I've been looking at the charts too. The only route that makes sense
for me is to have headed down the Rocky Channel which is just N of
Content Cay. The charts show that it carries 15' until you get N of
Little Spanish Cay at which point you've got 7+ feet. Unfortunately
this is virtually unmarked and who knows what the hurricanes have done
to it. This is an area that I would never pass unless I had great
light. It appears that it was around 5 PM when they went aground and
there wouldn't have been much light at that point.

I must admit that I also don't understand why they left when they did.
The NWS forecast was for 20-25 kts and 6-8' seas. I know that they
wanted to get going, but I always say:

"You can't pick the weather that you sail in, but you can pick the
weather that you leave in."

All in all this is a very sad day for them and my sympathies go out to
Skip & Lydia. I just wish them the best.

-- Geoff

Larry wrote in
:

"KLC Lewis" wrote in
et:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:43:27 -0500, Jeff wrote:

Content Key is on the Gulf side, north of Big Pine, about halfway
between Key West and Marathon.

About 19 miles west of the rhumb line into Moser Channel and
Marathon. There was some mention of being "blown off course". We've
had 20 kt easterlies for the last week up until today, but 19 miles
is a big offset on a 120 mile reach south from Ft Myers. Something
must have gone seriously awry.


My thoughts also. I was studying charts of the area this morning
trying to figure out how they ended up at Comfort Keys -- hopefully
Skip will be able to get online soon and fill us in. I'm totally
baffled, and still somewhat in shock over this, and can't believe
their voyage may end so soon. Here's to the good ship Flying Pig and
her stalwart crew -- may they sail again!




Everyone should look at Google Earth of the area in The Keys. Content
Key is one of the barrier keys on the Gulf side. Google Earth's
satellite photography of this area has fantastic pictures of the sea
bed in all this shallow water. You can even see obstructions in the
"channels" all up and down The Keys.

My condolences to anyone who has a 6' draft keel sticking down into
this freak of nature. Best ways to see The Keys is by CAR!

Larry