[Rhodes22-list] Biscayne Bay Area Launch ramps

[Robert Quinn]

Bill:  I have not been to a Seminole Village in years but it is definitely 
worth a visit.  The last one I went to was set up native style with families 
going through a routine day (nothing like a routine day for the rest of us). 
It was very educational.  It kind of lets you know that our ecology is 
critical.  The Seminole's lived off the land and waterways, much of which is 
disappearing.  Now most of their revenues come in via gambling casinos.

An airboat ride is definitely something to jump on.  Going over to southwest 
Florida, there are some pretty fantastic spots along the way.  Highway 41 
still has a charm of its own over Alligator Alley.  Recommend it as the way 
to cross over. We did it with the motor home and tow vehicle last Spring and 
really enjoyed going back in time.

Bob
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 10:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Biscayne Bay Area Launch ramps


> Bob,
>
> Thanks, again, again!
>
> Either one has direct access to people with known sensibilities and 
> experience cruising certain waters, or one doesn't.  And if you don't, 
> there is nothing you can do about it.  I consider myself very lucky to 
> have that access.  You have shortened my research period considerably.
>
> I will almost certainly rent a slip in Dinner Key Marina for the entire 
> time I plan to be down there, and see how it goes.  You have given me a 
> number of great possible destinations, and I will chart them all out, 
> figure how long it will take me to do various runs, and study the waters 
> before I arrive.
>
> Then we'll see how it goes, what the weather looks like, and if we're 
> having fun.  If we are having fun, I will consider more distant 
> runs--possibly with me going by boat, and my wife meeting me 40 or 50 
> miles down the coast in our truck.  That's got to be roughly the distance 
> to John Pennekamp.
>
> I am not concerned about paying $25 for a slip that I may not use for 
> several nights if that's the way things shake out.  I just want to be sure 
> that if we want the boat to be in that slip, it can be there for as long 
> as we want.  No pressure.  No hassles.  Learn as we go.
>
> Interesting about the Miami Boat Show.  I will probably be down there 
> during that time, but can't commit to anything just yet.
>
> I love to go to the Everglades, also--and driving up through alligator 
> alley.  Is there anything to see on the Seminole Reservation?  I've never 
> been there.  It's not just that these places are so different from New 
> York City or Greenwich, Connecticut--these places are different from 
> everywhere.
>
> This is going to be fun.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
> Robert Quinn wrote:
>
>> Bill:  My pleasure.  Hope it helps you have a great time.  From the sound 
>> of it you know the area and the first trip out should be Biscayne Bay. 
>> If you decide to overnight on the boat, I recommend No Name Harbor for 
>> one night and Pumpkin Key for another night (or alternatively Elliott Key 
>> Harbor or Boca Chita to shorten sail time).  Getting to and from each 
>> will allow you to sail the length of Biscayne Bay.
>>
>> As you indicated there are so many options that you can just about run 
>> out of time and money before you complete them all.  We rented a place in 
>> Key Largo a few years ago that came with a '25 Catalina.   My brother and 
>> his wife joined us for a great romp on Florida Bay.  We stayed on the 
>> Florida Bay side: Blackwater and Buttonwood Sounds primarily but you can 
>> cut up to Barnes and Card Sound as well if you wish.  We sailed down to 
>> Hammer Point where my cousin had a place stopping along the way for 
>> lunch, a swim, etc. Much calmer on the Bay side most of the time.  What 
>> is nice about having the choice is that if the Hawk Channel is kicking 
>> up, you can save the vacation by slipping over to the Florida Bay side.
>>
>> We love visiting Coconut Grove.  Very interesting people watching 
>> location with tons of great restaurants.  As a Miami Boy (actually grew 
>> up in Hialeah, Miami Springs, and Palm Springs), we try to get down 
>> several times a year.  The Miami Boat show is always a great excuse for 
>> us to visit old haunts.  We will spend a few days at this year's show. 
>> Rumor has it that Elton will be there.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
>> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 6:11 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Biscayne Bay Area Launch ramps
>>
>>
>>> Bob,
>>>
>>> Thanks for spending so much time on this reply.  It is exactly what I 
>>> need.
>>>
>>> I've got charts, guide books,  Frank Papy's guide, etc.  I think you 
>>> recommended Papy years ago, and I went right out and bought it.
>>>
>>> As a professional vacation taker, I like to settle into one or two 
>>> places and really learn them, rather than trying to see how many notches 
>>> I can carve into my GPS.  If I like the area I can always come back.
>>>
>>> My wife likes the idea of sailing better than sailing.  She has very 
>>> thin blood, and gets cold when the sun's not out, even in the middle of 
>>> the summer.
>>>
>>> We have a very close, very interesting friend who lives in Coconut 
>>> Grove. We have many friends in Miami, love the area, and come back 
>>> repeatedly.
>>>
>>> If my wife enjoys this vacation, and enjoys having the boat in Miami, we 
>>> will repeat it.  If not, my boat will probably never sail out of the 
>>> Long Island Sound area again.
>>>
>>> OK.  That's fair enough.  Both my wife and I are perfectly comfortable 
>>> with my sailing and navigation skills.
>>>
>>> There are islands off the Florida coast that are rentable.  There are 
>>> homes on canals with slips that we can rent.  Their are resorts 
>>> reachable only by boat, and others with marinas where you can leave your 
>>> boat while you get a hot shower and sleep in a real bed.  All of these 
>>> things are under consideration, and my wife is game.
>>>
>>> We have stayed in Marathon and Key Largo and Key West.  We have 
>>> snorkeled in John Pennekamp.  We have sailed in Key Biscayne with 
>>> friends.  We have been on Fisher Island.  All delightful.
>>> I am going to study and review your remarks closely, and plot them on 
>>> charts, along with any other thoughts from anyone who wants to suggest 
>>> anything.  I want to construct a knock-your-socks-off, can't miss, first 
>>> time, winter boating experience, so my wife will want to come back 
>>> again, and do more.
>>>
>>> Your comments will help a lot, and I'm going to keep going over them.
>>>
>>> Thanks, again,
>>>
>>> Bill Effros
>>>
>>> Robert Quinn wrote:
>>>
>>>> Bill:  A lot depends on what you plan to do (e.g., do you plan to put 
>>>> in and sail off for a few days or just day sail coming back to the same 
>>>> location every night?).
>>>>
>>>> I've read ahead so will try to consolidate responses in one email. 
>>>> Sailing on Biscayne Bay when the weather is with you has to be one of 
>>>> the neatest experiences going.  The Bay offers lots of fairly open area 
>>>> and lots of islands to explore but you also have to have good charts 
>>>> are there are lots of shallows to contend with.  The R22 is a good boat 
>>>> for the area.  The sail to Key West is great.  As someone mentioned 
>>>> coming back can be a challenge as from Key West to Marathon in the Hawk 
>>>> Channel (Atlantic side) you are heading almost directly east.  Most 
>>>> days the wind comes from the east... need I say more.  Going down is a 
>>>> blast.  (Must add that sometimes the wind can be with you coming back. 
>>>> Mother Nature don'cha know.)  You do have the option of coming up on 
>>>> the Florida Bay side though which is interesting for a couple of 
>>>> reasons.  The channel is well marked but does get shallow and winders 
>>>> quite a bit out of Key West; however, it offers a lot of protection 
>>>> when the wind is up on the Atlantic side. Plus lots of protected Bays 
>>>> that offer great swimming, fishing, islands to explore, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Frank Papy's guide book "Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys" is a must, 
>>>> in my humble opinion, as he gives you some good guidance all along the 
>>>> way (Fort Lauderdale to Key West and the Tortugas (now with a West 
>>>> Coast supplement) pointing out high points, places to see, and places 
>>>> to avoid, good navigation guidance, anchorages, hints to make life in 
>>>> the Keys a great experience, etc.
>>>>
>>>> We have been to Homestead's Bayfront Park on many occasions but for 
>>>> some reason I have never bothered to inquire about overnighting the car 
>>>> and trailer as we never had our R22 there.  I do know that there is a 
>>>> fellow who sailed his R22 from there to the Bahamas so would think he 
