Blue Ocean Club
Blue Ocean Club cruising guide

Yacht charter in Florida - East Coast

Cruising Florida's East Coast combines urban waterways, barrier island anchorages, and protected inland navigation along the Intracoastal Waterway. Extending from Palm Beach down through Fort Lauderdale and Miami to Biscayne Bay, the cruising ground offers a blend of city moorings, coastal hops, and shallow-water anchorages across sandy flats. The region suits charterers seeking vibrant waterfront culture, extensive marina infrastructure, and access to inshore reefs and sheltered bays without the requirement for long offshore passages.

Best time to charter

The main charter season runs from November to April, characterised by prevailing easterly breezes, lower humidity, and temperatures averaging 22°C to 27°C. December through February represents the busiest period. May brings lighter winds and reduced crowds. The summer months from June to October bring warmer waters, high humidity, frequent afternoon rain showers, and the Atlantic hurricane season, resulting in quieter charter conditions.

Anchorages and harbours to know

Nixon Beach

Located on the west side of Key Biscayne in Biscayne Bay, this sheltered anchorage offers shallow sandy waters suitable for anchoring in calm conditions.

Peanut Island

Situated inside Lake Worth Inlet near Palm Beach, this anchorage provides reliable holding, clear tidal waters, and direct access to the ocean.

Lake Sylvia

A sheltered, landlocked deep-water basin located off the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale, offering calm holding in soft mud.

No Name Harbor

A protected natural pocket bay at the southern end of Key Biscayne, providing calm water and mud holding near Cape Florida.

Lake Boca Raton

A well-protected basin located inside the Boca Raton Inlet, offering good holding in sand and mud just off the inland channel.

Practical tips

  • Getting there: Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Palm Beach (PBI). Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale marinas are typically 15–30 minutes from Miami or Fort Lauderdale airport.
  • Fly into Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Palm Beach (PBI). Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale marinas are typically 15–30 minutes from Miami or Fort Lauderdale airport.
  • Navigation along the Intracoastal Waterway requires close monitoring of bridge clearance heights, with many fixed spans restricted to a standard 65-foot vertical limit.
  • Manatee protection zones impose strict slow-speed and no-wake regulations throughout inland creeks, channels, and bays, which are actively monitored by maritime law enforcement.
  • Biscayne Bay features extensive shallow shoals outside marked channels; vessels should monitor tidal stages and chart soundings carefully when departing main fairways.

Yachts listed for Florida - East Coast

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