Palm Coast to Marathon Key

[anderson4220]

I have been planning a trip from Palm Coast to Marathon departing (weather permitting) after Thanksgiving. I have never sailed south of Palm Coast as our home port is Hancock Creek North Carolina

Planning the trip south I planned on going both ICW and outside but don't plan on staying out. Looking at the charts it doesn't look to promising until Port Canaveral. Daytona looks good but roughly 60 miles before I could get back in.

What I was hoping is if anyone has a good cruising/Sail plan from Daytona to Marathon

Any advice on good anchorages/ ect is appreciated

Paul Anderson

[Vasco]

Go ICW till you get to Ft. Pierce (one short and two longish days motoring - PC to Daytona, Daytona to Titusville and Titusville to Vero which is about 12 miles north of Ft. Pierce). Pt. Canaveral is not a good stop as if you're coming in there's no anchorage until you're through the lock.

Out at Ft. Pierce if weather cooperating and in at Lake Worth, Ft. Lauderdale or Miami.

[djmarchand]

To continue where Rick left off. From Miami go outside at the Biscayne Channel and down the Hawk Channel. Anchor behind Rodriguez Cay the first night and proceed to Marathon/Boot Key Harbor for the second.

If you have a shallow draft boat- less than 5' you can go inside and then out the Seven Mile bridge to get into Boot Key Harbor. But I would much prefer the outside route.

David

[onestepcsy37]

pretty much what vasco says - palm coast to daytona (or new smyrna beach), then to titusville or cocoa, then to vero beach.

stay a few days at vero; there's a good reason why it's come to be known as 'velcro' beach - sailors arrive boat don't leave.

then south again. you could go out at fort pierce (check the tides - there's a very strong current in this channel) but i prefer to stay inside until lake worth. then you may want to go outside to either fort lauderdale, or better, miami. the reason is the number of bridges you will have to clear - it becomes very tiring.

then south through biscayne bay, out at angelfish, and on to marathon.

there are any number of good anchorages along the way except on the section between palm beach and miami. a set of PAPER charts (i'm biased) will reveal them....

[FSMike]

I frequently get some good sailing on the ICW heading south from New Smyrna Beach.

[anderson4220]

Thanks for the great advise

Paul Anderson