>>>> left his trailer and vehicle there.  I'd give them a call as this would 
>>>> be an ideal jump off point.  There are slips, fuel, bathrooms, parking, 
>>>> etc. available so it looks like leaving the trailer and car there would 
>>>> be a good bet.  Crandon Park Marina on Key Biscayne is also something 
>>>> to check out.  A bit more crowded but a good jump off point as well.
>>>>
>>>> We sailed the "NoKaOi" (Tartan 37 Version as opposed to the R22 
>>>> version) around from Punta Gorda via Cayo Costa, Naples, Marco Island, 
>>>> Shark River (winded in for four nights), Marathon, Key West (Boca Chica 
>>>> actually for a month), then back to Marathon (wind on the nose).  As 
>>>> the weather was quite stinky on the Hawk Channel we ducked under the 
>>>> seven mile bridge up to Matacumbe Key, Pumpkin Key, breaking out into 
>>>> Biscayne Bay for one of the most memorable sails we have ever had.  The 
>>>> weather was perfect: wind, sea conditions, bright clear blue sky day, 
>>>> dolphin escort, and gin clear water. We ducked into No Name Harbor on 
>>>> Key Biscayne (near Cape Florida Park) for a wonderful night.  We 
>>>> continued on up to Fort Lauderdale, Lake Worth (Palm Beach) before 
>>>> getting back to Stuart via the St. Lucie Inlet.  With the exceptions as 
>>>> noted we only spent one night at the named locations as we were 
>>>> interested in spending time in the Key West area, and from there, 
>>>> getting home for a family reunion.
>>>>
>>>> Now the questions is:  Bob if you had it to do over, what would you 
>>>> have done differently?  Took tons more time!  Learn from our 
>>>> experience.  I've read a lot about sailing the Keys area (Biscayne Bay 
>>>> to Key West) and the best advice is to spend at least a week in each 
>>>> area:  West Marine puts out three chart books:  one for Miami to Key 
>>>> Largo, one for Key Largo to Marathon, and one for Marathon to Key West 
>>>> and the Dry Tortugas.  These chart books kind of make it easy to break 
>>>> up your visits with plenty to do in each area both on the Florida Bay 
>>>> side and on the Atlantic Side. (Note: There are several places whereby 
>>>> you can cross over from the Hawk Channel to Florida Bay.  It is 
>>>> important that you know these cross over points as when things kick up 
>>>> on the Atlantic side you want to know where you can duck over to 
>>>> Florida Bay.  This is especially important during the winter months 
>>>> when the 'nor'easters blast through.)
>>>>
>>>> Oh, and in each of these segments, there are places to launch and 
>>>> recover from.  For example in Key Largo, you have John Pennekamp Coral 
>>>> Reef State Park which is a great jump off point to some fantastic 
>>>> snorkeling just off shore on the Hawk Channel.
>>>>
>>>> Our "NoKaOi" got bashed in Frances and Jeanne last year so our sailing 
>>>> season was limited (we left the Florida heat and hurricane season on 
>>>> July 20th in a small motorhome for Maine).  After we got the boat 
>>>> recommissioned in April we were only able to get a few day sails in 
>>>> plus a three day trip to Lake Worth.  Sure enough, Wilma, our 2005 
>>>> storm also beat  the "NoKaOi" up a bit, fortunately not nearly as bad 
>>>> as Frances and Jeanne.  We hope to set sail again in January in 
>>>> preparation for a Bahamas run sometime from mid April to June 1st.   If 
>>>> for some reason the weather gods say no to the Bahamas, we will be 
>>>> perfectly content sailing from Biscayne Bay to Key West in a very 
>>>> leisurely pace.  Tons of great anchorages, swimming, snorkeling, 
>>>> restaurants with dinghy docks when we don't want to cook aboard, and 
>>>> did I mention, wonderful sailing?
>>>>
>>>> Come on down, you will love it!
>>>>
>>>> Bob and Kathy on the "NoKaOi"
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "William E. Wickman" 
>>>> <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>>>> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 12:57 PM
>>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Biscayne Bay Area Launch ramps
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   Speaking of Biscayne Bay, I am thinking about taking my boat down 
>>>> there next summer for about a week.  Can anyone recommend a launch ra 
>>>> mp that will allow you to store your trailer and vehicle safely?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>   Bill Wickman
>>>>
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