Florida’s East Coast Pilot Notes
Coastal Summary 152 Miami to Key West 162
Amelia Island to Cape Canaveral 153 Hawk Channel: Soldier Key to Key West 164
Jacksonville 153 Key Largo 164
Cape Canaveral 155 Marathon 164
Cape Canaveral to Miami 156
Key West 164
Fort Pierce 156 Key West to the Dry Tortugas 168
Palm Beach 158 Dry Tortugas 168
Fort Lauderdale / Port Everglades 158
Miami 158
Coastal Summary
the inlets, even the main ones such as Lake
Florida’s Atlantic coast is a fairly straight, Worth and Miami, can produce hazardous
homogenous shoreline. Southbound vessels conditions on an ebb tide, there are some
can as a rule run fairly close inshore all the that should be avoided at all costs, except in
way down from Amelia Island to Miami, calm conditions and with local knowledge.
while respecting the occasional shoals and Strangers should not attempt passage at St
strong tidal inlets. Vessels bound N can sail Augustine, Ponce de Leon, St Lucie, Jupiter,
further offshore and take advantage of the Boca Raton or Hillsboro.
Gulf Stream depending on their final desti- Between Miami and Key West, boats have
nation. the option of running in deep water outside
In winter months, NE winds associated the line of reefs, marked by a series of promi-
with frontal systems will blow counter to the nent lighthouses, or taking the inner Hawk
Gulf Stream current and can quickly create Channel. The choice depends on weather
extremely heavy and dangerous seas. Keep conditions and the vessel’s draft and sailing
a close eye on weather reports. A sea breeze capabilities, but those opting for the outside
commonly develops early in the day and route should be aware that there is consider-
persists through the afternoon year-round. able commercial traffic in this area, day and
In summer months it is common for violent night. Although well lighted, it is preferable
thunderstorms and squalls to develop later to run the Hawk Channel during daylight. It
in the afternoon. These storms will begin is essential to have a complete set of updated
over the land and move out to the shoreline charts for this part of the coast. Be aware of
and eventually dissipate at sea. These are not restrictions on anchoring and other activities
forecast in detail; sailing along the coast keep in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctu-
a close eye on the sky to the W. ary. See www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/ for more
Florida has some of the most dangerous information. The sanctuary extends from
inlet channels on the Atlantic coast. While all Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas.
152