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BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER: Explore one of these glorious holiday destinations in your own sailing yacht.
FLOTILLA SAILING HOLIDAYS: Sail your own yacht with the added support of a lead boat crew.
LEARN TO SAIL HOLIDAYS: Start from scratch or brush up your skills.
MOTORYACHT CHARTER: Do you prefer power to sail?
CREWED YACHTS: Relax, let the crew do the work.
SAIL AND STAY HOLIDAYS: Why not add a few days ashore in a hotel?
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BAREBOAT YACHT CHARTER: Sail your yacht in any one of our glorious holiday destinations and explore at your own pace.
MOTORYACHT CHARTER: Do you prefer power to sail?
CREWED YACHTS: Relax, let the crew do the work.
SAIL AND STAY HOLIDAYS: Why not add a few days ashore in a hotel?
- PLAN YOUR TRIP
AIRPORT PARKING & HOTELS: Save up to 60% when you book airport parking & hotels in advance.
BOOKING CONDITIONS: Check our Booking Conditions.
CAR RENTAL: Rent a car instead of an airport transfer or if you add a week ashore.
CRUISING GUIDES: Start planning before you travel with a cruising guide or chart to your sailing destination.
PASSPORTS & VISAS: Check the passport & visa requirements of your sailing destination.
SAILING LOGS: Read our reports on sailing holidays we've been on.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Don't travel without adequate insurance. We offer single trip or Annual multi-trip travel insurance.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN: Read our handy hints on taking small children on a sailing holiday.
USEFUL LINKS: Check these websites for more information on your sailing destination.
WHAT'S ONBOARD: Standard inventory for all charter yachts.
- FAQs
- CONTACT
CONTACT: Check our details and opening hours.
REQUEST A BROCHURE: Order our latest brochure.
WHO WE ARE: Meet the Nautilus team.
WHY BOOK WITH US: How do you benefit?
- OWNERSHIP
Are you thinking of buying a new yacht and putting her with a charter fleet? Speak to us about the best deal for you. Nautilus Yachting has been arranging sailing holidays throughout the Mediterranean & Caribbean since 1992 so we are ideally qualified to advise you on yacht charter management. Find out more
- MOTOR
Sailing Holidays in Florida Keys
Sheltered by the only coral reef in the USA, the Florida Keys offer splendid sailing conditions year round.
Often called "America's Caribbean Islands" the Keys are warmed by the Gulfstream, a swift flowing river in the ocean. The Florida Keys are known for their spectacular coral reefs, excellent marina facilities and quiet restful anchorages.
The islands of the Florida Keys run south west from the city of Miami and are connected by bridges and causeways carrying Highway 1 down to Key West. From Miami beach Marina in the heart of South Beach sail down-island along Hawk Channel or Florida Bay on "the inside". At the "southernmost" end, you have the historic seafaring town of Key West, laid-back and friendly. Walk the beach and watch a beautiful sunset, or dance all night in downtown Key West. The charter fleet is located in the heart of "Old Town", within walking distance to restaurants, Hemingway's haunts, and the famous nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square.
Sailing in Florida Keys
Charter from Miami Beach or Key West, or one way between the two bases and cruise into the peaceful serenity of the Florida Keys, over 125 miles of islands warmed by the Gulfstream. The first island is Key Largo which offers some of the finest diving and snorkeling in the Florida Keys. One of the main attractions in Key Largo is the John Pennekamp State Park. Islamorada, just south of Key Largo, is known for its world class sport fishing. Marathon Key is known as the heart of the Florida Keys and offers many relaxing. Big Pine Key and the Lower Florida Keys are as kicked back as it gets here. Boating and diving are the number one attractions.
DAY 1 : Embark at Miami Beach Marina. Heading south-west you will pass under Rickenbacker Bridge into Biscayne Bay. Sail south past an odd assortment of houses built on stilts, called "Stiltsville", which have played host to many a wild party and appear frequently in old Miami Vice episodes. Your destination this evening is either Elliot Key (25nm) or Pumpkin Key (30nm).
DAY 2 : Once out in Hawk Channel, plot a course to a protected reef for an afternoon of snorkelling or diving. Head into port this evening at the south end of Key Largo (25nm) where there are a few different marinas to choose from: Marina Del Mar and Key Largo Harbor. It's worth the short taxi ride to "The Fish House" for one of the best seafood meals in the Keys.
DAY 3 : Indian Key Anchorage (20nm) is off the northeast end of Lower Matecumbe Key. Along the way, you again have a choice of several beautiful reefs for snorkelling. Alternatively, you could continue on to Long Key Bight to anchor (an additional 12 miles) or simply stay in the Key Largo area.
DAY 4 : At Duck Key you will find the first class resort , Hawk's Cay Marina (20nm). All the facilities of the resort are available to you as transient marina guests. Dolphin shows are a daily event here and very popular!
