Mexico, Here we Come!

Why Mexico?  Why Not?  Research for this trip began on Noonsite which gave Dee a lot of good basic information about Mexico and arriving by water.  One of the links there mention the Isla Mujeres Cruisers Net Facebook page.  This ended up being a good connection to a wealth of information.  We also connected with several people who had experience with the crossing and familiar with weather and preferred routes.  These connections also lead to meeting SaltShaker 
While planning the route Dee learned about how the Gulf Stream and the Yucatan current play major roles in planning.  They are really one in the same as the Yucatan current comes up the coast of Belize and Mexico up into the Gulf then makes hard righthand ¾ turn back down toward Cuba then becomes a little disorganized as it turns under the Dry Tortugas.  It then becomes the Gulf Stream and become a lot stronger and organized as it travels the Keys and up the east coast.  This means that during the crossing, we will cross the current twice even if we were leaving from Texas.  The current also changes intensity and location, so Dee suggest an App where to see currents.  Dee used various ones Windy, Predict Wind and his favorite Ventusky. 
Where to leave from Key West or Dry Tortugas.  Leaving from Key West would make the trip a little bit shorter but since the best place to cross the Gulf Stream is near Dry Tortugas, we chose this route for several reasons.  We have been trying for awhile to get there, it shortens our trip by at least 50 NM and we could go there during the day, spend the night and time our departure from there to arrive in Isla Mujeres in the morning hours.  Dee would over estimate the Gulf Stream and under estimate the Yucatan Current’s  strength.  They balanced each other out.   Our route  took a somewhat direct route to the tip of Cuba.  We had considered more of a southern route to Cuba then follow the coast of Cuba but our winds favored this route although we did make minor adjustments while in route.
Leaving Dry Tortugas we ended up with SE wind until tip of Cuba then a temporary SW wind that made it a little rough but it clocked as predicted to more easterly, and we turned to a more west and direct route, for the last 90 NM.  We had planned on going more south after rounding Cuba to ride with the current if weather/winds dictated but they didn’t.  More planning details and information can be found on our blog post about planning and the crossing at  http://solmatesjourney.weebly.com/solmatesblog/mexico-bound  or visit solmatesjourney.com.
We leave Key West early on the morning of St. Patricks Day, 2022 with Salt Shaker to head out to the Dry Tortugas as our first leg to Mexico.  Two legs to reach Mexico and a third to reach our final destination the marina in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico.  The stunning blue water as we near the Dry Tortugas is the prettiest by far we have seen in the US.  The sea turtles were an added bonus.  I love catching a glimpse of the sea turtles when we travel.
By late afternoon we see our first glimpse of sand dunes and soon to follow Fort Jefferson.  We have made it to the Dry Tortugas.  According the website drytortugas.com, The Dry Tortugas was Discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513, the Dry Tortugas were named after the large population of sea turtles living in the island’s surrounding waters. “Tortugas” means turtles in Spanish, and Ponce de Leon himself caught over 100 sea turtles during his time on the island. The name “Dry” Tortugas was later given to the island to indicate to other mariners that the land mass lacked fresh water, which was an extremely important detail for seafarers to know.  The area is known for its treacherous reefs, and in 1825 a lighthouse was built on Garden Key to warn ships and guide them toward safety. At the time shipwrecks were common, and with underwater wrecks dating back to the 1600s, the Dry Tortugas currently possess one of the richest concentrations of shipwrecks in North America. It is also because of these large reefs surrounding the Tortugas that the U.S. was able to establish one of the most strategic harbors in U.S. history, and Fort Jefferson was born. Construction of the fort began in 1846, and although it was never officially finished, it remains a historic icon of the Dry Tortugas and receives thousands of visitors yearly.
We made into our anchorage before the sea plane landed to get their last load of passengers and Salt Shaker finally make it around Fort Jefferson to anchor by us.  We watched tons of Frigates circle the fort.  The most we have ever seen together until we make it to Mexico.  It will become nothing special soon.  While The sunset over Fort Jefferson was just beautiful
We woke early and in time for the first sea plane landing.  Exciting to watch them come in and beach the planes.  Now it was time to go snorkeling over off Loggerhead key.  We had a great morning snorkeling but on the way back the waves had picked up and we caught a rough wave and the way I was sitting in Shelby, I pulled something in my back.  At the time we weren’t sure what happened just that I was immense pain.  We finally got back to Journey and Dee got meds in me and rubbed down my back and found material to make a makeshift brace.  After about an hour, I said let’s go.  We didn’t know if it was the right choice but  we made the decision and prepared to leave by 3pm.
The sea plane made their mid day pick up after a yacht anchored in the no anchor area and just would not move. The sea plane pilots are obviously very good at their job.
Salt Shaker pulled anchor before us but chose a different path out of the Dry Tortugas which would actually put them several miles behind us.  We kept up with them until into the night when we lost them on our screen.  It is go time for Mexico!