Bahia Honda Channel/State Park Anchorage lies between the two Bahia Honda bridges, off the westerly shores of Bahia Honda Key.

Waters get very rough at night with a lot of rocking and rolling. More of a jerky roll. Park looks nice but if you want a good nights sleep don’t stay here. winds got to 30 knots and boat next to us drug anchor. winds were SE to S.
Mickey

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bahia Honda Channel/State Park Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bahia Honda Channel/State Park Anchorage

The list of Florida Keys Summer events below is provided to us by SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Key Lime Sailing Club. So, before launching into our listing, it’s only fair to first hear from these good folks! Click their sponsorship panel on the left for more information!
It should be noted that the Florida Keys are no longer a winter-time only setting. As will be obvious from the exciting line-up below, there is much to see and do during the summer months in the Florida Keys, and that goes for members of the cruising community as well.

Can you imagine yourself spending a lovely summer day just sailing all you want? Do you want to try a kayaking adventure through a mangrove maze where manatees follow you and exotic wildlife is abundant? How about snorkeling, fishing, swimming, or just hanging around on the beach? Do you dream about taking a cruise on a sailboat with a cold drink in your hand while enjoying an awesome sunset?
What if we told you that you can enjoy all of these while staying with us, without paying extra?
Here at Key Largo Cottages at Key Lime Sailing Club, when you rent one of our cottages you can enjoy free use of sailboats, kayaks, water toys, snorkel gear, fishing gear, bicycles, and a sunset cruise!
Cottage rate starts at $175 per night plus cleaning fees and taxes. Take advantage of our low summer season rates.

Key Largo / May 2 – 5
Humphrey Bogart Film Festival
The inaugural Humphrey Bogart Film Festival is to screen a rotating selection of Bogie classics and a group of movies centered around the festival’s theme. There is expected to be a formal Bogart Ball, an outside screening of Casablanca, a display of Bogart memorabilia, question and answer sessions with the star’s son, Stephen Bogart, and tours on the fully-restored African Queen. Visit website for complete details. Tickets for all events, including film screenings, the Bogart Ball and special events with Stephen Bogart and special guest Leonard Maltin are available online.

 

Marathon / May 11 – Battle in the Bay Dragon Boat Festival
The waters off Sombrero Beach are to be transformed into a swift racecourse for a day of dragon boat racing, one of the world’s fastest-growing water sports, that involves 20 paddlers moving in unison a combination of strength and teamwork. Sombrero Beach provides a pristine setting and unique, direct-from-the-beach launch for the sleek, 40-foot-long race boats whose elaborate designs originated in ancient China. The festival is free and open to the public. Food, beverages, merchandise and a variety of entertainment are to be available shoreside.

Key Largo / May 16 – 19
Key Largo’s Original Music Festival
Enjoy the food, entertainment and ambiance of Key Largo during this singers and songwriters event. Featuring “on the water” venues, unique entertainers and local musicians. Presented by the Upper Keys Business Group.
Contact: Sue Finney 305-394-3736

Key West / June 5 – 9
Key West Pride
Key West shows its Pride every day, and this is your chance to be a part of the celebration! This five day celebration includes a film festival, dance parties, drag shows, bike tours, clothing-optional pool parties, water excursions, a street fair, Pride Pageants, and a ‘Pride in Our Community’ Parade down Duval Street.
Contact: 800-535-7797; 305-294-4603

Key West / June 22
7th Annual Midsummer’s Night Dream and Spectacle
Midsummer’s Night Dream and Spectacle is a night of artistic expression, music, feasting, dancing, singing, and theatrical antics celebrating the art and artists of the Keys. Co-produced by Michael Shields’ Java Studios and The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, the event benefits the Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden. Admission is $10 for adults; children under age 12 are admitted free. From 5 to 11 p.m., all ages welcome.
Contact: 305-394-3804

Key Largo / July 4
Fireworks Show on Blackwater Sound
Blackwater Sound provides the perfect nighttime mirrorlike surface to make the annual fireworks display seem like a 3-D viewing experience designed to dazzle. The show is to take place on the bayfront in Key Largo at 10 p.m., July 4. The best seating can be found at Sundowners and Senior Frijoles restaurants, Caribbean Club and Marriott Key Largo Bay Resort, all located around mile marker (MM) 104 bayside. Reservations are suggested because seating is limited.
Contact: Sue Finney 305-394-3736

Key West / July 4 – 6
The Key Lime Pie Festival
An All-American celebration of Florida’s official and one of the most tasty pies! Highlights are to include Miss Key Lime Pie and Lil’ Miss Key Lime pageants, a Pie Eating Contest and a Key Lime Pie competition — be the first to sample pies from contestants vying for the blue ribbon in the Conch, Amateur and Professional Divisions of the 2013 Key West Key Lime Pie Championships. Check website for more delicious details to come.

