Hi: I am buying a Hunter 34 which is in treasure island, FL (isle of capri)and need to bring to miami. There is a bridge which leads to open ocean (boca ciega bay) 15 min away from where the boat is. The question is: what would be the best route to follow to get back here to miami (crandon park marina, key biscayne, FL)? I have a navman combo gps/sonar with current maps of the area. Can anyone help me design a route and calculate the aprox. time that would take me? This would be my first big trip aboard a sailboat, I have experience with catalina 22 and 27 but limited experience in open waters. Thank you! Gabriel
Sailing Route help needed!
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bridge clearance
Two routes to take. First one is across Okeechobee Waterway. But it has a railroad bridge with low clearance, 49' I think. Alot of motoring in ditch. Need to go through lock system. Locks are closed at night. Second is down through the keys. I believe you need to go down to Yachtsman Channel then to Channel 5 bridge and back up to Key Biscayne. Not sure what your draft is if fin keel I think it draws 5'6" need to check lake level or draft at Steamboat Channel if you go to Keys and take Gulf side back up. Can take Hawk Channel back up on ocean side. Probally take about a good week stopping at night, which is not a bad idea in areas you do not know very well.
Two routes to take. First one is across Okeechobee Waterway. But it has a railroad bridge with low clearance, 49' I think. Alot of motoring in ditch. Need to go through lock system. Locks are closed at night. Second is down through the keys. I believe you need to go down to Yachtsman Channel then to Channel 5 bridge and back up to Key Biscayne. Not sure what your draft is if fin keel I think it draws 5'6" need to check lake level or draft at Steamboat Channel if you go to Keys and take Gulf side back up. Can take Hawk Channel back up on ocean side. Probally take about a good week stopping at night, which is not a bad idea in areas you do not know very well.
B
Benny
Done that same trip a few times.
Get out to the Gulf by Pass A Grille channel. What we do is we'll leave on day one in the afternoon and get to Egmont Key by nightfall. We'll anchor out and have a nice dinner and get to bed early. On the 2nd day will leave Egmont through the South West Channel at sunup and sail to Venice, FL. We will head west for a while out to deeper water to avoid traffic and lobster pot fields. Venice inlet is easy to navigate at day or night, right at the entrance on the inside is the Crow's Nest Marina & Restaurant. Very nice friendly marina. If you go there check the tides against your intended departure time as there is quite a fluctuation and strong currents. If you leave Egmont around 7:30 AM you should be there by 5:30PM it is approx 52 NM. day three takes us from Venice to Naples, FL. You are looking at approximately 75NM or a 15 hour sail. So you may want to time your Venice departure to leave in the afternoon and sail overnight or leave at early light to get there in the evening. The pass into Naples (Gordon's pass)is easy to navigate at night the town is about 5 nm inland navigating through a snaking Gordon River. At night a torch light and an alert crew is a must to stay within the markers. The aid of a chart plotter will help you find the markers. The City Docks is an excellent place to tie up. Here we usually sleep late and stay the day in town. Day 5 (we spent day 4 in Naples) we head out and go Cape Sable where we'll anchor out at any cove near East Cape. We'll leave Naples around 4:00 AM and get to East Cape by 6:00 PM. It is about 70 NM. Day six, at this point you are about 110 NM from Miami and we do it straight through with an overnight crossing. We leave around 6:00 AM straight to the pass at the 7 mile bridge near Marathon Key and take the Hawcks channel all the way to Isla Morada where we will spend the night at a Marina in Florida Bay. Watch the tides for going in or getting back out. Here we have a choice of continuing through Florida Bay or going back out to Hawcks Channel. I guess it depends on the tide and whether you want to sail or motor. From Seaside you can enter Biscayne Bay through Angle Fish Creek or Cape Florida. It makes for a good daysail, leave early and youl be at Crandon by early afternoon. Now this is a leisure pace we have done the reverse route with adequate crew in three days. I like Biscayne upper Bay as is deeper than the lower. Day sails to No Name Harbor and Elliot Key or Boca Chita are very enjoyable. Get a a chart and a cruising guide as my distances may be a little off and the boat speed may be dependent on the wind which may throw the estimated times off. Good Luck
