Homestead Bayfront Park

Homestead Bayfront Park Herbert Hoover Marina at Homestead Bayfront Park Located directly south of Biscayne National Park's headquarters at Convoy Point, this park offers easy access to the southern end of the park, including the largest concentrations of coral reefs. For landlubbers, the park also offers a small man-made swimming beach and a restaurant. Monitors VHF Channel 16/Working Channel 72.

Date Day Time Pred(Ft) High/Low

04/03/2013 Mon 3:30 AM 1.6 H04/03/2013 Mon 10:22 AM 0.1 L04/03/2013 Mon 3:40 PM 1.5 H04/03/2013 Mon 10:54 PM -0.2 L05/03/2013 Tue 4:35 AM 1.5 H05/03/2013 Tue 11:30 AM 0.1 L05/03/2013 Tue 4:49 PM 1.5 H06/03/2013 Wed 12:03 AM -0.2 L06/03/2013 Wed 5:44 AM 1.5 H06/03/2013 Wed 12:41 PM 0.1 L06/03/2013 Wed 6:01 PM 1.5 H07/03/2013 Thu 1:12 AM -0.2 L07/03/2013 Thu 6:51 AM 1.6 H07/03/2013 Thu 1:46 PM 0 L07/03/2013 Thu 7:10 PM 1.6 H08/03/2013 Fri 2:15 AM -0.2 L08/03/2013 Fri 7:52 AM 1.7 H08/03/2013 Fri 2:46 PM -0.1 L08/03/2013 Fri 8:12 PM 1.7 H09/03/2013 Sat 3:12 AM -0.3 L09/03/2013 Sat 8:46 AM 1.7 H09/03/2013 Sat 3:39 PM -0.2 L09/03/2013 Sat 9:07 PM 1.8 H10/03/2013 Sun 5:04 AM -0.3 L10/03/2013 Sun 10:34 AM 1.8 H10/03/2013 Sun 5:29 PM -0.3 L10/03/2013 Sun 10:57 PM 1.8 H

Biscayne Park Headquarters

Leg #1

Boca Chita Key Harbor is well protected, you can tie up overnight ($15 fee) with a limit of two boats per raft up. It gets a little crowded on week ends, especially holiday week end so get there early on friday. No anchoring allowed in the harbor; on calm days, it is possible to anchor east of the Key.

At low tide, the shallowest point in the channel is just over 5', near the harbor entrance. The channel is pretty narrow (marked by 3 pairs of red/green floating buoys) so watch it to make sure you don't drift outside... remember that running aground in Biscayne National Park can be very expensive as you are responsible for damage to the bottom...

The cut on the south side (between Boca Chita and Sands Key) can be used by small boats wth local knowledge. Ouboard boats can go around the north end and anchor in the cut, but again watch your depth and do not disturb the grass beds.

Explore the trails on the island or swim at the little beaches on the north and south sides (watch the current though...). There are a number of stone structures and buildings on the island, originally built in the 20s and 30s and maintained by the National Parl Service. There is large picnic pavillion near the dock and an landmark ornamental lighthouse at the entrance. It is locked but you can sometimes catch a tour with a ranger when a tour boat comes in, great view !


04/03/2013 Mon 2:20 AM 1.6 H04/03/2013 Mon 8:40 AM 0.1 L04/03/2013 Mon 2:30 PM 1.5 H04/03/2013 Mon 9:12 PM -0.3 L05/03/2013 Tue 3:25 AM 1.5 H05/03/2013 Tue 9:48 AM 0.2 L05/03/2013 Tue 3:39 PM 1.5 H05/03/2013 Tue 10:21 PM -0.3 L06/03/2013 Wed 4:34 AM 1.5 H06/03/2013 Wed 10:59 AM 0.1 L06/03/2013 Wed 4:51 PM 1.5 H06/03/2013 Wed 11:30 PM -0.3 L07/03/2013 Thu 5:41 AM 1.6 H07/03/2013 Thu 12:04 PM 0 L07/03/2013 Thu 6:00 PM 1.6 H08/03/2013 Fri 12:33 AM -0.4 L08/03/2013 Fri 6:42 AM 1.7 H08/03/2013 Fri 1:04 PM -0.2 L08/03/2013 Fri 7:02 PM 1.7 H09/03/2013 Sat 1:30 AM -0.4 L09/03/2013 Sat 7:36 AM 1.7 H09/03/2013 Sat 1:57 PM -0.3 L09/03/2013 Sat 7:57 PM 1.8 H10/03/2013 Sun 3:22 AM -0.5 L10/03/2013 Sun 9:24 AM 1.8 H10/03/2013 Sun 3:47 PM -0.5 L10/03/2013 Sun 9:47 PM 1.8 H

Sands Key Sands Key AnchorageNice anchorage with 5 to 6' of water. Approach from the West, just south of the 3 channel markers.