 

For even more information on Florida Keys Events and Festivals, please visit:

http://www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents/

The northeastern anchorage is on the northeastern reaches of charted Cowpens Anchorage. This body of water comprises the southeasterly section of Cotton Key Basin and borders on Plantation Key. Wouldn’t want to get caught here in fresh western or southwestern winds, but otherwise, this spot makes for a good Florida Keys place to drop the hook!

Anchored 3/31/13 off south west anchorage. We were located right outside Plantation Yacht harbor in about 6 feet of water. A short dinghy ride to the beach at Founders Park.
Russ

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For Cowpens Northeastern Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Cowpens Northeastern Anchorage

Mariners piloting craft that draw LESS THAN 5 feet have a whole host of what might be described as “wilderness anchorages” available off the ICW/Inside route between Buttonwood Sound and the Waterway’s intersection with northern Tavernier Creek. Be SURE to have a well functioning chart plotter aboard before trying this, and be aware that there is the possibility of keel meeting up with bottom. If you can overcome these limitations, be ready for an evening you won’t soon forget!

We anchored here on 4/2/13. We were at least a 1/4 of a mile or more off Bottle Key. No one else around. We were open to a 10 kt East wind that kicked up around 3AM, but we held firm. Very quiet. Mosquito’s were a bit hungry though.
Russ

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For The Back-country – Bottle Key Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bottle Key Anchorage

No Name Harbor Anchorage is on the waters of the tadpole-shaped harbor, indenting the westerly banks of south Key Biscayne, near Cape Florida.

We anchored here on 4/3/13. There were about 13 sailboats in the harbor. It seemed a little crowded although we didn’t have any problems. It was very quiet but weekends might be a different story.
Russ

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For No Name Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of No Name Anchorage

Marathon Marina and Boat Yard lines the northern banks of the western Boot Key Harbor approach channel, west of the now permanently open Boot Key bascule bridge.

We stayed here a week-rate $613 with tax et all for a 40 ft cat. The staff was very friendly and fuel prices excellant. The residents are extremely friendly and the internet works well both at the dock and the captains lounge for non-wifi connection. Pump outs are tueday, wednesday, and thursday. The resteraunt is also excellent go for happy hour and appetizers(inexpensive). Would like to stay a month at another time(warning they book as far as a year in advance for a month dockage). Not as centrally located as the city marina, but with bikes, you can get anywhere.Publix(3 miles) and cabs are $5 for a trip on the island.
John Pholeric

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marathon Marina and Boatyard

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Marathon Marina and Boatyard

In response to the March 12 “Photo of the Week” here on the SSECN (see http://cruisersnet.net/?p=108282), Captain John Boone sent us the note below, and, most importantly, a link to his really superb photo album of a recent visit to the Dry Tortugas. If any of you are contemplating the (approx.) 70 nautical mile cruise from Key West to Garden Key and Fort Jefferson (or any of the other Dry Tortugas isles), then take a look at these images. They may whet your appetite, or help you decide the other way around.

I came up on deck there one December morning in 2007 to get underway and came face to face with your a similar sight.
We went back below and had another cup of coffee!

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/jsbpbacct/Sailing/AS-Thread%20-%20Dry%20Tortugas%20Trip%202007/IMG_4485.jpg

Great shot, thanks for sharing….
John Boone

Good evening Claiborne,
Thank you for your kind words and posting of the link to my Tortugas album. What a great place to sail to and spend some time.
I created that photo album in conjunction with a write-up I did on the Anything-Sailing forum, http://www.anything-sailing.com , as we were trying to build content for that site when it was new.
Here is a link to that write-up if you are interested.
http://www.anything-sailing.com/showthread.php/1419-Cruise-to-Ft.-Jefferson-Dry-Tortugas-Florida
Feel free to use any of the photos in the album. I’m honored to be included on your forum.
Best Regards,
John Boone

Islamorada Anchorage is found in Barley Basin on the northwest side of Upper Matecumbe Key, north of Little Basin and southeast of marker #86. Lor-e-li Restaurant, Cabana Bar and Marina lies within dinghy distance, southeast of the anchorage on Upper Matecumbe Key.

