Florida Keys

We have nearly completed our first exploration of the Florida Keys, 2011-2012. We started with entering Government Cut at Miami and turned south into Biscayne Bay where we passed under the Rickenbacker Causway Bridge and turned to port dropping anchor right off the beach on Virginia Key. Biscayne Bay is beautiful with the Miami skyline lights at night and the busy city off the port beam and palm tree lined beaches over the bow. Welcome to Biscayne Bay. From there, we sailed 12 miles south to Boca Chita Key a National Park where we spent 2 days tied to sea wall of the basin. The lighthouse here is beautiful ....


From Boca Chita we sailed south passing through Angelfish Creek and into the ocean side of the Keys sailing southwest in Hawk Channel. This is a very protected body of water due to the reef offshore. The challenge is that you need to make Channel Five to get back on the west side of the Keys or else in calm winds, anchor at Rodriguez Key with little protection from the east winds.

From Channel Five, we pressed on to Marathon, Vaca Key, where we rented a slip from fellow IP owner Capt Jim and his beautiful Harbour Cay Club, a private 24 slip owner marina. HarbourCayClub.org

From HCC, we sailed north to the Everglades and anchored in Shark River. From here we explored the west coast towns of Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island Sound, Cayo Costa, Pelican Bay, and Punta Gorda.

We headed back to sea out the Boca Grand Inlet and sailed overnight south 135 NM to Key West, arriving at daybreak. We anchored in the Key West Harbor with calm 15-20 knot east winds and then after two days, moved to a slip at Galleon Marina where we enjoyed good friends and walks on Duvall Street.

Leaving Key West, we sailed Hawk Channel north anchoring at Bahia Honda Key and enjoying the beautiful State Park Beaches for several days. From there it was a short 15 miles back to Marathon, Vaca Key, and HCC where we had a wonderful revisit.

Departing HCC we sailed back to Channel Five and into Hawk Channel, reaching Rodriguez Key at sunset. From Rodrigues, we returned to Boca Chita and from Boca Chita we moved up to the north end of Biscayne Bay, Dinner Key.

Now we are spending two weeks in Biscayne Bay, sailing between Dinner Key, Crandon Park, Miami, South Beach, and Key Biscayne beaches.

The Florida Keys have exceeded our expectations and we look forward to many more visits and wonderful sailing in these beautiful waters.




Hayden, on anchor Biscayne Bay, FL