferson. The rumor is there are sharks in the moat so don’t try to escape.

There is a giant furnace at the fort for heating cannon balls that would be fired at enemy ships to set them on fire. No enemy ships ever approached the fort.

We anchored on the south harbor. There was only one other boat and a huge seaplane in the harbor. Tourists can travel to Fort Jefferson from Key West by fast catamaran ferry, sea plane or personal yacht. We were also joined by four commercial fishing boats with Cuban crews that were quickly chased away by the park ranger. No commercial vessels are allowed in the national park harbor.

The seaplane took off right behind us.

On Saturday we will cruise back to Key West. The forecast is for NE winds 20 – 25 with waves 4 – 6 with occasional 8 footers. This will be a good test for Pilar and her crew.

Pilar at anchor in the Dry Tortugas.