DAY 5 : At Tavernier (30nm) you can anchor out for the evening. On your way back up Hawk's Channel, don't "bump into" the Hen & Chickens, but do make a point of stopping at this small reef which is very accessible, just outside the channel.
DAY 6 : Heading North, this will be your last day for reef snorkelling. Head back through Angel Fish Creek to anchor at Pumpkin Key (30nm). .
DAY 7 : Today is an easy sail back through Biscayne Bay for an evening at Dinner Key Marina at Coconut Grove (20nm) or duck into "No Name Harbor" at the south end of Key Biscayne, a peaceful little anchorage, with the Cape Florida Lighthouse in the background.
DAY 8 After all the partying you did last night in Coconut Grove, you still need to make an early departure this morning for about a two hour jaunt back to Miami Beach Marina (8nm) for your 10:00 a.m. return time.
Sailing conditions
Winds are light to moderate and temperatures rarely drop below 20oC. Best time to come is December through June, but any time the weather is great for sailing. Experience level 1.
Yacht charter in Florida Keys
Charter from Miami Beach or Key West, or one way between the two bases. Charters start and finish any day (minimum 5 nights), giving you total flexibility over your holiday dates.
Click on the yacht names below to view yacht layout & specification
2 cabin
3 cabin
Catamarans
Motoryachts
Yacht charter rates are shown WITHOUT flights giving you the flexibility to book your own flights.
If you want a flight-inclusive holiday Nautilus Yachting is a fully bonded ATOL tour operator and can book flights from the UK to fit your sailing holiday. Choose from a wide choice of airlines - we are not tied to any particular airline. All flight-inclusive holidays are fully bonded for your financial protection under our ATOL 3016. Airport transfers can also be pre-arranged.
FLIGHTS TO MIAMI:
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have direct flights to Miami. Taxi transfer to marina 15mins. Connecting flight or car hire to Key West (3 hours drive)
Whether you are an experienced sailor or setting foot on a yacht for the first time, we can offer you a holiday afloat to suit you. We have given all the sailing areas a level with 'Experience Level 1' suitable for less experienced crews and 'Experience Level 3' for the experts.
This takes into account the wind strength, tidal range and currents, distances between stops and ease of mooring. Of course even experts may choose to sail in Level 1 areas as they still offer stunning scenery and great sailing.
Experience Level 1: BVI, Bahamas, Florida Keys
Generally light winds Force 2-4, line of sight navigation, shorter sailing distances under 20nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 1 week or 100nm as skipper
Experience Level 2: Antigua, St Martin, St Lucia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Belize
Stronger winds up to Force 3-5 with some longer passages up to 30nm. You will be Day Skipper standard having sailed at least 2 weeks or 200nm as skipper
Experience Level 3: Cuba. One way itineraries, eg Antigua to St Martin, St Lucia to Grenadines
Stronger winds up to Force 4-7 which can lead to bigger seas on long passages between the islands. You will be Coastal Skipper standard with experience to a higher level having sailed at least 4 weeks or 400nm as skipper.
To charter a yacht bareboat or on flotilla you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew.
At present you need an RYA Day Skipper qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC) for charters in Croatia, Montenegro, Mallorca, Tenerife and Malta.
The RYA ICC will be ever more required by overseas port authorities but if you have skipper experience it is easily obtained in a day from RYA sailing schools in the UK such as Hamilton Sailing or Brixham Sea School
Yacht charter rates are shown WITHOUT flights giving you the flexibility to book your own flights.
If you want a flight-inclusive holiday Nautilus Yachting is a fully bonded ATOL tour operator and can book flights from the UK to fit your sailing holiday. Choose from a wide choice of airlines - we are not tied to any particular airline. All flight-inclusive holidays are fully bonded for your financial protection under our ATOL 3016. Airport transfers can also be pre-arranged.
FLIGHTS TO MIAMI:
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have direct flights to Miami. Taxi transfer to marina 15mins. Connecting flight or car hire to Key West (3 hours drive)
The Miami Beach Marina is conveniently located in the heart of South Beach, just a crab claw's throw away from Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant, the oldest eatery on Miami Beach (est. 1913), famous for it's delicious stone crabs and seafood. They even have "take-out" stone crabs you can bring back to your boat, to start your charter out right!
At Marathon the Hawks Cay Dolphin Connections team will not only help you and your family learn all you need to know about dolphins, but also help you get up close and personal with these lovable creatures. Once in a life-time opportunity to splash with the dolphins!
Everyone gathers for the never planned, always varied Sunset Celebration on the Key West's Mallory Dock. Once the sun is safely tucked away by jugglers, mimes, musicians and street artists, the city moves to a different beat. A night beat. The streets, filled with sidewalk cafes , open-air bars, legendary pubs and world-class restaurants come alive. Gourmets and gourmands alike treat their palates to island specialities.
"I would just like to say how pleased we were with the whole holiday and that I personally was impressed by the service we received from Nautilus Yachting, both in he booking process and the actual charter itself."
Tenerife 2010 - J.C.
