sailing south on east coast of florida

[HalfABee]

Can one sail from the North of Miami towards the Keys by hugging the shore to avoid the Stream? Does one have to take the ICW through that area? Any experience appreciated.

[dwedeking2]

I sailed from Jacksonville to Key West in Nov 2018 taking the outside all the way from St Augustine to Rodriquez Key. There were some challenges. I was stuck off of Ft Pierce doing circles waiting to get enough northerly winds to get past where the stream pinches tight at North Palm Beach. It was a slow crawl, close to shore, until I got past Miami but it's doable.



Here's my track and write up about that section of the trip. Sailing: Jacksonville to the Florida Keys | The Sailing Vessel Pomaika'i

[HalfABee]

Sailing Vessel Pomaika'i,
Many thanks. That's what I was hoping, that it would just be slow going for that stretch where the Gulf Stream and Florida Current kisses the land.
https://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.ed...c/florida.html

Does anyone else have experience with this?