All stocked up for the next leg.

We aren't countering on another supply stop between here and Key West, so we went on a buying spree. Maybe we should have stop at that pizza joint before the Publix

You know it's windy when...

The cockpit is getting salt spray from waves crashing on the stone breakwater you are docked behind. 

More our Florida Bay crossing tomorrow.

We made it

But not with my pride intact.

Elf handled the conditions just fine. We were on a beam reach under reefed main and working jib making 5-6 knots under complete control.  There was a little spray from time to time, but only about a half dozen hit us in the cockpit. Those few times were when a breaking whitecap slapped the aft quarter of the boat and blew upwards.

The winds continued to build and Kate ably dropped the main.  Conditions stabilized to exactly what was predicted: sustained 20-25 with occasional gusts in the low 30's, by my estimation.  The shallow waters of the Bay kept wave heights down, but they did tend to be steep seas.  We were still making good time at around 5 knots and reached Vaca Key around noon.

The challenge began when we started the motor. First was the little pass we explored in search of a marina.  With the tide in opposition to the strong wind, we were on a bucking bronco and needed virtually all 9.8 horses to keep directional control while fighting the wind out the channel.  

We did find a nice protected marina a little farther south: Faro Blanco Bayside.  My docking skills in a 25 KT oblique headwind were not up to the task, and the boat didn't shoot into the slip on the first attempt as I'd intended. In part, I'd been distracted by the dinghy, which had blown behind the motor making me worry that it would foul the propeller.

And then it did foul the propeller.

Dead in the water, we blew across the basin in about 30 seconds, resting sideways against the bow on two fishing charters boats. It took Kate and 4 or 5 other guys to hold us off the other boats while I jumped in the dinghy to free the propeller.

Fortunately, I'd like the motor early enough that there were only two wraps, and we were free in only a couple minutes.  In the process, I simply cast the dinghy loose so my second docking attempt was much easier and successful.

Whew, talk about making an entrance!  At least we took 1/2 of the time to dock than the 60' motor yacht that came in after us.

Kudos to Kate for handling the sails flawlessly on a wet, pitching deck! 46.88 NM averaging 4.9 KT over 9:33.  Total odo 323.14

 

Sunrise under sail

The marine forecast was not great for Saturday through Tuesday. High winds starting in the NE and gradually clocking to SE.  We decided to make a break for Marathon at 3:00 AM this morning with east wind forecast 20-25 with gusts to 30.  Not ideal, but manageable.  That would put us on a broad reach across Florida Bay.  Waiting would turn that leg into a beat, which we would not attempt.

The night sail was beautiful with moderate NE winds, no moon, and innumerable stars to sail by.  The wind is just picking up now at sunrise.  How bad will it get? We'll see....

Shark River

Summary of Friday 3/3 , but who knows when it will post.

We rode the ebb down Lostman's River and barely made it out over some shallow spots back in the Gulf on the falling ride.  Had a quick and easy broad reach down the coast under a 15-20 NNE breeze that actually had us arrive earlier than we would have liked at Ponce de Leon Bay.  The tide low, and with a foul ebb current, we motored to anchor about just off the Shark River a little south of Oyster Bay.

This area is a really cool maze of deep channels cut out of higher ground that supports actual canopy trees, and not the all-to-common mangroves.  It would make a great setting for a shot novel or a children's story aka Arthur Ransome.  Our main attraction is that there are rumored to be sea turtles here.

Got here early enough for a nap and a swim.  24.31 NM at 4.7 KT over 5:11. Total odo 276.26.  The weather forecast makes it look like we'll have a lay day tomorrow while some strong easterlies blow through.

Wilderness Waterway

Log for 3/2; not sure when this will post.

We waited to weigh anchor until 12:30 to ensure fair current up the Chatham River and high tide in the waterway.  That gave us a chance to do some boat-related tasks, most notably moving the depth meter to its new location. (It's been working flawlessly since then, btw.)

The trip in the narrow river was easy, with generous and predictable depths.  Once we got to the bays of the WW, it was more challenging and we bumped bottom a few times. Once we were actually aground and had to heel the boat and push off with the motor.  No damage done except some removal of the bottom paint, which is going to be replaced anyway.

Also challenging, but mostly fun, are the tight passageways been a few of the bays. I was taking pride to steer with vegetation coming inches from the rigging, but never touching, while negotiation the 30' wide corridor between the mangroves.  That wasn't possible in one spot with overhanging branches that could not be avoided.  There was a twang of wire rigging coupled with twigs cracking, and we had a rain of leaves and sticks to clean off the deck and cockpit.

We only had a 10-mile taste off the WW, but it was a memorable break from coastal sailing.  I'd love to see more in a smaller boat, and preferably outside of mosquito season, if there is such a thing. We anchored in Lostman's River after 15.11 NM and 3.7 KT over 4:07.  Total odo 251.95

Oh no, the anchor light!

Note: this was written on the morning of Thursday 3/3, but without phone service, who knows how long it with be until it posts. 

Waking up to a hazy sunrise, I realized that we never turned on the anchor light last night. And we've been anchored in the center of the deepest part of the Chatham River.  Quite the hazard to navigation!

No worries; we haven't seen another soul since we entered the river yesterday afternoon.  After some insecurity about our depth meter, we expect to head up to the wilderness waterway this afternoon.

Yesterday was 18.81 NM in mostly light wind: 3.5 KT over 5:21.  Total odo 236.84.