Back on the waterway DEPARTURE

...The ICW = Bridges...

We departed Stuart, Florida, Sunset Bay Marina on Monday, Jan 16, 2017 and headed down the waterway with our first destination of Miami / Biscayne Bay. We want to shake down this new gear, and break in our new watermaker and sail. We also have good friends, Fred and Gail arriving on Friday for a nice winter break from the cold north. We plan to attend the Saturday Wallcast in South Beach and then sail south to Boca Chita before the big front arrives Sunday mid day and blows over night. First let's all remember just how much fun it really is to run the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the A-ICW.

Jet ski jumping wakes in front of our bow, FUN

Then imagine how crazy it is to run this on a holiday weekend with everyone out and about on every kind of watercraft there is. Oh but wait, let's add one more a fun activity.  The Stuart Boat Show closed at the same time and all the power yachts are running full speed past your beam one boat length away. Yes, welcome to the fun of the Florida ICW. We always say, the people in Florida really enjoy the water, they are out and about on the water more than any other state. We love it here! It is great to be moving the boat rather than working on the boat. Island Spirit ran perfectly today. She is a great boat and she loves to run.

Let the fun begin again with these few photos....

Hayden and Radeen Year #6 of cruising

Our last sunset at Sunset Bay Marina, Stuart FL

Hobe Sound where people own their own cruise ships

Hobe Sound where the fishing boats are longer than the homes

Jupiter Sound where everyone is out and about on the water

Small winter home on the water. On the right is their boat with 4 outboards=1,400 hp

Some bridges are bascule bridges and you need to request a lift for your passage

Radeen at the helm, she is so good at running the boat

Our log, brand new B&G gear, with 67 nautical miles
This should reach 2,000 by May!

So here we are anchored out in our first anchorage for the season. Our cruising friends, Laurie and Jim of IP 350 Kismet, dinghied over to visit. The conversation was lively and the laughs were many, but no photos to prove it. Hope to see you guys again soon in a wonderful Bahamian anchorage!

The wind is blowing 15 knots and the boat is running all lights, computers and the refrigerator via the wind as our Marine Kentic MK450 adds power to the new battery bank. Day One is in the books. With 2,000 miles to go, figuring 50 miles per day, that means we need to move 40 days to travel 2,000 miles. With 40 days of moving for February, March, April and May, that is 10 days a month moving for 4 months to reach our goal. But first, lets just get to Miami. :-)