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| important note
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This information comes from Ken Porter's now defunct "Central Florida Sailing Sites". All the information/text is Mr. Porter's. I have added it to our site to preserve this knowledge for the windsurfing community. His original site repeatedly stressed that ocean-side sailing, especially in off-shore winds requires caution, skill and common sense. | ||
| kelly park
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Kelly Park gets a good SE seabreeze from April through June and often later in the year, making it good for shortboarding. The chop is light to moderate. Most nearby water is shallow enough to stand up, making "water starts" unnecessary. (Note that there is a deeper channel about 50 yards out running parallel to the shoreline--gravity seems to have a stronger effect here, as many beginners choose "the deep spot" to fall in). Kelly Park is located on Banana River Dr, just south of the Beeline Expressway (Rt 528) on the west bank of the Banana River in Merrit Island. It is a Florida State Park with a nice grass rigging area, picnic shelters, playground, restrooms, and boat ramp. Tinho and Suzi Dornellas operate Calema Boardsailing (407 453-3223) just up the street with excellent lessons and rentals available. | ||
| jetty park
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Jetty Park is on the Atlantic Ocean and may have large breaking waves. Ocean sailing requires advanced sailing and swimming skills - use good judgement. Jetty Park is on the Atlantic Ocean usually has small to moderate waves. With at least a moderate NE-E breeze, Jetty Park offers easy wave sailing conditions and little current. Most of the wide beach is reserved for swimmers during busy periods - go to the south end to sail .Jetty Park is well developed and includes campgrounds, showers, a snack bar, and a man-made rock jetty. Entry fee is $1. Fishing trawlers and cruise ships may occasionally be seen departing from nearby Port Canaveral. The closest shop is Calema Sailboards (407 453-3223) on Banana River Dr. To get to Jetty Park, head towards the Beeline (Rt 528) and follow it all the way east across the Indian and Banana Rivers. At the first light turn left, then right towards the cruise ship piers. Follow the brown signs past the piers and then straight to Jetty Park. Although sailing in OFFSHORE WIND CONDITIONS is DANGEROUS, Jetty Park offers less risk than other sites in moderately breezy NW-N conditions. | ||
| cocoa beach
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Cocoa Beach is one of the more popular spots on Florida's Atlantic coast for fun, sun, and surf. When the wind is up from the south or southeast, it is also a fine beach for ocean wave sailing. There are few rocks or obstacles, but surfing and windsurfing are restricted to zones. Known hassles include tar balls which form at sea from ships' oily residues and stick to you and your equipment, and occasional invasions by stinging Man O' War jellyfish that blow in from the ocean. To get to Cocoa Beach, head towards the Beeline (Rt 528) and follow it all the way east across the Indian and Banana Rivers. This turns into A1A Follow A1A south for about 7 miles until you see a fire station on Minuteman Causeway. Turn left (east) and go two blocks to the beach ramp (fee $3/day per car). Launch in front of CocoaNuts. The closest shop is Calema Sailboards | ||
| ponce inlet
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Due to strong currents and boat traffic, sailing at ponce inlet is not advised unless you have excellent swimming and windsurfing skills. Ponce Inlet Park is located on the Southern tip of the Daytona Beach peninsula, just north of New Smyrna Beach. Windsurfing at Ponce Inlet is best in a fresh N-NE breeze in outgoing tide, and often has a big ocean swell. It is a Volusia County park with picnic shelters, restrooms, water and hose, grassy rigging area, paved parking, and a pay phone (904 788-9954). Fee is about $3. The park closes at sunset. A lighthouse museum and several restaurants are nearby. The closest sailboard shop is Sandy Point Progressive Sports in South Daytona (904) 756-7564. | ||
| lake baldwin
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Lake Baldwin (Lake Corrine on some maps) is just east of the Naval Training Center in Winter Park, convenient to much of Orlando. It is accessible only on the northwest side from a Park. The park has lots of grassy space, several picnic shelters, bathrooms, a boat ramp (15 hp limit), and a playground. The nearest sailboard shops is the Sailing Store (407 291- 2345) at Edgewater Dr and Fairbanks Rd. To get to Lake Baldwin from east Orlando, take Rt 436 to Aloma Ave and turn west. Take Aloma several miles to Lakemont Ave and turn left; follow Lakemont past Winter Park Hospital and drive several miles almost to the Navy base entrance--the park entrance is on the curve to the left. From other locations, use an Orlando map and look for the intersection of Rt 50 and Rt 436 (Semoran Blvd). Aloma Ave runs parallel to Rt 50 a few miles north; Lake Baldwin is between them. | ||
