We have made the crossing 5 times, always at night,  usually between
Apalachicola, and Anclote Key a couple of times  leaving out of Tampa Bay and once
from Carrabelle, Buddy at the moorings is  a big help . We try to leave the
coast between 3-5 pm  at dark the  speed is brought to around 6K I'll
"drive" with the autopilot and radar on  till I get sleepy. Then Marsha will take
over while I catch a couple of hours  sleep on the saloon settee, she'll
wake me if anything sounds unusual or shows  up on the radar. Once in a while
another vessel will show up. I would hate to  get to Floridas coast in the
dark, the crab trap bouys are all over, starting at  about 30' deep on in.
Rich Gano told me about the Storm surf weather site and we  use it all the
time, so far it has not been wrong. We enjoy Apalachicola  and Tarpon springs
so don't mind waiting for a really good forecast. Last  time it was like
glass till about 7am when a pretty good chop picked up nothing  unsafe but
uncomfortable for sure.
Government Cut off Apalachicola was dredged a couple of years ago last time
we were through the depths were 6' or better that may have changed by now,
if  you leave from Apalachicola best to check with some shrimpers.
In the darkness standing at the handrail and  looking down at the
water it feels like you are going about 20 mph.  I  have never tried it but have
been often told that land based CG radio can  pick up VHF calls from
anywhere along the route.
It is not a fun part of the trip but has to be done to get to the other
side.
Good luck!
Steve Willett
Monk 36 Gumbo
Thibodaux, Louisiana

I  have never tried it but have been often told that land based CG radio
can  pick up VHF calls from anywhere along the route. (endsnip)

Last time I crossed, just to see what would happen, I called from about dead
middle of the crossing and was answered loud and clear by Tow Boat US. He
was somewhere like Jacksonville Fla.  He said he was 200 miles away from me,
but had a 200 ft high antenna.

Brent Hodges
Seabrook, Tx