I am planning a sailing trip in July from St. Augustine FL. to Key West. I am sailing outside in my Hunter 33 keeping the shoreline in sight. I have sailed the ICW through central and south Florida but boat dodging, stop and go and bottom skipping isn't my idea of sailing. I will port-hop (Ft. Pierce, Miami, Islamorada and Key West) all the way down sailing overnight the first two stops. I would like to know how far out to sail around the Canaveral Shoals and any feedback or advice from Miami to Key West via Hawk Channel? Of course any suggestions or recommendations on any portion of this trip would be appreciated. Jim P.
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Key West trip
I can only talk about Marathon on down and out to the Tortugas. A stop in Marathon is nice and I hear they now have mooring balls so it should be easy and restful. YOu will be glad to be on a mooring if the afternoon and evening thunderstorms come. Some can get gusty and it is nice to just roll over and sleep. You can go to a marina but none are cheep. They have a dinghy dock in Marathon. In Key West the Gallion is 3.50 a foot. Most people here stay there but we have been to conch marina and it is very nice. They do have a minimum length of 34 feet. (you can be less but you pay for 34 feet) There are mooring balls though if you care to go around Key West up intro the NE quadrant. getting in and out might be a problem in putting in the dinghy so a marina might be worth it. Especially if you linger at the bars. Sailing down Hawk channel is easy. Just stay off shore and watch the depth sounder. Going back you might consider hopping into the gulf stream and zipping along from KW up to Miami. Consider a sail out to the Dry Tortugas. You can sail all the 70 miles or do it in 2 stops and stay in the Marquesas. You will notice how much the water chanages as you go south past Marathon. It becomes clear, pale blue. Several good places to snorkel too along the reef. Have fun,
I can only talk about Marathon on down and out to the Tortugas. A stop in Marathon is nice and I hear they now have mooring balls so it should be easy and restful. YOu will be glad to be on a mooring if the afternoon and evening thunderstorms come. Some can get gusty and it is nice to just roll over and sleep. You can go to a marina but none are cheep. They have a dinghy dock in Marathon. In Key West the Gallion is 3.50 a foot. Most people here stay there but we have been to conch marina and it is very nice. They do have a minimum length of 34 feet. (you can be less but you pay for 34 feet) There are mooring balls though if you care to go around Key West up intro the NE quadrant. getting in and out might be a problem in putting in the dinghy so a marina might be worth it. Especially if you linger at the bars. Sailing down Hawk channel is easy. Just stay off shore and watch the depth sounder. Going back you might consider hopping into the gulf stream and zipping along from KW up to Miami. Consider a sail out to the Dry Tortugas. You can sail all the 70 miles or do it in 2 stops and stay in the Marquesas. You will notice how much the water chanages as you go south past Marathon. It becomes clear, pale blue. Several good places to snorkel too along the reef. Have fun,
The problem with the outside route is the
fact that inlets are few and far in between. The key component is the weather, due to the presence of the Gulfstream it does not take much to stear the seas up and navigating some of these inlets even if you reach them can be trying in foul weather, especially at night. Northern winds which would help your course are undesirable as they will clash with the north bound Gulfstream. In the summer months the winds tend to clock Southeast and you may have a slow going Southbound. Definitely motorsail through Hawcks Channel and whatever you do, do not overnight at Rodriguez Key, We stayed there twice and twice we dragged the anchor. The second time at 3:00 AM under a storm. After Marathon your bearing will change to a more westerly direction with mostly prevalent winds. You forgot to mention those pesky bridges in the ICW.
fact that inlets are few and far in between. The key component is the weather, due to the presence of the Gulfstream it does not take much to stear the seas up and navigating some of these inlets even if you reach them can be trying in foul weather, especially at night. Northern winds which would help your course are undesirable as they will clash with the north bound Gulfstream. In the summer months the winds tend to clock Southeast and you may have a slow going Southbound. Definitely motorsail through Hawcks Channel and whatever you do, do not overnight at Rodriguez Key, We stayed there twice and twice we dragged the anchor. The second time at 3:00 AM under a storm. After Marathon your bearing will change to a more westerly direction with mostly prevalent winds. You forgot to mention those pesky bridges in the ICW.
Have a good time
Check on where the Gulf Stream is. If you are to far off shore you will be going up stream so to speak. I would sail Miami south during the day because of the reef outside of Hawk Channel if you are not familiar with it.
Check on where the Gulf Stream is. If you are to far off shore you will be going up stream so to speak. I would sail Miami south during the day because of the reef outside of Hawk Channel if you are not familiar with it.
Key West Trip
Thanks for the advice. I will be at the Galleon for a few weeks and the marinas are pricey compared to north Florida. I am going to make the Tortugas as well (been going to the Keys since I was a kid but never the Tortugas). I'm glad to hear Hawk Channel is easy to navigate.
