Marathon - Mile 1194

We are in the keys! There is a bridge on the inside route at Miami that has a height of 55 feet. Our mast is 54 feet 9 inches. We might try it on the way back but decided to do another ocean run from Lauderdale to Bicsane Bay. It was predicted to be 15 to 20 knots winds with 4 to 6 foot waves but we got out and had steady 12 to 15 knott wind and 1 to 2 foot waves and had a great down wind sail along the southern Florida coast.

 

We encountered flying fish for the first time on this leg. Whole schools of small fish launching themselves in unison to skim across the top of the waves for a surprising distance. Our first choice anchorage in Biscane Bay, No Name Harbor, was packed. It was Sunday and all the fast party boats from Miami come over for the day. We found a spot around the corner where there were also tons of boats but there was more space. It eventually cleared out and we had a nice view of the bay.

 

And the Miami sky line which was even cooler lit up at night.

 

The next two days were similar sailing down Hawk Channel which runs on the Atlantic side of the Keys but is behind a reef that breaks up the swell so it has been good sailing. We filled up at Lauderdale and still have close to a full tank of diesel. There are spots along the reef with mooring balls that you can tie to to go snorkeling. Yesterday, I snorkeled Hen and Chickens Reef and realized quite suddenly that I did not know the difference between a harmless shark and a harmful shark. Still a great spot with a good variety of fish and coral even if it was cut a bit short.  I think now it was just a nurse shark. We also saw a large sea turtle and rays jumping out of the water during yesterday's sail.

Now we are in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon Key. It has a popular mooring field with 274 mooring balls and has developed an atmosphere of a summer camp for adults with self-organized groups and activities swirling all day long starting with the morning Cruiser's Net Announcements on the VHF radio. We knew that it might be hard to get a spot here because it fills up earlier each year.  They don't take reservations but the office staff does have a pool for the first time it is completely full each year. It is first come, first serve. You only get a spot by calling on the radio once you enter the harbor. We came in at 3:30 yesterday and were assigned the very last mooring! The guy coming in 10 minutes behind us was less thrilled than we were. Finally, my futzing with the sails all day to go just a tiny bit faster pays off.

 

1194 miles traveled and 50 to go.