Miami

Day #6: It was a short 10nm from No Name Harbor to our new anchorage west of Miami Beach. As today's picture shows, from our anchorage we can the Port of Miami and just beyond that Miami proper. Today's cavalcade of storms kept us boat bound. It was nice to have some time to read and nap.

10nm today making a total of 135nm for the trip. DBH

No Name Harbor

Day #5: Today's forecasted NE 20kt winds never materialized, thank goodness, for it would have made for a long trip to weather up Biscayne Bay. As it was we got off early, 7 am (the mosquitoes were still asleep), and had a pleasant trip up and out of the Keys.

We're chock-a-block full here in No Name Harbor but everyone expects it and that lessens the tensions of proximity greatly.

40nm today which ups the total to 125nm. DBH

Beauty and the Beast

Day #4: Between the beautiful color of the water and the Dolphins that play in our wake, the Keys are a hard place to beat.  

But, since I've been on a roll with anchoring stories, here's what happened today. 

Believe it or not, there is a 35# CQR anchor in the midst of all that grass and sand; really.  Nellie brought this mess up after a quick stop in Community Harbor on Key Largo.  What's really amazing is that the holding was terrible--shades of the Bahamas terrible.  While waiting for the crew to return from a grocery run the anchor had to be reset twice.  And yes, the scope was greater than 6:1. The folks at the local marina said that no anchors work well in the area.  Yea, we got that...

At anchor off Key Largo's Tarpon Basin North.  25nm today and 83nm total.  DBH

Too Little Scope?

Day 3: We spent the day at anchor off Islamorada on Lower Matecumbe Key. The SE wind built this afternoon into a steady 15kts. At around 2100hrs, with gusts into the 20's, the CQR began to drag. We started the engine, recovered the anchor, and then repositioned and reanchored Nellie in a clear spot. No harm, no foul. Fortunately the anchorage is huge, and more to the point, I doubt anyone even noticed our late evening maneuverings. Why did we drag? As with all things it's a management problem. Let's just say that our scope is now 6:1 and that it was significantly less when we dragged.

At anchor, hopefully securely, off Islamorada. 0nm today and 63nm for the trip. DBH

Fog

Day #2: This morning's fog was predicted to clear at 10am, then 11am, then 12, then 1pm. At 2pm we raise the anchor and head out into the still thick fog. Between the radar and chart plotters it's not a big deal to navigate and stay clear of other traffic.  We duck and weave through crab pots and must appear to onlookers as either professionals or drunks.   Our destination is Islamorada--home to Loreli's Restaurant.  Cruising the Keys is as much about the food as the scenic beauty, 75°F temperatures, swaying palms, clear water, and white sand beaches ;-)   The CQR was down and set before total darkness fell.  The dinghy was down and headed to Loreli's immediately thereafter.  

At anchor off Islamorada, Upper Matecumbe Key.  27nm today and 63nm total. DBH

Goodbye Key West

Day #1:  With experienced crew Alan and Sally Seymour, of The Lord Nelson Victory Tug Sally W. #42, aboard, we bravely gave up our slip in the cushy confines of Key West Naval Air Station.  East into the Hawk Channel we went.   The air temperature was 75°F.  Normally I wouldn't mention the temperature but seeing as almost the entire east coast is 32°F or below, I do so if only to remind myself how really nice it is in the Keys.  Steady waves from the south rolled us a bit.  The first opportunity to get on the north side of the US1 highway is at the Bahia Honda Channel.  We did so and thereby traded the bumpy Atlantic for the glassy Gulf.  We anchored this evening off the NW end of Marathon. A new (to us) 35# CQR anchor is being put through its paces.  It seems well hooked but time will tell.

First days out are always a bit anxious, especially after some major maintenance. The good news is that the engine purred and the bilges didn't fill.  

38nm today and 38nm total.  DBH

Electrical Panel and Helm Placards

These were the dimensions the fabricator used to make Nellie's new electrical panel placards.