Sailing Sarasota To Miami Bridge Openings In Keys

[daventrish]

What is the preferred route Sarasota to Miami. mast height 50', bridge clearance through the keys?

[FSMike]

If bridge height is your only worry you can go by way of Key West (no bridges), the 7 mile bridge, or the Channel 5 bridge. Or you can go up the inside of the keys all the way to Miami.

[capngeo]

Depends on your schedule.... If not in a hurry there is some pretty cruising down the West Coast. I like to go in at BocaGrande and take a hook in Pine Island Sound. Then I'll run inside to Ft Myers Beach (I understand there is some dredging going on there... check your LNTM for details as to whether you can go out at FMB)... I'd go back in at Capri Pass (Marco Island) for the second night. Shark River the 3rd night.

Man O War cut to Channel 5 (Marathon). The inside (Gulf side) is a bit thin if you draw over 5 feet, but if you can run up that way, it gets quite scenic up towards Key Largo and Biscayne Bay... Otherwise run up Hawk Channel from Marathon. I like to go inside at Cesar Creek and finish the run up to Miami inside. Channel 5 to Cesar Creek is a good day's leisurely sail... then about 2 more hours the next day into Miami.

I can easily take my time and spend 10 days on that trip, but have done it in 4.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by capngeo

Depends on your schedule.... If not in a hurry there is some pretty cruising down the West Coast. I like to go in at BocaGrande and take a hook in Pine Island Sound. Then I'll run inside to Ft Myers Beach (I understand there is some dredging going on there... check your LNTM for details as to whether you can go out at FMB)... I'd go back in at Capri Pass (Marco Island) for the second night. Shark River the 3rd night.

Man O War cut to Channel 5 (Marathon). The inside (Gulf side) is a bit thin if you draw over 5 feet, but if you can run up that way, it gets quite scenic up towards Key Largo and Biscayne Bay... Otherwise run up Hawk Channel from Marathon. I like to go inside at Cesar Creek and finish the run up to Miami inside. Channel 5 to Cesar Creek is a good day's leisurely sail... then about 2 more hours the next day into Miami.

I can easily take my time and spend 10 days on that trip, but have done it in 4.

Make sure you have good charts -- and study them -- before going into Pine Island Sound, but it is really beautiful there.