COASTWISE COURSES AND DISTANCES-GULF OF MEXICO-Continued NOTE.-East Pass lies between position From position 8, a course 51° true (NE. From position 8A1, a course 259° true (WSW. W. mag.) for 16.4 miles leads to East Pass Lighted Buoy 1. Directions: East Pass, p. 158. 8A1. South Shoal Whistle Buoy 26: From position 8, a course 322° true (NW. 14 N. mag.) for 10.5 miles leads to West Pass Bell Buoy. Avoid shoals inside "St. George 28" buoy. From Cape San Blas Outer Shoals Lighted Directions: West Pass, p. 159. 9. Cape San Blas Outer Shoals Lighted Bell Buoy 30 bearing 93° true, distant 21⁄2 (3) KEY WEST HARBOR 67 COASTWISE COURSES AND DISTANCES-GULf of Mexico-Continued This harbor is large and commodious and one of the best anchorages for large vessels south of Chesapeake Bay. It lies northward of a broken line of the Florida Reefs in latitude 24°33′ N. and longitude 81°49'30" W. The harbor proper lies in front of the city of Key West, protected on the eastern side by the island and on the other sides by submerged reefs and sand flats. It has a length of 2 miles and a width of about one-fourth mile. Southwest of the harbor proper there is a large anchorage area protected by the reef. The harbor is entered through breaks in the reef, there being five main channels with depths of 13 to 30 feet (4.0 to 9.1 m), and several minor channels. A depth of 26 feet (7.9 m) can be taken into the harbor, where this depth extends for 800 feet off the wharves. There are no bridges across the ship channels at this port. Sand Key Lighthouse (Lat. 24°27′.2, Long. 81°52'.7) is a brown pyramidal, skeleton tower, on pile foundation, inclosing dwelling and stair cylinder. The light is group flashing white (flash 0.5 second, eclipse 1.5 seconds, flash 0.5 second, eclipse 7.5 seconds), with four red sectors, 109 feet (33 m) above the water, and visible 16 miles. Key West Lighthouse is a buff conical tower, with green lantern. The light is occulting white (light 6 seconds, eclipse 6 seconds), with 3 red sectors, 91 feet (27.7 m) above the water, and visible 15 miles. Northwest Passage Unused Lighthouse (Old Tower) is a white dwelling on brown pile foundation, 47 feet (14.3 m) high, standing in 4 feet of water, at the northwesterly entrance to Northwest Channel. The light is discontinued. Smith Shoal Light (Lat. 24°43'.2; Long. 81°55'.0) on Smith Shoal off the northwest entrance to Northwest Channel is a black tank house on a white hexagonal, pyramidal, skeleton tower on piles. The light is flashing white, 47 feet (14.3 m) above the water, and visible 12 miles. Channels.-There are several channels or approaches to the harbor, leading between the reefs and coral banks which surround it; they have been examined by means of a wire drag, and the dangers are shown on the chart. These channels are easy to follow in a sailing vessel in the daytime with a fair wind, but it is not safe for a |