Our custom mattress from Bedmasters in Port Charlotte makes
for an awesome night’s rest, and occasionally can even lull us into sleeping in
until 7:00. This was not a morning to
lounge, and were up at 5:00 checking the wind and weather forecasts. Aurora’s cruising speed is around 6 to 6 ½
knots, making Ft. Lauderdale, 71 nautical miles away, a long haul from
Rodriguez. We had plan B, if the weather
became a factor, we’d be stopping at No Name Harbor in Miami instead. Rodriguez Key is an easy in and out wide open
anchorage, so leaving at 6:15 without much light was not a problem. Thus it being an anchorage many use to leave from
on their Bahamas crossing.
Wind can be your friend or foe. East/Northeast at 8-10 it was definitely on
our side today. Our Genoa, the head
sail, was unfurled the whole distance helping Aurora average 7.77 knots. No Name Harbor came into view around 11:30,
and the weather although overcast, stayed clear of storms, so we passed it,
cleared Government Cut, Miami by 12:30, entering the way point for Port
Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale. Our entrance into the channel was smooth, making
the 3:30 opening of the 17th Street Bridge, took on fuel at the City
Marina and were docked at Las Olas Marina by 4:00. This marina is a block from the Ft. Lauderdale
Beach, so of course we headed there first to walk and then eat.
Today there were a couple of interesting boats along the
way. First was a huge cargo ship, 0.182 nm. long and 148 ft beam, 39 ft. draft,
employed by the Maersk Line. It came out
of the Government Cut loaded to the top with containers, making it several
stories high and passed a quarter a mile in front of Aurora. Second boat, the T/S Gunilla, a three masted
tall ship, 164 ft. long, 26 ft. beam, was built in 1941 in Sweden, destination
Charleston. It is listed as a training ship and appeared to have many young
people aboard, although not sure for what kind of training.
Nautical Miles: 71.7
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