Thanks for the advice. I will be at the Galleon for a few weeks and the marinas are pricey compared to north Florida. I am going to make the Tortugas as well (been going to the Keys since I was a kid but never the Tortugas). I'm glad to hear Hawk Channel is easy to navigate.
The problem with the outside route
Thanks for that. Hopefully a steady southeast is the order of the day and definitely motorsailing on some portions of the trip. My Middle Keys plan is Islamorada in a marina.
Thanks for that. Hopefully a steady southeast is the order of the day and definitely motorsailing on some portions of the trip. My Middle Keys plan is Islamorada in a marina.
Have a good time
Thanks and your right on with that. A few have mentioned this leg of the trip during the day.
Thanks and your right on with that. A few have mentioned this leg of the trip during the day.
Jim, Marinas in Islamorada,
mind your tides and if possible schedule arrival for a rising tide. The entrance to Snake Creek entering from Ocean side is prone to shoaling. That is how we ended in Rodriguez Key one fateful night. Best marinas are in Bay side. Good luck. Marathon would be a good choice.
mind your tides and if possible schedule arrival for a rising tide. The entrance to Snake Creek entering from Ocean side is prone to shoaling. That is how we ended in Rodriguez Key one fateful night. Best marinas are in Bay side. Good luck. Marathon would be a good choice.
Gulf Stream woes
From St Augustine south to Stuart, the Gulf Stream is typically 15 to 25 miles offshore, so if you stay within a few miles of the coast you should be out of the current. You may even gain a bit of s boost if there is a counter-current. Check your charts for the distance to maintain offshore when rounding Cape Canaveral. If there's a rocket launch, the safety zone will be enforced. The Kennedy Space Center website should have a current launch schedule. From Stuart south, the Gulf Stream runs close to shore. With the prevailing E to SE winds this time of year, you'll probably be working against both wind and current. Why not take the Okeechobee Waterway from Stuart to Ft Myers instead? Then you can head directly for the Dry Tortugas. The route from Ft Myers is well marked with communication towers and wave heights should be moderate because you'll be in the lee of the peninsula. It's usually a fast, pleasant sail (under 24 hr usually). Regardless of the route, I hope you have a great trip! Peter H23 "Raven"
From St Augustine south to Stuart, the Gulf Stream is typically 15 to 25 miles offshore, so if you stay within a few miles of the coast you should be out of the current. You may even gain a bit of s boost if there is a counter-current. Check your charts for the distance to maintain offshore when rounding Cape Canaveral. If there's a rocket launch, the safety zone will be enforced. The Kennedy Space Center website should have a current launch schedule. From Stuart south, the Gulf Stream runs close to shore. With the prevailing E to SE winds this time of year, you'll probably be working against both wind and current. Why not take the Okeechobee Waterway from Stuart to Ft Myers instead? Then you can head directly for the Dry Tortugas. The route from Ft Myers is well marked with communication towers and wave heights should be moderate because you'll be in the lee of the peninsula. It's usually a fast, pleasant sail (under 24 hr usually). Regardless of the route, I hope you have a great trip! Peter H23 "Raven"
Benny
Thanks. Thinking about Holiday Isle Marina off of Whale Harbour channel at Windley Key. Any thoughts?
Thanks. Thinking about Holiday Isle Marina off of Whale Harbour channel at Windley Key. Any thoughts?
Peter
Thanks for that info as well. I never though about Okeechobee. I have heard so many things about shallows drafts in the lake I didn't even consider it. The trip down requires a stop in Miami but coming back through Ft. Myers might be an option. Definitely may rethink the trip back. I appreciate the info on the stream. I'm sure I'll fight the south wind going down but I will hug the shoreline especially as I get close to Palm Beach.
Thanks for that info as well. I never though about Okeechobee. I have heard so many things about shallows drafts in the lake I didn't even consider it. The trip down requires a stop in Miami but coming back through Ft. Myers might be an option. Definitely may rethink the trip back. I appreciate the info on the stream. I'm sure I'll fight the south wind going down but I will hug the shoreline especially as I get close to Palm Beach.
Okeechobee
Well isn't the okeechobee kind shallow right now unless it gets a lot of rain. Plus the one RR bridge is kind of low for him I think, I am wondering myself is it only one low bridge or not and what's the max hight,I think it's 49 ft. Your hunter 33 is what 55 ft. Nick
Well isn't the okeechobee kind shallow right now unless it gets a lot of rain. Plus the one RR bridge is kind of low for him I think, I am wondering myself is it only one low bridge or not and what's the max hight,I think it's 49 ft. Your hunter 33 is what 55 ft. Nick
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