Talking About Adventure In Small Boats
Sirtackalot
Member
Since I only made it to Flamingo before kokopeddle and I were forced to drop out with a broken boat, I've not had the pleasure of doing FL bay. I'd like some input please on the "North " route compared to going down to the ICW like sewsew and some others did last year. Racing on a 18' Sailbird Trimaran that sails great but paddles like a refrigerator.........
Thanks,
Roy
"Sirtackalot"
Ridgerunner
Member
Roy, you go out to near the outside marker at Flamingo and turn East (how far out depends on the tide and your draft). The first channel is "Tin Can" (goes NE a little, then dog legs SE to end at Buoy Key. Then through the "Dump Keys", past "End Key" and through "Twisty Mile". From there cross to "Jimmie Channel", then N through "Manitee Channel" (near Manitee Keys). From thee it's pretty wide open to the finish.
The entrances to the channels are sometimes difficult to find in low light or at night, so I would recommend getting Top Spot chart N207, which has the names of the passes and Lat and Lon numbers for each entrance. Outside of these passes, it is impossibly shallow at most levels to get through, and don't forget that a N wind (the easiest for sailing the N route) can blow all of the wate out of the Bay and negate any tides.
Good luck and see you on the beach.
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