| lake fairview
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Lake Fairview is located north of downtown Orlando near the junction of Rt 441 and Lee Road. There is a tiny public boat ramp on the northwest shore off Lee Road near Shooters, but many board sailors prefer to make friends with the friendly folks at The Sailing Store (407 291-2345), located on the east shore (where Fairbanks ends on Edgewater Dr). Just ask for Chaidan or Jim Novak to get all the help you need with boat and sailboard rentals, lessons and sales. | ||
| lake monroe
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Lake Monroe is a large lake north of Orlando beside the town of Sanford It is best in a NW-N-NE breeze; strong winds build up a steep right chop, making it a chop-hopper's delight. It is sailable in a W or E breeze. To get to Lake Monroe, take I-4 East from Orlando and get off at Rt 46 (exit 51). Go right (east) on Rt 46 to 17-92, turn left and drive along the lake shore to the marina. Turn left into the marina, follow the road and park to the right of the Holiday Inn. Boats of all sizes use Lake Monroe, so watch for motorboats in the channel entrance to the marina. Large grassy areas in front of the parking lot and shops are the place to rig up, but be very careful descending to the lake--much of the shore is protected from erosion by uneven, slippery rocks. There is an up-scale convenience store with sandwiches, imported beer and a boardwalk. The Holiday Inn is friendly to boardsailors and has clean restrooms, reasonable rates, a pool, and poolside BBQ's on Sunday afternoon. | ||
| cape canaveral hospital
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When the breeze in Cocoa Beach is from the W-NW-N, many local boardsailors head for the Rt 520 causeway. Just to the west of the Hospital on the North side of the causeway is a sandy spot with shallow water and open Northerly exposure. There are no facilities. Don't park too much off the road or you'll get stuck in the wet, soft sand. And like all river sites, wear sturdy footgear to prevent cuts from oyster shells or glass. "The Hospital" is not a great site, but there are few better river sites near Cocoa for a Northerly breeze. | ||
| melbourne causeway
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The Melbourne causeway has a grassy rigging area but spartan facilities. The best Windsurfing site is East of the bridge, on the South side. | ||
| valkaria
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Valkaria Road intersects US 1 about 5-6 miles south of Palm Bay, on the west bank of the Indian River. It has no facilities, just a few local boardheads. There are several tiny islands to the east out toward the channel, so stay inside them to avoid boat traffic from the Intracoastal Waterway. Even though most of the Indian River is shallow, Valkaria has some surprisingly deep holes near shore--clammers laden with metal tongs are rumored to have drowned while walking in the shallows. So wear sturdy footgear at Valkaria and don't go Windsurfing while laden with metal tongs. | ||
| eau gallie causeway
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The spot to launch from is on the south side of the causeway, west of the public boat ramp but east of the bridge. In moderate SE-SW winds the south side offers a nice onshore breeze. In stronger breezes the offshore side of the causeway has flat water for speed sailing. River sailing in offshore breezes is best left to experienced sailors (but isn't as dangerous as ocean sailing in offshore breezes). There are a few oyster beds in the river, so wear sturdy footgear. To get to the Eau Gallie causeway from Cocoa, Orlando or Daytona, take I-95 or US 1 South to the Eau Gallie exit and head west until you're on the causeway. Look for other sailboards on the left past the boat ramp. | ||
| patrick afb: the hangars, 2nd light, and picnic tables
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There are three sites on the Atlantic Ocean south of Cocoa Beach opposite Patrick Air Force Base: the Hangars, 2nd Light, and the Picnic Tables. The Hangars is in view of the PAFB runway and some large hangars. It is best in a fresh SW breeze at high tide--there are rocks and remnants of pier in the shallow water which present a hazard at low tide. CAUTION: The PAFB beaches often have strong sideshore currents in N or S breezes. 2nd Light is between the Hangars and the NCO club S on A1A. Like the Hangars, it is best in a fresh SW breeze. Neither spot has any facilities. 2nd Light has fewer rocks, so its safer at low tide. The Picnic Tables is S of the NCO club on A1A. It large and well equipped: bathrooms, showers, lots of grass, tables and grills. There is a store about 1/4 mile north up A1A on the left. Like the other two sites, it is best in a good SW breeze, and has strong sideshore currents in a N or S breeze (but is still do-able if you don't mind walking back up the beach). | ||
