THE KEYS TO HAVING FUN IN PARADISE
JANUARY 17 - 24, 2026
Board January 17 after 2 pm
KEY WEST , MARATHON, FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
Join us on a seven-day sail east from Key West to snorkel the reef of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. We’ll also visit some resort marinas between Key West and Marathon. This mid-January cruise will provide us with some welcome warmth away from the cold weather of the Northeast.
The Float Plan
Saturday January 17 - We’ll meet at The Perry Hotel and Marina on Stock Island (the first island east of Key West) on Saturday, January 17th, and can board our boats at 2:00 pm. Before we’ve stowed our luggage on board, the skippers will check out the boats, and the crews can purchase provisions at one of the Key West groceries. Perhaps a visit to the Perry Hotel pool will be in order before we depart for dinner at one of the nearby watering holes.
Sunday January 18 - We’ll leave the marina and head east to Looe Key. After picking up one of the mooring buoys and snorkeling for an hour or so, we’ll head off to Newfound Harbor to anchor, have dinner aboard, and stay for the night.
Monday January 19 - In the morning, we’ll weigh anchor and sail to Sombrero Key (about 20 miles) where we’ll again catch a National Park mooring and snorkel the reef before heading to Skipjack Marina on Boot Key for the evening. Skipjack Resort and Marina boasts a resort pool, poolside tiki bar, and the Blu Bistro Restaurant, as well as many other amenities. Additionally, a number of Marathon’s other restaurants are a short taxi ride away.
Tuesday January 20 - We’ll depart the marina, bound for Coffins Patch Reef for another snorkel session before heading to Hawks Cay Resort and Marina on Duck Key. Hawks Cay Resort has multiple pools, Tiki Beach (an enclosed salt water swimming beach), a number of restaurants and bars, Calm Waters Spa, and a fitness center with morning yoga as well as other amenities.
Wednesday January 21 – Layover day at Hawks Cay Resort.
Thursday January 22 – Today’s destination is the Bahia Honda State Park anchorage, where we’ll anchor for the evening and take advantage of the Park’s amenities.
Friday January 23 – It’s a 27-mile sail back to the charter base at Perry Hotel and Marina.
Saturday January 24 - Because our charter ends at 4:00 pm, we do have an opportunity to visit one of the reefs close to Key West (such as Western Sambo) for a final snorkel before fueling up and pumping out. You don’t have to go home, but must be off the boat by 4:00 pm.
The Boats
We have chartered two four-cabin, four-head catamarans from Sail Away Key West. Each boat will have a crew of eight.
(Click the images, below, for more boat information)
The cost of this trip is $1,820.00 per person (Skippers $966, Assistant Trip Leader - $1,393.00). The price includes charter fees and three nights' slip fees. Provisioning, fuel, pump-out, meals ashore, any additional mooring fees, and other expenses are additional and will be handled by each boat’s crew.
The deposit for this trip is $100.00. Please make your check payable to The Sailing Club, Inc. and mail it, along with your completed two-page Reservation/Release Form, to Lisa Travaly at the address below. Reservations will be processed beginning April 14, 2025 with a random drawing of those received by that date. All reservations received after that date are on a first come, first served basis. The balance of $1,720.00 is due on December 4, 2025. The Club’s standard thirty-day cancellation policy applies for this event. Please review the Club’s trip signup procedure and policies in the Trip Information Package.
A pre-trip meeting will be held about a month before the trip, at a time and place to be announced. All crew members should make every effort to attend to meet your crewmates, plan your meals, and make travel plans.
Trip Leader
Gary Brubaker
1616 Barnegat Avenue
Surf City, NJ 08008
610-299-2035
gary.brubaker@gmail.com
Assistant Trip Leader
Lisa Travaly
280 Riverbay Way
Teaticket, MA 02536
518-728-4304
ltravaly@gmail.com
Please note that sailing conditions are dynamic, that your safety, and that of your crewmates, depends on your good physical health and agility.