Anchored in the Southwestern part of Barley basin in light winds. Good holding and more than adequate depth for 5′ sailboat draft. Took 10 minute dinghy ride into Lor-e-li restaurant dock which was the quintessential beach restaurant/bar experience. Good food and service. Crowded at sunset. Live music on a Tuesday evening. Many more land patrons than boat patrons. All in all a very good experience.
Victor

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Islamorada Anchorage

Click Here To View This Facility’s Full Listing of Services on the Florida Keys Marina Directory

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Islamorada Anchorage

More and more cruisers are choosing to spend their time in delightful Key West, Florida, by tethering their vessel to one of the mooring balls east of Fleming Key. This field is managed by the Key West City Marine in Garrison Bight (one of two Key West city marinas, the other being located in Key West Bight).

Through a rookie’s eyes: We arrived at the mooring field on Feb 19, in beautiful weather and light winds. I had called ahead to get instructions (rookie-remember?) and was told how to pick up a mooring. It was not how it was described; we have an 8 ft high bow and the only way to attach a line is by hand at water level (you cannot lift these mooring balls out of the water). A very helpful boater came with his dinghy, looped the lines through and handed them back up. If we come again, (and we plan to) we will have to grab a buoy at midships by lying on deck at the hatch, get a line through it, and walk it back to the bow, and use the dinghy to get the second line on. All this after being told we could pull it aboard at an 8 ft high bow! In defense of the staff, it was the only mistake we encountered; they were wonderful otherwise. One other note for first time visitors: Finding the office is a bit of a trick: Enter [Garrison] bight in your dinghy; The first docks you see will be filled with houseboats. The dinghy dock and amenities for the mooring field are on the west side of the bight, past these houseboats and the channel to the inner part of the bight (under a bridge) But to check in, go under the bridge, turn left and go all the way to the boat ramp. Tie up and find the office in a long gray trailer in the parking lot. We had to stop and ask directions twice.
Lisa Keith-Lucas

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Key West – Fleming Key Mooring Field

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Key West – Fleming Key Mooring Field

Don’t anyone ever think it’s just a casual day cruise from Key West to Garden Key or any of the other Dry Tortugas isles. This sojourn requires careful preparation and planning!

Plan very careful to take your own boat to Las Tortugas. Tide Hiker is large enough to handle heavy seas and carry substantial stores. Prevailing winds in the winter season center around SSE, and can blow at 25 kts or more for weeks on end. You not only need to get there, but you need to get back, too. I know of several smaller boats that have been “trapped” by the weather and had to re-provision by taking the fast cat back to Key West, provision, and take the fast cat back to their boat. There are no facilities at Las Tortugas; no water, no trash disposal, no dockage, no showers and no laundry. Heads are only available during the day time hours when the fast cat is there. Pumping overboard is a strongly enforced no-no. If you have pets (dog), check with the NPS to be sure you can land them. You will need to be entirely self-contained, and if the winds blow up, it can be a long stay indeed.
Hope this is useful.
Jim

I have been there in good weather, and it still can be a difficult trip. Navigation is tricky and the holding ground marginal. Best to
go in April when the winds are down, and the thunder storms has notstarted yet. The fort is interesting to see once. Seaplanes land
in the main channel, so do not anchor there. Go the south route over and the north route back for the sights.
Al Hackett

Newfound Harbor Northern Anchorage lies north of marker #8, hard by the tip of the charted tongue of deep water. Captain Mickey reminds us that this anchorage is a restricted area from the southern tips of Little Torch Key and Little Pine key. Note B of the NOAA chart states “No anchoring by sailboats or other masted vessels due to the presence of high tension power lines.” There are three additional anchorages south of the restricted area which ARE open to sailcraft and other masted vessels – see link below.

