Hawk Channel, FL
Hawk Channel, FL
The deepest and only viable route for vessels with a draft of 5 feet or more is the Hawk Channel running from Biscayne Bay to Key West. Not “officially” part of the ICW system, Hawk Channel tracks southwest 1 to 3 nm off the ocean side of the Keys. Taking the form of a somewhat protected “channel,” it runs over the flat banks (Florida Platform) between the Keys and Florida’s barrier reef to the southeast. In ordinary weather it is a pleasant sail or an easy run for the entire length of the Keys.
The prevailing southeasterly winds can provide a nice boost for a long reach on an outside run under sail. However, with numerous breaks in the outer reef it can offer its share of rough water should the wind be strong from either the southern or southwestern quarter.
Marinas, Dockage, Service & Navigation
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Boating Destinations near the Hawk Channel, FL
When Commodore Ralph Middleton Munroe was sailing and exploring the Keys at the turn of the 20th century from his home on Biscayne Bay, he ducked in and out of Hawk Channel through the myriad channels along the islands and spent many nights anchored in their lees.
The Commodore's reminisces of the settlements and people of that time are delightful reading and portray Florida as a new frontier and destination for visitors seeking warm weather and a tropical paradise.
Today, the Keys remain worthy of discovery and those who make the journey are seldom disappointed. Boating, kayaking, cruising and biking in the Florida Keys are just as magical as they have always been.
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