1 2 3 to Biscayne Bay

1 2 3 to Biscayne Bay

We took the advice of a good friend and decided to make this Florida Bay run to Biscayne Bay in daylight hours, due to the five million crab pots and crab float lines all over the bay. At night we would not be able to see these and we might end up catching a crab pot. So, taking that advice, plus the fact that the Gulf was still kicked up with some serious waves, we decide to wait one more day.

Now the plan is to make this run in 10 hour chunks, 50-60 mile legs. We will anchor in Shark River in the Everglades on night one, then make Hawk channel on day two and anchor off any key we like with north winds. Then day three we will run Angelfish Creek into Card Sound and up into Biscayne Bay. This is our primary destination for the winter. We have been planning on spending all of January and most of February in Biscayne Bay and South Beach. When the winter fronts die down in the later part of February, then we may run to the Bahamas. Like all cruising plans, they can change tomorrow if we like.

Here are the latest PassageWeather.com wind predictions. Remember to subtract 5 hours from UTC to arrive at the correct time for East Coast. You will see the front has passed and the winds are much less. You also will see the next front arriving. Here in Florida and the Bahamas during the winter, we are always living by these frontal systems and really need to time our passages carefully.

Thank you again for following our trip. We enjoy sharing his cruising dream....

Blast to Biscayne Bay

We are planning a "Blast to Biscayne Bay" from Marco Island as we wait out the arrival of this current cold front here in Marco Island. If all goes as planned, we will depart Marco Island getting out to the sea bouy by 4-5 pm. Then we will set a full jib on a starboard whisker pole and sail all night down wind in 15-20 knots past Cape Romano and into Channel Five. It will be 16 hours to Channel Five Bridge where we plan to arrive at daybreak sailing under the bridge and into Hawk Channel. Once in Hawk Channel we will turn northeast and be on a beam reach sailing towards Angelfish creek. If all goes well, we should be able to make Angelfish Creek by 4 pm, it is an 8 hour run up Hawk Channel from Channel five to Angelfish Creek. We will then cross over the bar at Angelfish and into Card Sound by sunset. This we are calling "The Blast to Biscayne Bay."

That is our plan as of Wed night, 24 hours before we go. Here is what the winds are forecast to be. Note, that UTC time is 5 hours ahead of East Coast Time, so minus 5 from the UTC time to figure out the time for the winds.

You play weather forecaster and you tell me when you would leave....

If all works as it looks, we should have 15 knots of NW to N winds behind us all night long. Lets hope so because it is the Everglades and no where to pull into to....

Ft. Myers Beach Shrimp Night

The Log rolls over to 100 nm....

Departing Burnt Store Marina and saying good bye to our good Kansas friends, Alan and Kathy, was not easy, but cruisers eventually move on. We left the docks with the winds blowing 20+ knots out of the north and set a staysail on Charlotte Harbor running south. As we headed south towards Cabbage Key once again, our log turned over to 100 nautical miles since leaving Palmetto, FL.  Imagine going 100 miles at 5 miles per hour!

20+ knot winds off the stern as we sail south

It really feels as if we have not gone anywhere as of yet, but then again, this is exactly what the plan is for this year. The plan is to have no plan and to sail where and when we want to, and to anchor and stop wherever. Yes, we are heading to the Bahamas, and, yes, we are heading to the Abacos, especially THE JIB ROOM, and,yes, we are first heading to Marathon and Biscayne Bay. Our calendar on the menu link above has our best guess plans outlined for the next year.

Miss Cher, one of the shrimp boat at Ft. Myers Fl

We are now in Fort Myers Beach Florida on a city mooring ball in the harbor. Moorings are $15.00/ night and we can take the dinghy into the docks and walk to the beach. This is one of our favorite places on the West Coast of Florida with a beautiful beach, a great harbor, and plenty of restaurants, pubs, and shops to explore.

Last night was "date night" at Bonita Bill's where we connected with more boat buddies, Judy and William of IP37 Optimystique from Tennessee! We enjoyed the freshest shrimp imaginable right off the shrimp boat and listened to a terrific band, (www.DebandRayeh.com). The drummer, Deb, was the lead singer and her partner, Ray, played the keyboard and also sang. Add in a few underlying tracks and they had the crowd dancing to their great cover songs. What a fun night!


Here are a few more photos.

Raadeen in our CAR heading out for date night

Alan and Kathy's lanai and pool deck, this was tough to leave

Tom and Linda of MV Q's end. These Canadians are Great Loopers.
www.qsend.blogspot.com

Elsie and Jack long time cruising friends of Judy and William

William and Judy (IP37 Optimystique) and Hayden at shrimp night

The best shrimp ever....until the next ones :-)

Island Spirit breaking in her rig in 20+ knots 

Where to next? Most likely down to Marco Island but not until we fully review this beach front town. It is 75 degrees today and the sun might burn off the clouds. Thanks for traveling along.