Masted vessels are not allowed here. They have white PVC markers and a sign. As soon as I anchored a small boat came out and informed me of the markers and signs. Designated anchorage is to right of the markers as you approach from the south.
Mickey

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For Newfound Harbor Channel Northerly Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Newfound Harbor Channel Northerly Anchorage

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listings For All Anchorages, off the Hawk Channel, From Sombrero Key to Key West

A & B Marina overlooks the southwestern banks of Key West Bight, just south of the Galleon Marina.

I attended Fantasy Fest in October 2012 and pulled in A&B to fuel. I purchased 4K worth of fuel. I ask dock hand if I could load my tender while tied up since the wind was at over 20 KTS and he replied yes. The loading took around 30 minutes. Just as we were finishing the dock master showed up and told us we needed to get the f??k out of the fuel dock. There were no boats waiting to fuel. Needless to say I was not impressed with A&B and will never return.
On a side note I kept a 55′ boat there for over a year a few years back and during FF had eaten at their restaurant.
R C Roberts

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For A & B Marina

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of A & B Marina

Boot Key Harbor on the southside of Marathon, near statute mile 1195, is accessible from Hawk Channel and from the Inside Route via Moser Channel.

The next day, we returned via the Florida Bay side from our overnight in Boot Key Harbor. Staying on the Magenta line on the ICW was without incident. The only tough part was to keep watch and steer around the numerous lobster/crab traps inundating the ICW route.
Victor

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Boot Key Harbor

Capt. Victor confirms earlier reports that all hazards have been removed and markers in place in this narrow channel through Peterson Keys in Florida Bay. Channel Five Bridge is 4.5 nautical miles southwest of Bowlegs Cut. BTW, any idea why several official charts spell “Bowlegs” with a “y” – “Bowlegys”?

Bowlegs Cut
Headed through Bowlegs Cut without a problem and again at low tide there was more than adequate draft for 5′ sailboat. After Bowlegs Cut there was no problems heading out to Hawk’s Channel through the Channel 5 bridge on our way to Marathon.
Victor

I can’t speak about “bowlegys” but my Garmin chartplotter has mispelled signs as “sings” in multiple places.
Al

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bowlegs Cut

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Channel Five Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Channel Five Bridge

Always good to get reports of “no grounding” since we post so often of shoaling on the AICW.

Cruising News:
Miami to Plantation Key
Happy to report that from Miami to Plantation Key in Islamorada via Biscayne Bay, Card, Little Card, Barnes and Blackwater Sounds was no problem with a sailboat drafting 4’10″. Sticking to the ICW Magenta line and even at low tide, there was no grounding.
Victor

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Plantation Key

The Florida State Park mooring field reviewed below lies off the northwesterly shores of Lignumvitae Key, which is itself found near the Indian Key Channel and Lignumvitae Channel, off the Florida Keys Inside Route near Islamorada.

We spent a night on the western side of Lignumvitae Key due to east winds of 18-20 knots. We were well protected in the lee of this island with good holding in sand with our Delta plow anchor. There was again, only one mooring ball at the northern tip of the key and since it was very exposed to the east wind we decided not to use it.
Victor

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Lignumvitae Mooring Field

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Lignumvitae Mooring Field

Shell Key Anchorage and Mooring Field is a series of 5 five mooring buoys off the Shell Key’s northwesterly shoreline, maintained by the State of Florida. Florida Keys Inside Route passes through Steamboat Channel, which divides Shell Key Bank.

Steamboat Channel and Shell Key
From Plantation Key we headed towards Steamboat Channel. Prior to the Steamboat Channel, there was some sailor angst about shallow water at low tide even on the ICW Magenta line, but we never touched bottom. Steamboat Channel had adequate depth and we went through without any problems. Spent overnight on the northwest side of Shell Key. Good holding with a Delta plow anchor. There was only one mooring ball visualized and of course taken by late afternoon.

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Shell Key Anchorage

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Shell Key

Dinner Key Mooring Field lies generally southwest of Dinner Key Channel marker #12.

We enjoyed almost all of the experience of staying in the mooring field except the exposure and distance out which made for wet and rough dingy rides. We loved the staff and the new rental bikes. Also they have a great laundry, although it is small. The showers are minimal and just ok. We would probably not stay again when the cold fronts are going through but would when the weather is calm.
Pamela

Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Dinner Key Mooring Field

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Dinner Key Mooring Field