[PUP] Panama to Key West, choices and advice needed

[Hal Wyman]

A month from Panama to Key West is a quick cruise, but a slow delivery.  If
I recall it's about 920 miles from Panama to the West end of Cuba, and
another 200 or so to Key West.  So you're talking about averaging 40
miles/day forward progress.  It can certainly be done faster if necessary.
On the other hand you could spend months in the Roatan/Rio
Dulce/Belize/Yucutan area.  Actually, I know many folks who have spent years
there, holing up for hurricane season in the Rio or Bay Islands, both of
which are below 99% of tropical storms.

The route I took, which worked for me, was to go direct from Panama to Isla
Providencia, a distance of about 300 miles.  I would wait there if a norther
was in progress and wait for the trade winds to return.  (We didn't have
that luxury and ended up going up the coast of Nicaragua into 30-40 knot
northerly winds, which was very uncomfortable and caused us to slow down
from 8 to about 4 knots for a day or so.)  Then head for the Bay Islands,
about 420 miles, with the possibility of stopping overnight in the lee of
one of the Cayos Miskitos or Cayos Vivarillos.  From there it's good
cruising all the way to Isla Mujeres off Cancun.  Then it's about 400 miles
to Key West, unless you elect to stop on the north shore of Cuba.  This
passage will most likely be the worst part of the trip, unless you have time
to wait at Mujeres for anything but east winds.

Stops at Boca del Toros and/or Isla San Andres could break up the passage to
Providencia.  San Andreas could also substitute for Providencia.  I would
tend to skip the San Blas as it is a fair bit out of the way, and needs 4-5
days to get the feel of the culture.

Hal
http://www.halwyman.com/journey_of_que_linda.htm



> The problem is the month it would take me to 
> get the boat from Panama to Key West.  Everything I read 
> tells me to be prepared to beat into a very confused, rough, 
> challenging sea from Panama to Cancun.
> I'm certain it will make her miserable.  So, I'm wondering if 
> those of you that have traveled this route can share their 
> experience (Thanks to Mike and Sara Wise who have provided 
> hours and hours of advice on the subject!!!).