Miami Venue Guide

Jim Saltonstall looks at Florida's premier regatta venue, host of the first major regatta of the Olympic season

There are many places in the world where we would all like to go racing but Miami must be one of the best venues - surrounded with character and sunshine. Normally regarded as a winter racing venue, Miami is blessed with 6- 20 knot winds in the normal sailing months of January and February. There is also the significant advantage of warm water going down your neck!

Miami Olympic classes regatta in late January is the main event for the dinghy classes. One of the biggest Star Class regattas of the year, the Bacardi Cup is held in Biscayne Bay every February and recent years have also seen a resurgence of the SORC regatta.

Traditionally, Miami has also been used as a winter training venue by both the American competitors and many overseas teams. Many Brits have used this venue for training, putting new crews together, testing new boats and sails, improving their boat handling skills, etc.

There are three main regatta venues in Miami. For the dinghy classes, US Sailing's Sailing Center (2476 South Bayshore Drive, Miami, Florida 33133) is the main one. Located in fashionable Coconut Grove right next door to the Coral Reef Yacht Club, the Sailing Centre offers a fenced compound and good launching facilities for both keelboats and dinghies. It is close to the main race areas. The Sailing Center is also just eight miles from Miami International Airport, so not too far to travel on arriving. The best contact for any info at the venue is: John Kohlas, tel +1-305 856 8412, email: usscmiami@aol.com, web address: www.ussailing.org. Guest sailors are normally welcome at the Sailing Center . A small charge is made and you need to book in advance.

There is plenty of accommodation in the area, though the quality is very variable. One which the Brits have used and found to be okay is The Double Tree Hotel, South Bayshore Road, tel +1-305 858 2500, fax +1-305 858 5776. John can maybe advise you on other accommodation available in the area if required. Coconut Grove is both fashionable and expensive with cheaper accommodation some distance away. The real budget hotels are by the airport (an there really are some cheap and not so nice ones scattered around if your budget is very tight). Miami Visitor Services provide a good listing of hotels.

Big boat regattas including the SORC are run out of Miami Beach Marina. Located close to the famous Miami Beach north of the city, this is a venue right in the heart of the social action with racing out in the open ocean off the beach. The surrounding area is rich with hotels with everything from five-star luxury to cheap-and-cheerful on offer. Miami Convention and Visitor's Bureau has good information on hotels in this area.

Further out, Key Biscayne Yacht Club has excellent facilities for small keel boats. Key Biscayne is a combination of nature reserve, golf club and retirement condominiums so there really isn't much in the way of places to stay here. Unless you have friends in the area, the only real option is to travel back onto the mainland each evening for food and accommodation.

With the exception of Key Biscayne Yacht Club, there is every kind of restaurant you can imagine within walking distance of all the sailing venues. Both Coconut Grove and Miami Beach are tourist venues with a full range of attractions. That said, eating at the club which hosting the racing is often a good option as the food is usually very high quality, cheap and plentiful. It also saves trekking around the city.

Talking of trekking around, like any major city in the world, be warned there are distinct no go areas in Miami and for all the wrong reasons. Be advised by the locals as to where these are and don't go there! Don't drive aggressively, hoot or stare at other drivers. They have been known to simply get out and shoot people they do not like to look of. Car crime is no worse than any other major city but it is a good idea to take your gear out of the car at night.

Page two.... Biscayne Bay race areas