Take your dinghy in thru the narrow channel into the lagoon in Sands Key, the entrance is hard to spot...Date Day Time Pred(Ft) High/Low


Elliott Key (North) Elliot Key AnchorageSite of the famous Columbus Day Regatta Party when thousands of boat anchor out for one big party... Things a not as wild as they used to be thanks to increased law enforcement presence making it safer and probably even more fun. If you go, water guns are a must :-)

The rest of the year, it's a great anchorage thanks to crystal clear water. The most popular area is near the north end, by the beach near University dock. You can tie up to the dock in about 4 to 5' of water but mosquitoes and bugs are a problem in summer; anchoring out 200 yards off shore is a better idea !

Approach from the west, watch out for no wake markers. You can take in 4 1/2 ' all the way to University Dock (south end of the beach). Holding isn't very good, thin layer of stand over coral/rock so use a lot of scope. In winter, the anchorage can be very exposed when cold fronts move thru and the winds shift to the W, NW and N.



Elliott Key (South)Elliott Key Ranger StationSorry, small boat only ! The marina can only accommodate boats under 30' or so and depths are only about 3' at low tide. Larger boats can anchor and dinghy in...

No services unfortunately, but it's a nice place to stop by in winter; too many mosquitoes and bugs in summer! There are a few trails, including the one visible across the island leading to a nature trail - boardwalk on the ocean side. There is also a dirt road extending nearly the entire length of the island; it was cleared years ago before Elliott became part of the National Park, part of a project to develop the island and link it to Key Largo with a bridge...


04/03/2013 Mon 3:15 AM 1.4 H04/03/2013 Mon 10:01 AM 0.1 L04/03/2013 Mon 3:25 PM 1.4 H04/03/2013 Mon 10:33 PM -0.2 L05/03/2013 Tue 4:20 AM 1.4 H05/03/2013 Tue 11:09 AM 0.1 L05/03/2013 Tue 4:34 PM 1.3 H05/03/2013 Tue 11:42 PM -0.1 L06/03/2013 Wed 5:29 AM 1.4 H06/03/2013 Wed 12:20 PM 0.1 L06/03/2013 Wed 5:46 PM 1.4 H07/03/2013 Thu 12:51 AM -0.2 L07/03/2013 Thu 6:36 AM 1.4 H07/03/2013 Thu 1:25 PM 0 L07/03/2013 Thu 6:55 PM 1.4 H08/03/2013 Fri 1:54 AM -0.2 L08/03/2013 Fri 7:37 AM 1.5 H08/03/2013 Fri 2:25 PM -0.1 L08/03/2013 Fri 7:57 PM 1.5 H09/03/2013 Sat 2:51 AM -0.2 L09/03/2013 Sat 8:31 AM 1.6 H09/03/2013 Sat 3:18 PM -0.2 L09/03/2013 Sat 8:52 PM 1.6 H10/03/2013 Sun 4:43 AM -0.3 L10/03/2013 Sun 10:19 AM 1.6 H10/03/2013 Sun 5:08 PM -0.3 L10/03/2013 Sun 10:42 PM 1.7 H

Adams Key Adams KeyAdams Key lies on the north side of swift-moving Caesar Creek. Once home to the famed Cocolobo Club, a retreat for people like Carl Fisher, Gar Wood, and Presidents Harding, Hoover, Johnson and Nixon, Adams Key is now a day-use area open from dawn until dusk. A short trail leads through the hardwood hammock, and a picnic pavilion and toilets are also available. There are also two park ranger families living on the island.



Adams Key

Pumpkin Key Pumpkin KeyPumpkin Key is one of the best anchorages for an exit from Bayside to the Gulfstream. Even at low tide if you draw 5ft or less you’ll have no problem. Deeper draft boats will have to wait for high tide. The anchorage is not where it is shown on the chart, but to the SW of R12 between Pumpkin Key and the marker in 8-12 feet of water. Good holding and protection and even if it blows from the West, you’ll be OK. However, if you’re expecting bad weather, you can go NW of the anchorage across the bay to the Arsenicker Keys and anchor in 8 feet of good holding sand with beautiful clear water and excellent protection from the West. The oddity is that the water at Pumpkin is opaque green while the Arsenickers is Bahamas like..

Adams Key



Alabama Jack’s Alabama Jack’s Bar Alabama Jack’s has been an outpost for more than 50 years. It is located on Card Sound Road, a toll-road through the mangrove swamps where Miami-Dade County meets Monroe County.