| the boardwalk- indialantic
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The Boardwalk is oceanside 5th Ave in Indialantic, where A1A takes a little jog at the end of the Rt 192 causeway. The Boardwalk is on a popular beach with surf shops and restaurants, so your wave skills (or lack thereof) will be seen by many. It is best in a fresh N-NE and doesn't break much at high tide. The surf is known to get as big here as anywhere along Florida's East Coast, so come big or stay home! To get to the Boardwalk, take Rt 192 east to the end--you're there. One of the hottest waveboard shapers around is Richie Buehn, who lives on the Boardwalk. Call him about wave sailing designs at Wind and Surf Sailboards (407 676-1636), 2309 S Harbor City Blvd (US 1). | ||
| sebastian inlet
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South of Melbourne is an inlet from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River called Sebastian Inlet. Monster Hole is oceanside about a mile south of the inlet; there is a beach on the north side and a large state park on the south bank of the inlet itself. The surf at Monster Hole breaks far out to the southeast from shore, with big rideable swells in a N-NW breeze. Monster Hole got its name from the many rumored sightings of large sharks in that area. In 1990, a world-record Great White was caught offshore of Sebastian Inlet. Still interested? To get to Monster Hole from Melbourne, take Rt 192 east to A1A. Head south about 12 miles and you'll cross Sebastian Inlet--Monster Hole is visible from the top of the bridge. CAUTION: strong current and frequent boat traffic make this site for ADVANCED BOARDSAILORS ONLY. Boat traffic bothers you more at Monster Hole because the path to the ocean cuts across the best Windsurfing area. | ||
| titusville causeway
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Titusville Causeway is a frequent favorite of board sailors in the greater Orlando-Daytona-Cocoa area because it has shallow, flat waters and is good in nearly any wind direction. It is best in the Winter and Spring, as smelly river weeds tend to pile up on the shore in the late Summer and Fall. Like most of the Indian River, there are potential hazards from oyster shells, broken glass, and ray-like skates - protective footwear is recommended. To get to Titusville causeway take I-95 to the Rt 406 exit and head east about 5 miles, across US 1 and the Indian River. The north side of the Titusville causeway has a public boat ramp and daytime picnic facilities. A little farther east on Rt 406 are the Canaveral National Seashore and Playalinda Beach. Easily visible to the south of Titusville causeway are the Space Shuttle launch pads and huge Vehicle Assembly Building, part of Kennedy Space Center. Nearby Titusville has several good restaurants, one just past the marina about 1/4 mile N on US 1 has great seafood. | ||
| ken's summary of the sites
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Sailing Site Area Wind Comments
-------------- ------- ------- ---------------------------------------
Titusville Daytona/ any Cswy to Playalinda Bch; good almost
Causeway Cocoa/ (not E) any wind direction; shallow & flat
Indian River Orlando water; near park. Watch for skates!
Lake Fairview Orlando SW-NW Launch behind the Sailing Store.
(Fairbanks Rd & Edgewater Dr)
Lake Mineola Clermont SW-NW On 50, Rt at 2nd light past Rt 27.
Lake Baldwin Orlando E-SW Nice park; closes at dusk.
Kelly Park Cocoa E-SE-S Beside Beeline Expry; shallow water;
Banana River dependable SE seabreeze. Lessons.
Lake Monroe Orlando NW-NE Launch to rt of Holiday Inn.
(Sanford) Can be very choppy conditions.
Ponce Inlet Daytona N-NE Ocean sailing, strong currents,
Atlantic Ocean(New Smyrna) SE big swells, ADVANCED SAILORS ONLY
Jetty Park Cocoa Bch NE-E Ocean sailing, small shore break,
Atlantic Ocean >12kts EASY wave sailing.
S Cocoa Bch Patrick AFB NE-E-SE,"The Hangars" rocky, best
Atlantic Ocean *SW *Expert only - dangerous offshore
S Cocoa Bch3 Patrick AFB NE-E-SE "Picnic Tables" has grass & fac'ltys;
Atlantic Ocean rocks, strong current N or S wind.
Indialantic Melbourne NE-N "The Boardwalk" is 5th Ave & E end
Atlantic Ocean >16kts of Rt 192. No break @ high tide.
EauGallie Cswy Melbourne SE-SW The park is on South side of cswy.
Indian River Rocks on North side.
Cocoa Hospital Cocoa W-NE North side of 520 cswy, just west
Banana River 520 Cswy of the Hospital No facilities
Valkaria S Melbourne E S on US 1; no facilities
Sebastian In S Melbourne N-NW "Monster Hole" known for big swell,
Atlantic Ocean best to SE of inlet; boat traffic
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