The Dry Tortugas 3/5-3/9/2015

The Dry Tortugas has been on our bucket list for a long time but it is difficult to sail to and from in the prevailing winter easterlies.  We decided to give it a try this year and sure enough it was an easy 70 mile sail from Key West in SE winds of 15 knots but every day there the winds blew at 20-24 from the east.......impossible for us to return to Key West!  Fort Jefferson is an amazing fort, the biggest US masonry fort ever built.  We toured the fort, walked the beaches, snorkeled, greeted Lyle the Crocodile who hung out in the moats during the day, saw the sooty tern nesting areas, and watched a 10' Goliath Grouper swim under our boat.  When we anchored on Thursday, there were only 3 other boats but when we left on Monday there were 11 sailboats, a trawler and 5 fishing boats.  Every morning we saw two seaplanes land with tourists and then the Dry Tortugas Ferry came over from Key West for the day with visitors.  This is an amazing destination with beautiful vistas and a rich history-don't miss it!