Get out to the Gulf by Pass A Grille channel. What we do is we'll leave on day one in the afternoon and get to Egmont Key by nightfall. We'll anchor out and have a nice dinner and get to bed early. On the 2nd day will leave Egmont through the South West Channel at sunup and sail to Venice, FL. We will head west for a while out to deeper water to avoid traffic and lobster pot fields. Venice inlet is easy to navigate at day or night, right at the entrance on the inside is the Crow's Nest Marina & Restaurant. Very nice friendly marina. If you go there check the tides against your intended departure time as there is quite a fluctuation and strong currents. If you leave Egmont around 7:30 AM you should be there by 5:30PM it is approx 52 NM. day three takes us from Venice to Naples, FL. You are looking at approximately 75NM or a 15 hour sail. So you may want to time your Venice departure to leave in the afternoon and sail overnight or leave at early light to get there in the evening. The pass into Naples (Gordon's pass)is easy to navigate at night the town is about 5 nm inland navigating through a snaking Gordon River. At night a torch light and an alert crew is a must to stay within the markers. The aid of a chart plotter will help you find the markers. The City Docks is an excellent place to tie up. Here we usually sleep late and stay the day in town. Day 5 (we spent day 4 in Naples) we head out and go Cape Sable where we'll anchor out at any cove near East Cape. We'll leave Naples around 4:00 AM and get to East Cape by 6:00 PM. It is about 70 NM. Day six, at this point you are about 110 NM from Miami and we do it straight through with an overnight crossing. We leave around 6:00 AM straight to the pass at the 7 mile bridge near Marathon Key and take the Hawcks channel all the way to Isla Morada where we will spend the night at a Marina in Florida Bay. Watch the tides for going in or getting back out. Here we have a choice of continuing through Florida Bay or going back out to Hawcks Channel. I guess it depends on the tide and whether you want to sail or motor. From Seaside you can enter Biscayne Bay through Angle Fish Creek or Cape Florida. It makes for a good daysail, leave early and youl be at Crandon by early afternoon. Now this is a leisure pace we have done the reverse route with adequate crew in three days. I like Biscayne upper Bay as is deeper than the lower. Day sails to No Name Harbor and Elliot Key or Boca Chita are very enjoyable. Get a a chart and a cruising guide as my distances may be a little off and the boat speed may be dependent on the wind which may throw the estimated times off. Good Luck
B
Benny
Did not mention the Okeechobee
As Capri 22 indicated the locks do not operate at night and once you get to Intra coastal at Stuart the going will be quite slow through the many bridges between there and Biscayne Bay. I have crossed the Okeechobee when heading North but I belive it will be a slower route when headed to Miami. Open sea sailing beats motoring any day.
As Capri 22 indicated the locks do not operate at night and once you get to Intra coastal at Stuart the going will be quite slow through the many bridges between there and Biscayne Bay. I have crossed the Okeechobee when heading North but I belive it will be a slower route when headed to Miami. Open sea sailing beats motoring any day.
C
CHET P
J
john kappes
keyes return via yacht channel
made similar trip with my brother back in 1993 on catalina 34 , it is a great trip if you would like more info,going via of yacht channel then through keys, e mail me @ johnkpps@yahoo.com
made similar trip with my brother back in 1993 on catalina 34 , it is a great trip if you would like more info,going via of yacht channel then through keys, e mail me @ johnkpps@yahoo.com
P
Patrick
Direct to Marathon in the Gulf
Bought my Hunter in Tampa/St.Pete.Took a 25 gal plastic drum and lashed it to the rear step on the boat and filled it with fuel.Went out under the bridge and into the Gulf for a few miles and then went south non-stop direct to Marathon, motor sailing the entire way. At Marathon we then went up the ICW thru the Keys to Miami and then sailed Miami to Ft.Lauderdale.Did it with a three man crew.
Bought my Hunter in Tampa/St.Pete.Took a 25 gal plastic drum and lashed it to the rear step on the boat and filled it with fuel.Went out under the bridge and into the Gulf for a few miles and then went south non-stop direct to Marathon, motor sailing the entire way. At Marathon we then went up the ICW thru the Keys to Miami and then sailed Miami to Ft.Lauderdale.Did it with a three man crew.
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