Adams Key


04/03/2013 Mon 4:10 AM 0.7 H04/03/2013 Mon 10:41 AM 0 L04/03/2013 Mon 4:20 PM 0.6 H04/03/2013 Mon 11:13 PM -0.1 L05/03/2013 Tue 5:15 AM 0.7 H05/03/2013 Tue 11:49 AM 0.1 L05/03/2013 Tue 5:29 PM 0.6 H06/03/2013 Wed 12:22 AM -0.1 L06/03/2013 Wed 6:24 AM 0.7 H06/03/2013 Wed 1:00 PM 0.1 L06/03/2013 Wed 6:41 PM 0.6 H07/03/2013 Thu 1:31 AM -0.1 L07/03/2013 Thu 7:31 AM 0.7 H07/03/2013 Thu 2:05 PM 0 L07/03/2013 Thu 7:50 PM 0.7 H08/03/2013 Fri 2:34 AM -0.1 L08/03/2013 Fri 8:32 AM 0.7 H08/03/2013 Fri 3:05 PM -0.1 L08/03/2013 Fri 8:52 PM 0.7 H09/03/2013 Sat 3:31 AM -0.2 L09/03/2013 Sat 9:26 AM 0.7 H09/03/2013 Sat 3:58 PM -0.1 L09/03/2013 Sat 9:47 PM 0.8 H10/03/2013 Sun 5:23 AM -0.2 L10/03/2013 Sun 11:14 AM 0.8 H10/03/2013 Sun 5:48 PM -0.2 L

10/03/2013 Sun 11:37 PM 0.8 H

Basics for radio etiquette and protocol include:Always monitor channel 16 while underway. Reserve calling on channel 16 for hailing and distress only. If you need to hail a vessel, name the vessel you are calling two or three times, state the name of your vessel and wait. Once the vessel responds, switch immediately to an authorized working channel. (See list.)

Example: "Vectis, Vectis, Vectis, this is Aleria on channel 16 over." "Aleria this is Vectis." "Vectis, switch to channel 71." "Vectis switching 71." You meet on channel 71 where you can converse normally. The reason to state the channel you are on is that very often people monitor two (dual) or more frequencies and may have forgotten to switch back to 16 after a previous transmission.

Conduct radio checks on channel 9. This is a hailing frequency for non-commercial and non-emergency traffic. Hail commercial vessels on channel 13 if you need to verify their intentions. It’s better to discuss a course of action with the captain of a tanker than to create a hazardous situation. Channel 13 is also the channel bridge tenders listen to. If you need to know when the next bridge opening would be, this is the channel on which to hail the bridge operator. Working channels for reacreational boaters are 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, and 78a. These are also the channels used by many yacht clubs and marinas for their working channels. Use care not to “step on” or interfere with transmission involving yacht races and other events. Note that channel 70 is now authorized only for Digital Selective Calling, an emergency automated distress system mandated by international treaty; channel 70 may no longer be used for voice communication.

SAMPLE DISTRESS CALL on VHF Channel 16 (2182 kHz or 158.6 MHz on other radios)MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this is the sailing vessel (name of vessel) _______________________________________, _____________ (give station ID if available then spell out in phonetic alphabet) ________________________________________________________________________________ Over. Wait for response. Repeat. If no response, check that channel is on 16 and power is on high and continue broadcast with full information as shown below. Continue to broadcast until you leave the ship. Activate DSC signal on VHF radios equipped with this new feature.Mayday, mayday, mayday, this is the sailing vessel ________________________________, _____________ (station ID). We are a ______________ (color) hulled _________ (sloop, ketch, cutter, etc) at position _____________________, ______________________ with _____________persons onboard. (State nature of distress, e.g., we have struck an object and are taking on water and preparing to abandon ship to a ________liferaft. We are activating the EPIRB, DSC). Repeat, our position is _________________, _____________ we have _________persons onboard. Request immediate assistance. Mayday, mayday, mayday. Over.

SAMPLE SECURITE CALL Securite, securite, securite, hello all stations this is the sailing vessel One More Time. We are towing a powerboat on a stern tow in the vicity of Sheffield Island CT bound for Norwalk harbor and have limited maneuverability. All vessels transiting the area should keep a sharp lookout. The is the sailing vessel One More Time standing by on channel 16 for any concerned traffic.

SAMPLE PAN PAN CALL Pan pan, pan pan, pan pan, this is the sailing vessel Dame. We have grounded on the shoal at Channel Island but appear to be stable. Repeat, this is the sailing vessel Dame grounded on Channel Island shoal. Request assistance from any vessel in the vicinity in case of further distress. This is the sailing vessel Dame standing by on channel 16. After you determine that everything is fine and you are underway again, cancel the pan pan.Hello all stations, hello all stations, hello all stations, this is the sailing vessel Dame cancelling pan pan. Dame standing by channel 16.

Homestead Bayfront Park

Documents

working channel

channel markers

boca chita key harbor

north end

south sides

harbor entrance

monitors vhf channel

holiday week end