Stuart, FL to Key Largo/Islamorada

[JSailer]

Hello,

Looking for advice for taking our O'Day 30 from Stuart, FL to Key Largo or maybe Islamorada at the end of December.
I guess my biggest question is do we go down outside or stay in with all the bridges to deal with?
We will sail during daylight only and spend the night inside no matter which route we decide on, two adults, no autopilot, no dodger.

How much speed can we expect to lose heading South against the Gulfstream (even if staying close to shore)?

Thanks!

[night0wl]

Dont know how much sailing you'll get to do on the inside route. Past Stuart, the ICW gets real narrow clear through Lake Worth...and then narrow again as you come into Boynton Beach all the way through Biscayne Bay. The inside route is generally the cocktail cruiser route...lots of engine time, but safe, generally calm...but slow with lots of bridges.

I think most people would leave Stuart on the outside and (depending on your timing) come into either Port Everglades (Ft Lauderdale) or Miami. Then push through the second leg to Key Largo/Islamorada on the outside...or if in Miami, cruise Biscayne down.

[gtod25]

via Stuart to Miami. Did an overnight from Stuart and it was bliss. Stay well in (max 2 miles off) or you will loose 1 to 2 kts. If you don't plan to do an overnight do the ICW. But if you want to try one and the weather agrees go outside.

Fair Winds

Gerry

[JSailer]

Thanks, it kind of confirms what I thought.
I'm concerned the Stuart-Port Everglades (or Miami) leg is too long in one shot (80 NM to PE, 100 NM to Miami) as I'm not sure we want to be out there at night, but it is worth considering.
Otherwise the plan would be a short first leg and to go in at Lake Worth inlet for the night, then the next leg Lake Worth-Miami (about 70 NM) which is still a stretch in one day in the winter with the sun going down at 5 or so.
Are there any good places to go in between Lake Worth and PE?
On the chart, I see the Boyton, Boca Raton and Hillsboro inlets. I am not familiar with those. Does anyone know if they are easy to get in and good for an overnight? It certainly would help me by stretching the first leg a bit more.

[gtod25]

ActiveCaptain - The Interactive Cruising Guidebook - Marina Reviews, Fuel Prices, Anchorages

for anchorages etc.

ref the overnight. For any trip over 60nm an overnight is the way to go. It takes all the pressure off, leave late get in during daylight. Skip Port Everglades and head for Noname harbor on Biscayne Bay.

[JSailer]

Thank you Gtod for the link. It's very helpful.
Well, I have now easily determined that Boynton and Boca Raton inlets are not usable but Hillsboro inlet looks like a possibility if needed.
Anyone with first hand knowledge of it?

[Yorksailor]

Done that trip 5 times...We sail outside and stay close to the beach, no more than 1/2 mile....there is often a 1/2 knot counter current going south which is often defined by the weed line.

Once you get south of Miami go down Hawkes Channel, which can be hard at night but you can anchor outside No Name Harbor and leave at daylight for Key Largo or go down Biscayne Bay and anchor off Elliot or Pumpkin Key. From there go down the ICW which is work or exit at Broad/Anglefish Creek to get back to Hawkes Channel for a daylight trip to Islamorada.

I have never understood why anybody goes down the ICW south of Canaveral...the bridges are just too much trouble. South of Miami you do need the chart pack or a good chart plotter. The entry or exit at Islamorada is Snake Creek.

All the entries are a challenge and difficult in the dark unless you know them. Hillsboro, Lauderdale, Miami, Biscayne Bay Channel (Stiltsville) get confusing in the dark once you are inside and except for Stiltsville do not have convenient anchorages.

[night0wl]

Originally Posted by JSailer

*snip*

On the chart, I see the Boyton, Boca Raton and Hillsboro inlets. I am not familiar with those. Does anyone know if they are easy to get in and good for an overnight? It certainly would help me by stretching the first leg a bit more.

Boynton is *NOT AN OPTION* for you. For one, this is one of the most dangerous inlets in the USA...its really not designed for navigation...I've seen triple engine center consoles go vertical here and every year it seems a diveboat capsizes. Second, and more importantly...there is a low fixed bridge there.

If you're worried about the distances...here are the two inlets I would recommend. Port of Palm Beach (short hop from Stuart) or Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale (a decent slog).

While Boca Raton and Hillsboro are navigable inlets, there are draw bridges on both of those inlets which makes navigating them very tricky and downright dangerous if there is a outgoing tide. I believe the bridges on both of those inlets are on demand.

If I were to pick one and had no choice, Hillsboro is more navigable. But Boca Raton has Lake Boca right there which is a good, if crowded, anchorage. But if I'm tired after a long passage and making a night entry, there is no way I'd do either.

Once you get south of Fort Lauderdale/Port Everglades, the only real inlet will be Government Cut/Miami. Haulover is a fixed bridge inlet, so forget that one.

[JSailer]

Thanks for all the feedback. It is very valuable as the First Lady and I are planning this trip.
She is nervous about sailing at night offshore and this trip is intended to be a fun/relaxing so I don't want to make it an unpleasant experience for her.
And with no autopilot, I will need her to be at the wheel on and off during the night so we can get some sleep.

[billangiep]

Navigating Florida's Inlets By Doug Sease July 2008 The Big Ship Channels These are considered all-weather (by big ships, not little boats) channels from the ocean that ships can safely use. They are deep, wide, well-marked and often protected by jetties (which can be their own source of danger in bad weather or low visibility). Because they are wide and deep, tremendous volumes of water flow through them and, as a consequence, the adverse conditions created by wind-against-tide can extend considerably into the ocean or gulf. Inlets are listed from north to south on the east coast, then south to north on the west coast. St. Mary’s River The river marks the border between George and Florida and its currents flow fast. Several years ago, the U.S. Navy built a nuclear submarine base at nearby Kings Bay, Ga., and undertook extensive work dredging and marking the St. Mary’s River entrance. Now, as long as you stay clear of subs coming and going, it’s a relatively easy passage, well marked and deep. St. Johns River This river has long been used for heavy commerce an Port Canaveral Cruise ships, Navy vessels and lots of fishermen use this deep and well-marked inlet. I’ve had to put in there unintentionally in the past when a scheduled rocket launch from nearby Kennedy Space Center prohibited any boats from entering the danger zone. Fort Pierce Inlet I consider Fort Pierce Inlet my home inlet. Deep and well-marked, with jetties on both sides, it’s a welcome sight after a long cruise. A Coast Guard station and several marinas just inside the inlet can provide advice in rough weather. Lake Worth Inlet A short entrance and deep water make this an easy inlet to use. It’s a major staging for pleasure boaters since Lake Worth offers extensive anchoring spots near the inlet. It’s also a great jumping-off point for anyone heading to the northern parts of the Bahamas. Port Everglades Wide, deep and well marked, this inlet takes you into Fort Lauderdale, the heart of luxury yacht country. Pleasure boats are thick in the inlet on good days and some very large ships, both cruise and cargo, use it, too. Government Cut This is the last major inlet on the east coast, leading boaters into the thriving port of Miami. Given the amount of cruise and cargo ships that pass through here, the main danger is not giving them enough room. Government Cut may be the best inlet on Florida’s east coast for pleasure boaters, but I’ve still tacked back and forth off the cut waiting for daylight so I could eyeball conditions before entering.