Chillin’ in the Keys

1/28/15
Marathon FL, Harbour Cay Club
Position: 24 42.631N, 81 06.590W
Posted by Bill

Yesterday, we picked our anchoring spot based on the forecasted wind direction. It was supposed to blow around 15 knots out of the NW until 10 PM and then around 20 knots out of the N until 10 AM. We picked a spot in the lee of Rodgriguez Key in preparation for the N winds. In reality, it blew out of the W between 15 and 22 knots until 3 AM and then shifted to the N blowing up to 26 knots. It was really uncomfortable until the wind shifted to the N and our anchoring strategy paid off. So goes the forecast.

We were up at 5:30 and got underway before 7, and had 23 to 28 knot winds and 3-5 foot waves on our starboard quarter (right rear for you landlubbers). Our SOG (speed over ground for you landlubbers) was between 7.3 and 8.1 knots…a fantastic sail.
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Sea state during passage.

This lasted until we got to the ocean side of Marathon and then the winds dropped to 15-20 knots. We sailed through Moser Channel and under the 7 Mile Bridge, back into the ICW in Florida Bay and over to the marina.
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Houses on the shore of Boot Key, Marathon.
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Approaching the 7 Mile Bridge
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Approaching the marina.

When we got to the marina the members worked together to lead us in. Our slip is at the end of two parallel piers with space between them only 3 boat widths wide. There were boats on both sides, so only room for one boat to fit in between them. Our friends on Island Spirit warned us in advance about this, but I was still really skeptical that we could pull in, make a hard left turn, and turn our boat around to face out. As we got to the turning point, everyone grabbed a line or some part of the boat and got us turned around without any major incident. This is what it looks like:
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We made great time getting there and had time to tour the facility, which is really nice. We met at least 10 other couples, and attended a happy hour at the Tiki Hut. We will be here through the month of February.

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