Marathon to Ft Lauderdale

[hans737]

Hello everyone, I'm new here so bear with me if this isn't the correct place for this post...
Getting ready to sail my Hunter 380 from Marathon to Ft Lauderdale. The plan is to spend a night at Rodriguez Key, then No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne, then up to Ft Lauderdale. I'll be going the Hawks Channel route. With a 5 foot draft is there any advice on the best ways to cut through from Hawks Channel around Cape Florida to get up to No Name. Looks like the 2 options are the Key Biscayne Channel or the more direct route up the Cape Florida Channel.
Also hoping to find a great place to sit out the rest of the winter in the Ft Lauderdale area in the Lake Sylvia area. Maybe someone's private home that has dock space on a canal. I'll not be living aboard just coming to visit occasionally.
Appreciate any info.
--Marty
S/V Fisaga

[PBzeer]

Go in at Cape Florida. Unless you have some specific reason for No Name, I'd go on up to the Marine Stadium. Lot more room there, then go out Government Cut up to Lauderdale.

[delan]

We use Angelfish creek a lot, plenty of depth, if you like a quite place to anchor,
the little creeks directly to the north have 6ft clear, you probably won't see another boat all night.
then it's a nice 6hr bay sail to Miami, on the inside.
you can go back out via cape Florida or Miami gvmnt cut.

If you do stay at the marine stadium, you can dinghy over to my restaurant, Rickenbacker Fish Company, for dinner.

[Melrna]

Delan and PBzeer have good advice. I like Angle Creek route the best. It is shorter too. No Name Harbor right now is crowded with Cruisers waiting to cross. It is more protected than Marine Stadium. If there is room I would go there. They too have a nice restaurant if you so desire.
Be careful at Rodriquez Key for it has poor holding. It is all grass over hard limestone there.
There is no dinky dock for those that use Marine Stadium. Rickenbacker Marnia charges to dock a dingy here. The Rickenbacker Fish Co is nice place but pricey. There is also the Rusty Pelican here to eat.
Why would you come here to Ft Lauderdale vs Marathon. Marathon is way too cool of a place to hang out for the winter.

[PBzeer]

Gotta agree with Mel on Marathon over Lauderdale.

Of course, weather permitting, you could just run all the way to Lauderdale on an overnighter as well.

[delan]

Melrna, we have our own slips at RFC that are free for our guests.

[delan]

Marty, as you have accommodations in Lauderdale, you might want to consider anchoring or docking in Miami, Key Biscayne or Coconut Grove. the bay sailing offers a bit more diversity down here.

[PBzeer]

Another option is anchoring off of Miami Beach. Either to the south of the causeway, or back into Sunset Lake. Also, a slip at the city marina downtown puts Miami in walking distance, not to mention a mall right there.

[night0wl]

Hope you're planning on leaving late this week or beyond...weather looks much better then...positively sucky until Thursday. Cold and wind from the North/Northwest in the 12-20 knot range...which will churn up the waters offshore.

Just marching front after front this year it seems *sigh*