Is the east wind bad because it creates an uncomfortable beam sea? What’s your no-go wind/wave level? I can put the steady sails up during a beam sea if enough wind and it’s not bad.
For me, I think I would rather have an east wind than bash into strong south south wind and waves, but maybe I’m not thinking right here.
Most of what we have experienced with conditions going the Key Route were after we got to the Key's. With an east wind, as you move south of Marco shoals you have shelter and can move in closer to the coast. The Florida Bay kicks up, you have some beam seas south of Bullard bank, that last 10 miles or so.
My issue with weather is getting from the Keys around to the east coast.
Our issue is the last boat and current boat cannot go inside from Marathon back to Miami, we have to take Hawks Channel. That's where an east wind head on makes for a very short frequency wave head on rough ride. When you turn north after Ocean Reef the water will be rolling.
We start seeing 15knot +, we sit in Marathon.
Going inside in FL bay (ICW starts up again there) is an option that doesn't pop in my mind immediately when typing - haven't been able to take that route in years due to depth. I just don't think about it. But guessing wind would not affect as much, just managing the shallow spots.
If you look at going inside, an east over to a north wind will push water out of Florida Bay, so depths will be on the low side.
The good news, (this is opinion, not science), after March you don't see that much E to N wind. You will Jan through March, but not so much April into the summer.
Hope that clarifies some.
