The Keys - Sailing and Thin Water

I returned to Marathon on Friday evening. Driving to the Keys on a Friday at rush hour is an experience I care not to repeat. I drive too slowly (9 mph above the speed limit) and do not weave between cars (without blinkers) or race other cars. In Miami, everyone else does this.

Saturday was a preparation day. We performed some repair tasks. I went up both masts to do light repairs on Rob's and antenna inspection on my own. Later Saturday evening we attended the going-away party for a couple heading for the Bahamas.

On Sunday, we awoke early to move the boats off the wall slips to honest to God slips (lines on both sides of the boat). Two boats had left on Saturday and we exercised our "first come, first serve" rights. Picture of the boats in their slip shown. Nick DeMai also arrived after a hectic plane and car ride from Kitty Hawk, via Tampa. After loading his gear, a quick lunch, we departed for some sailing and a destination anchorage off Little Spanish Key. Sailing shots pertain to the afternoon. Rob won each race but has offered remedial race training to Pete.

Our sail and navigating to the anchorage was a bit longer than planned and we ended up rafting together in near dark. However, the dinner was excellent.

We had not expected the small rain shower that arrived near our destination to last long. We were wrong. In the Keys, they actually grow storms here. So what was a small squall became a 24 hour rain and wind event.

Monday we left Little Spanish Key and navigated a track through some very thin water reefs to arrive at Cudjoe Key. With 30 knots of wind and rain squalls, we anchored to await the forthcoming clearing to see the reef in sunlight tomorrow. While we were motoring across the top of the reef, Nick caught a fish, or so we thought. After we reeled him closer we saw that it was a Comerant that liked Nick's bait and lure. Nick cut him loose.

Next, we were boarded by a herron who had miscalculated the winds speed off shore and needed a rest. After four and five minutes, he took off to resume his flight to land. Picture provided.

So we await the sun on Tuesday to take in the beauty and consider a full day's sail around Key West.