2023 Tag-Along Cruise South to the Keys
April 2023 – Actual Dates TBD
A Tag-Along Cruise means participants can join and depart the cruise as they wish. While we have a general idea of our schedule and some of the destinations, these are dependent on weather, wind, and the wishes and ideas of fellow cruisers. The 2023 Tag-Along Cruise South will be captained by Steve Emmerman & Kathy Weber. We’ll be starting from PGI the beginning of April, with our first overnight at Pelican Bay. The tentative schedule is:
First Stop – PGI to Pelican Bay; spend night in Pelican Bay
Second Stop – Leave Pelican Bay for Fort Myers. Depending on recovery from Ian, we have three options for spending a day or two. We’ll have more info as we get closer.
- Ding Darling, just past turn for the Miserable Mile. It’s an open anchorage, but quiet at night.
- Glover Bight, marker 35 on Caloosahatchee. Diesel was available before Ian; unknown now.
- Matanzas Pass Mooring Field at Fort Myers Beach. Closed as of today due to Ian, but may be open by April.
Third Stop – Smokehouse Bay at Marco Island. We’ll spend a day or two. There’s a Winn Dixie reachable by dinghy. Fuel available at Rose Marina in close-by Factory Bay.
Fourth Stop – Little Shark River. Anchor inside or out, depending on weather.
Fifth Stop – Marathon for one week. Either anchor out, mooring field, or stay in one of marinas, your choice. Plenty of things to do in Marathon, including a daily bus to Key West at 10am, return leaves 5pm.
Additional Stops – You can head home from Marathon or continue to Key West. There is a mooring field in Key West, but it’s a distance from town. Anchoring out is possible, but sketchy. There is a city marina and many other marinas, your choice. After Key West, some will continue to Dry Tortugas.
Heading Home – For those that continued past Marathon, you can head home via Key West to Little Shark River or return to Marathon before heading north.
Since this is a tag-along cruise, feel free to join or depart as you please. You can also choose your own stops along the way and join up at the stops. Some may wish to travel together while faster vessels may choose to travel alone to spend more time at the destinations. Sign up and join us and participate for all or part of the cruise.
For more information or to sign up, reply to this email or contact Steve at stephenemmerman@gmail.com.
Steve Emmerman & Kathy Weber
Cruise Captains