ICW and South Florida

We are into our second year of exploring from Maryland to Key West, FL and we can now safely say that South Florida in the winter time is a fantastic location to take your boat. We have to say our favorite section on the entire waterway would be from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Key West with the best section inside of there being Miami Beach to Marathon, Vaca Key, Fl. If you simply take the section south of the Miami inlet, Government Cut, then turn south under the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge, you are presented with Biscayne Bay. Here to the east you have beaches and covers off Key Biscayne to anchor off and to the west you have Dinner Key and Coconut Grove a hub of sailing activities with a great town to walk into. Biscayne Bay is a joy to sail as it runs North and South and the trade winds blow from the east. When the cold fronts come in and the winds blows out of the north, you can take shelter in the Marine Stadium just north of the bridge or move up to Miami Beach and anchor off one of the many islands of the rich and famous.

Take Biscayne Bay south and you will find Elliott Key State Park and Boca Chita State Parks which are dream locations and must stop. South of Boca Chita you take Angelfish creek our and into the Hawk Channel where you have fantastic sailing in calm seas with beam winds as you make you way into the Florida Keys. From Hawk Channel you can anchor off Rodriguez Key and then make Marathon or Harbour Cay Club the next day. From Marathon it is a 45 mile sail to Key West or you can break this leg up by stopping at another beautiful state park called Bahia Honda Cay with a spectacular beach! Finally you will reach Key West where the anchorages are not that great, but the town is a blast.

So, South Florida ICW boating is a dream in the winter. One could easily base their boat here for December to April and not run out of places to visit and towns to explore. We really like South Florida and we hope you get to sail to this great location.

Hayden, on anchor Biscayne Bay

Anchored off Miami Beach near South Beach


Radeen taking in the sights of Miami



Here is a 4 day run north Marathon to Hollywood near Ft. Lauderdale