Day 15     April 25, 2018     Lake Worth to Ft. Piece

In almost every Florida channel you will find large container and cruise ships transversing accompanied by a pilot boat out ahead, warning of their entrance or exit.  This morning motoring slowly out of the anchorage, seeing the pilot’s flashing lights, but not the ship, Captain slowed Aurora.  AIS describes them as having “limited maneuverability,” i.e.; they’re huge!  When this big girl came creeping around the corner and into view, we were thankful for the pilot’s early morning alert.

Several huge dredgers with long tubes sucking up sand to return back to the eroded beaches were moving parallel to the shore today.  Maybe that’s what need on the Gulf Coast to replenish after storms wash our sandy playground out to sea.

In 2012 we anchored in the Ft. Pierce channel, but unable to purchase fuel there today motored a short way into the Ft. Pierce Marina on the Indian River.  With 237 dockage slips many live aboards on all sizes and shapes of boats call this cruiser-friendly marina home. Walking around downtown and a waterfront market didn’t take long and left us wondering how a mammoth Federal Courthouse came to be there.  Afterwards we wound up back at the marina’s tiki hut using our 20% off coupon for dinner. 

Tomorrow we are planning to do an overnight 170 miles to St. Augustine.  Forgetting to get ice until 8:30 we called and the friendly dock hand quickly agreed to meet Dennis and get us some.  Couldn’t get any better customer service, definitely a 5 star marina!

Nautical Miles: 49.7

Day 14    April 24, 2018     Ft. Lauderdale to Lake Worth 

        

Most bridge openings are on a schedule, while some are on request.  When we came in the Port Everglades inlet on Saturday there were several sizes and shapes of boats on both sides of the bridge waiting patiently for the scheduled 3:30 p.m. opening.   This morning for the 7:00 a.m. it was only Aurora who stopped traffic.  Sure hope she didn’t cause anyone to be a few minutes late to their destination.  She was into the Atlantic early to avoid the predicted rainstorms in the afternoon, with sails up for a short time, then motoring 3 miles off shore avoiding any wave action for the rest of the trip.

 

It was a clear, calm day and arrived to the Lake Worth inlet around 1:00.  What wasn’t calm were the currents where we anchored, and after noticing every boat in the anchorage had their bow facing a different direction decided we were too close for comfort and went a few yards farther into the anchorage.

As predicted the storms came rolling through in the evening cleaning the sea salt off Aurora’s topside, but thankfully didn’t produce any significant lightening.  Even with the shift in current overnight our anchor held us in place for another comfortable night’s rest.

Nautical Miles:  45

Day 12-13     April 22-23    Las Olas Marina, Ft. Lauderdale

There are much worse things than being forced to spend two extra days in Ft. Lauderdale on a boat.  From a cruiser’s perspective it’s probably the best place to be weathered in.  It’s where Dennis repaired Aurora in 2013, after we were struck by lightning in Miami, finding every possible resource at our fingertips plus the largest West Marine in the world. 

Two days in between the rain showers to do laundry, to walk the boardwalk, to clean the boat, and to take a memorable trolley ride!  Our destination was a trolley stop 7 blocks from West Marine, another stop on the way back at Publix, and be returned to the original trolley stop one block from the Marina.  Sounded simple enough.  Right?  After accomplishing two of three, we hopped the trolley at the same stop where 1st one dropped us expecting to return to our point of entry.  All I can say we should have saved our six bucks from the all day pass, and ridden our bikes.  We did have a nice tour of Las Olas Blvd., got off the trolley after realizing it was going the wrong direction, waited for the next one that never came, then wound up walking back to the marina, our backpacks still heavily laden with Publix goods.  Thank goodness for Map Quest and phones to point the way to home.

Nautical Miles: 0  Walking miles: 5

Day 11     April 21, 2018     Rodriguez Key to Ft. Lauderdale, Las Olas Marina

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 17^th 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

 

Day 10     April 20, 2018     Marathon, Boot Key to Rodriguez Key

Leaving today for Rodriguez meant leaving behind our good friends and sailing buddies, Tom, Sandy with furry friend Stormy, on Higher Porpoise, and Suzanne and Mark Stillwell on Dragonfly.  We were glad they cruised along with us this far and wish them even more great days exploring and enjoying the laid back lifestyle of the Keys.

   

With rainy, stormy weather predicted for tomorrow afternoon, our destination for today was, Rodriguez Key, 47 miles north. The sun coming up over the harbor was the signal for us to drop our mooring ball free and slip out of the sea of boats in Boot Key Harbor.  Four other sailboats had the same idea as we all motored quietly and safely through the narrow waterway into Hawk’s Channel and the Atlantic together.  Four of five headed southward, while lone Aurora‘s heading was set northward. 

Water in the Keys is the most beautiful, clear, aquamarine, and the reefs along the northern Keys, keep it shallow, so the bottom, only ten to fifteen feet below, is visible from above.  About half way to Rodriguez Key Dennis spotted, Fair Winds, our friends, Mike and Linda Weins’ sailboat on the AIS coming towards us on our starboard.  About that time we heard Mike hail us on the VHS radio.  Ironically they had just spent the night at Rodriguez after their crossing from the Bahamas, completing their two months cruise there.  It was good as always to recognize friend’s voices on the radio, hear about their adventures in the Bahamas, and finally to bode them farewell and safe travels!

