Starting your journey from Tequesta, a picturesque village known for its coastal charm, you'll embark on an intriguing voyage down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) towards the vibrant city of Miami. This route offers not only stunning views and interesting stops along the way but also a safe and comprehensive boating experience ideally suited for both recreational cruisers and experienced skippers.
As you set sail southwards, you'll first navigate through Jupiter Inlet. Jupiter Inlet can sometimes be challenging due to sandbars and shifting channels, so keep an eye on current local navigation updates and utilize chart plotting systems like savvy navvy to ensure you're on course.
Once past Jupiter Inlet, the journey towards the northern reaches of Palm Beach takes you past the iconic Jupiter Lighthouse, a point of historical interest that's worth noting. Continuing through Lake Worth Lagoon, steer clear of the shallower areas and remain vigilant of cross-traffic from smaller vessels.
Heading into the Palm Beach area is a great opportunity for a brief stop. You can tie up at the Palm Beach Marina, where you can rest or explore the opulent sights of Palm Beach, including Worth Avenue's luxurious shopping district if you're up for a little shore-side diversion.
Moving onward, the ICW meanders past the exclusive locales of Boca Raton and Delray Beach. Should the weather show signs of worsening, Lake Boca Raton offers a relatively calm anchorage area for shelter. Ensure your VHF radio is on Channel 16 to receive any Coast Guard advisories relevant to changing weather conditions.
Navigational aids along this stretch include numerous well-marked buoys and day beacons, ensuring safe passage provided you adhere to channel markers and abide by the ICW "red-right-returning" rule — keep red markers on your right when heading south.
Your approach to Fort Lauderdale will provide opportunities to observe myriad mega yachts and bustling waterways. Do be cautious of the heavy marine traffic and adhere to posted speed limits to mitigate wake impacts, particularly in the narrow sections.
As you draw closer to Miami, the skyline begins to unfurl itself in the distance, offering an electrifying reminder of your destination's energy and vibrancy. Before reaching Miami proper, consider stopping at Haulover Sandbar, a favored boater hangout note for its scenic beauty and shallow waters if a day's relaxation is desired.
Approaching Miami, maintain awareness of the Miami Harbor Pilots' area, recognizing that larger vessels frequent these waters, which require caution and observance of any restricted areas or maritime advisories.
Safety is paramount, especially so close to the finish line. Stay updated on weather fronts that could influence Biscayne Bay's conditions, and when docking around Miami's numerous marinas or harbor destinations, reserve in advance, as the slips can fill quickly.
This route from Tequesta to Miami provides an ideal balance of safe, practical navigation with an abundance of scenic and leisure opportunities, perfectly suited for boaters seeking an enriching yet secure sea voyage along Florida's eastern coastline.