One bridge issue at Miami

[Lapintos]

Hi everyone.

We are a family coming from Quebec, Canada. We are not familiar with this aera of sailing. We will coming from the ICW. I notice on the chart there is a fixe bridge located at M1088 with clearance of 56'. Our mast height from waterline is 55,03. So, I was thinking to take the inlet of Fort Lauderdale and sailing down close to the shore till Miami. I guess there is no really issue with the gulfstream at one mile form the shore? Your comments will be appreciated.

Thank you

[HappyMdRSailor]

bump to roll back in recent discussion cue

[Vasco]

Take the short jog outside, an easy 20 miles. We did that yesterday. You can get under the Julia Tuttle bridge if you do the ICW but there's lots of bridges on this stretch. There is better clearance of the Julia Tuttle if you take the span west of the draw. A foot or so more and the water is fine. The worst part of the ICW on this stretch is Bakers Haulover, not very much water there.

We sailed down at the ten fathom (60 feet) line. It was ebbing so we had a fair current all the way to Miami.

[skipmac]

Between Ft Lauderdale and Miami you can hit the Gulf Stream even one mile off but it varies. In general closer to the coast will have less chance of a northerly current and sometimes even a bit of southerly counter current.

If you are getting set north you can come closer than an mile if you want.

[Sid at SailAway]

I would jump outside as well. The inlet at Fort Lauderdale is fairly easy to manage and so is the inlet at Miami. One thing to keep in mind, if there are more then one cruise ship in Government Cut, you cannot use the cut. Take Fisherman's channel to the left of the Cut. Be careful at the head of Fisherman's. The markers mix in with ICW channel markers and can get confusing. This wouldn't matter much, but there are shoals in this area. After the ICW, the blue waters outside will be incredible! Smooth Seas...

[Lapintos]

Ok thank you. I guess I can sail less than an half of a mile to the shore if a look the chart.

[HopCar]

Even if you could make it under the fixed bridge, the advise to jump outside at Ft. Lauderdale is good. You'll avoid a lot of traffic and waiting for bridges to open.

If you need marine supplies in Miami, I'm your guy.

[Lapintos]

Thank you

[HappyMdRSailor]

Thanks for catching the bump you smart guys!

[Nicholson58]

Boat Balls - YouTube

Do as noted above by the others. Watch the video for entertainment.

BTW - be sure to tour the GREAT DISMAL SWAMP.

Tour Charleston - my favorite place.

[Tellie]

I'm right at 56' on my Mast and Julia Tuttle always scared me but you can easily make it if you do two things. First, obviously hit it at low tide which will gain you at least a foot extra and second instead of going through the channel go under the span just west of the channel. The steel support on this side is a foot higher than the channel. So with low tide and going just to the north you'll gain an easy extra two feet. The bridges can be a pain heading down the ICW but timed right they are easy to hit the openings and it does save time instead of heading offshore.

[FSMike]

Tellie has the right of it.

[Amapola]

I'd take the outside.