Miami Fl.

One year and 2 1/2 months ago we left here sailing south. We did not plan on circumnavigating the Caribbean but sure are glad we did. It was a great adventure and we have made some great friends, 2 of which we will be leaving here after cruising on and off , more on for a year. Mel and Joni on the boat Serene have been great sailing companions. We both flew all our courtesy flags back into Biscayne Bay. With a stop at channel 5 at Long Key we took 2 days and a night to make Miami . We spent a week visiting Mel and Joni, seeing their home and meeting their kids and grand kids again. A trip to the Everglades, South beach, Fort Lauderdale & Miami with our local guides. We also got to enjoy a land side bed and shower which we haven't used in a long time.

Channel 5 Long Key 25NM motor sailing 5 1/2 hrs. Miami 82 NM. overnight sailing 19 hours.

Marithon Key Fl.

Two short day sails from Key West with a stop at a road stead anchorage at Key Lois, we stop at Marathon Key. Mel knows people here and we meet at a harbor side restaurant. The harbor is really a marina, almost entirely filled with mooring balls. We anchored outside and took the dinghy in. The main dinghy dock charges $16 a day just to tie up. The moorings seem cheep if you take them for a month. We could not see ourselves here that long, 2 days and we are ready to move on. There really is not much to see and do here within walking distance though we did some Manatee watching up the canals from the dinghy. 20NM. motor sailing to Key Lois, 20NM. sail to Marathon Key.

Key West Fl.

After a grueling 3 day passage, sailing all but the way out and into the harbors, we make Key West Fl. from Isla Mujeres Mexico. We knew that there was a possibility of some squally weather but it was the best window we could see in the forcasted weather. There were 2 other boats traveling with us, Isla Bonita ,a catamaran and Serene who we have been traveling with since the Dominican Republic. On the second day out it seemed more likely we were going to get hammered off the Cuban coast. So far the sailing had been fast and wet with frequent waves splashing into the cockpit. By day 2's evening we seen the front moving down on us. Serene moved off to the north 12 miles from Isla Bonita and ourselves and ended up experiencing nothing more than heavy rain. We, on the other hand, saw gusts up to 50 and 62 knots with 40 to 45 sustained. All in all it was not to bad being we anticipated this and had a triple reef in the main and the storm jib up and the wind being behind us. In an hour and a half it was all over and back to the usual 20 to 25 knot conditions. Our 3'rd day we hit the gulf stream adding 2 1/2 to 3 knots to our speed hitting almost 9 knots over ground for a couple hours. Getting to the sea bouy at 12:30 am we started the motor for the first time in almost 3 days and had it die right away. Again we got water into our fuel. I emptied almost 2 quarts of sea water from the water separator. It must be getting forced down the fuel vent on the stern with following seas. Getting the motor running again we get to the anchorage at 3:45 EST.
Key West is a very touristy party town where Mel used to have an office. He and Joni introduced us to their friends and took us on a tour of the lower keys. We hung out playing tourists for the next week until the next available weather window. 349 NM. sailed all but 6 miles. 65 hours.