Miami/Ft Lauderdale area lakes - any sailable inland waters?

[mprieto]

Does anybody sail (windsurf or kite) inland waters around S Florida?

With the abundance of waterways, lakes, lagoons and all the other variations on man made waters around here, I am surprised I have never seen a sail or kite in any of them.

Surely there must be some that have the right wind orientation to be sailable, have healthy water, low probability of alligators (i.e. other folks may swim in them) and allow public access, or are there none?

I can’t help but think what flat water fun we could be having if the spot was right on a westerly day like today?

[VA12]

When I was a kid and learning to windsurf, I sailed on Lake Catalina near Tropical Park a bunch of times, in light wind. I still keep a small sailboat there and use it with my kids.

There's a good reason you never see folks out in inland waters: inconsistent wind. Even on breezy days, the wind's path over so many obstacles makes it spotty, even on the downwind side of a big lake. Also, they're not very big.

Hobie Beach with a run towards Cape Florida can be great fun on a good westerly, or you can head down to the Keys. Either will be better sailing than any lake or inland water I can think of in S. Florida.

[mprieto]

Thanks for your response VA12!