By now the aquamarine water had changed to emerald green dotted with patches of floating brown sea grass, a beautiful combination.  Arriving about 2:15 and setting anchor, one of the first tasks was to clean the engine sea strainer.  Again, being diligent to notice even slight changes in the temperature of the engine can mean saving you major problems.  Dennis thought the engine was running a little hot, and was not surprise to find seaweed and plankton in the strainer.  

We enjoyed the quiet anchorage, but were intrigued by a large fish who circled our boat about 6 times.  Think we might have been in his favorite spot!

Dennis’ pasta sauce was served up for dinner with our new bottle of Cesari wine purchased in Naples, and thinking the Oakes Market will be the destination for a land cruise when we return home, as it was a fine wine we found there!

Nautical Miles traveled:  47

AIS is Automatic Identification System.  It is used to track position, movement, course, and speed of named boats, and is the primary method of collision avoidance for water transport.   

Day 9     April 19, 2018      Little Shark to Marathon, Boot Key

Awakened in the night I carefully ventured out of the cabin expecting a barrage of famous Little Shark bugs, but instead found a clear cloudless night dotted with brilliant diamonds, including the dust of the Milky Way; Just another breath-taking cruising moment.

One lone fisherman appeared around 7:00 a.m. to cast a bit in the Little Shark River, joined by one lone pelican on the channel marker.  All 3 sailboats were southward bound by 7:15, keeping a sharp lookout for crab pots with literally hundreds strung along our route to Marathon.  Stone crab pots can be destructive to a prop if the line happens to wrap around it.  Attached to our props is a blade which is supposed to cut the line attached to the pot preventing damage should we happen to catch one. Tom Wells, on Higher Porpoise, noticed his RPMs slowed down at the 7 mile bridge and when he arrived in the mooring field found a crab pot line dangling from his prop.  He was able to successfully stretch the line across his cutter to remove it, preventing damage to the prop; another problem easily solved, but if left unnoticed could have meant serious consequences.  Good catch Tom!!!

Stopping at Burdines to top off the diesel fuel then continuing on Marathon Boot Key City Marina to successfully pick up a mooring ball, everyone arrived safely without incident. The mooring field looked great considering Hurricane Irma had just plowed through in September 2017 causing massive damage to many boats in the harbor.  It took only 3 months to get the mooring field and marina reopened, and was amazing to see 200 boats already there.  It was easy to pick out the surviving hurricane boats, patched up with plastic, black tape, and plywood. Around the marina there were areas where the damage was evident, but not as bad as expected. Their main building, restrooms, laundry, and dinghy docks were all intact. All in all it looked like the boats took the worst of it. 

After two great days out in the Gulf, a celebration at the Keys Fishery picnic tables overlooking the water was in order.  Small tarpon and sharks swam a few feet away giving us a close up look at the sea life in Marathon.  

A mother manatee with her baby gracefully nosing along the dinghy docks were the highlight of another fabulous day on the water!

Nautical Miles Traveled: 45

Day 8     Wed., April 18, 2018    Naples to Little Shark River Anchorage, Everglades

Our Cruising day routine

·         Up at 5:00

·         Coffee

·         Sunscreen

·         Water bottles filled; Drink 2-3, 20oz. per day to stay hydrated

·         Secure cabin; All doors and cabinets locked, and all loose articles secured

·         Electronics powered up; Radio, Chart plotter, radar, wind instruments, depth, autopilot

·          Fenders removed/stored

·         Captain’s seat in place

·         Life jackets, hat and sunglasses

·         Start engine

·         Remove 5 dock lines

·         Push off from dock

With 66 miles to go before we sleep, leaving the Naples docks at 6:30 was a necessity.  Everyone made sure their fuel and water tanks were topped off and ready to go on Tuesday.  Getting away from the docks can be difficult in winds, but there was none, allowing all of us to depart without incident.

Into the Gulf at 7:00 then locked on a heading to first skirt around Ramono Shoals with the ETA to Little Shark 4:30.  A light wind from the East filled our head sail for a short time, but when it shifted more south, or “on the nose,” as Dennis says, our sailing became just motoring.

 

Its days like this that makes us wonder why we live on land.  Clear sunny skies, 80 degree fresh salt air, aqua green water, dolphins, pelicans, even a turtle graced our journey.  And with no cell service, plenty of time to read, reflect, write, exercise and pray. 

With winds increasing from the southwest the decision was made by Captain Dennis to go into the anchorage instead of anchoring offshore.  Being first into anchorage allowed us to choose anywhere to drop the hook.  First a shallow spot, then deeper water, but when the tide dropped another 3ft., and was to predicted to drop another 1½ ft. we pulled up the 55lb. Rocna and found even deeper water.  Terrible mosquitoes and flies frequent the popular stopover, but our overnight stay was bug-free.  By sunset there were 9 boats of various sizes tucked into the protected water.

Although Naples was nice, it was much nicer to finally be on the water again, ending our day in the remote anchorage blissfully quiet after the busy noise of the city.

Nautical Miles traveled:  66 miles