This post is a little later than promised. Mostly caused from being in a hurry to get further south and some unusual coastal weather. Following the last post, we did make it to Fort Lauderdale from Lake Worth the next day. We went out the Lake Worth Inlet and out into the coastal waters for a very relaxing day of motor sailing without being on the constant lookout for day markers and other watercraft. There is also little concern for running aground when you have 180 feet of water under your keel. With a little help of a mostly easterly wind, we motor-sailed into the Port Everglades inlet to Fort Lauderdale, motored up a small portion of the ICW to Lake Silvia. Lake Silvia, although it may sound like a grandiose romantic location, is actually quite small and the backyard to many homeowners who have paid quite a bit more for their luxury than the combined value of most of the boats choosing to spend the night at anchor there. Although I believe it is our right as boaters to anchor there, I can somewhat sympathize with the rational behind the recently passed bill, last week, Florida Anti-Anchoring Statute. I still hope the governor vetoes the bill as it mostly benefits the 1% we hear so much about and the politicians they have persuaded with their gratitude to get the bill passed. No one came out to ask us to leave or give us tickets so I assume that even though they live in a high dollar neighborhood, they may not have reached the 1% level. We actually had a great night there and the all the boats anchored were very respectful. I can't say the same for the locals on jet skis that shot through, very noisily several times.
The sun did its usual exit show in Lake Silvia. Here's a pic.
We got an early start and left Lake Silvia and back out into the coastal waters, once again motor sailing to Government Cut, the entrance to Miami's harbor. There we turned south, after passing the Hard Rock Cafe, into Biscayne Bay. The end of our day found us dropping anchor in Hurricane Harbor, on the southern end of Key Biscayne. Another small piece of water and once again someone' back yard, We were surrounded by houses. I anchored here 15 years ago and there were only 3 or 4 houses along the harbor. Not anymore. It turned out there were only two of us travelers anchored, so not much impact on our neighbors, and we left early the next morning.
We continued down the ICW, mostly wishing we had gone on the outside again, and ended our day in Tarpon Basin, a wide shallow spot west of Key Larrgo. Yeah!, we made it to the keys. Sorry, no pics of this stop. It wan't very interesting and it was only Belmira and two catamarans anchored there.
After two days of sailing the outside, the day long passage from Key Biscayne to Key Largo on the ICW made it easy to decide to look for a way out. We found it at a bridge "Channel 5", that let use get back out into the ocean and sail down to Boot Key, the home of Marathon. That was last Thursday, March 3rd. We pulled into the harbor late in the day to an anchorage filled with boats. We unsuccessfully tried to anchor 4 times, couldn't get the anchor set, then moved to the norh side of the channel. Got the anchor down and spent the night.
Friday was good day we visited with some Colorado sailing friends, Todd and Nina Rogers, from Loveland. We visited a few hot spots in Marathon and settled in.
We returned to Belmira, the wind came up and we started slipping. After a night spent on an. chor watch, we decided it was time to move again. Back to the West side of the channel. I got our primary anchor to hold, didn't feel comfortable with the building wind, and set our kedge anchor out with the main in a Bahamian Moor. You'll have to Google that one on your own. I don't have the energy to detail here. Anyway, the wind that caused the concern, 15 to 20 knots from the east has been pretty much steady for the last 5 days and has a few more before we get some relief. Good news, my anchor arraignment has held steady. I had hoped to post a few underwater pics of the anchor but the wind has the water so churned up it won't work. When its calm here you can see the bottom clearly that is ten feet away.
I thought I would leave you with a pic of the harbor at Marathon but Microsoft and Apple won't play well. But, stay tuned for a few pics and a follow up.
