While we didn’t want to leave our newfound friends in Stuart, it was time to move south. After all, we had been in Stuart over a month. We’d enjoyed happy hours poolside, the boat show and the jacuzzi tub – but now the jacuzzi was closed for maintenance. What a bummer.
So south we headed. We left the marina Friday morning anticipating that we would go offshore. By the time we reached the crossroads for the inlet and the intracoastal the wind had picked up to about 25. A check of weather radio said 6-9 footers offshore and 7-13 footers in the Gulf Stream. With that we scrapped Plan A and instead opted for Plan B – a southbound motor sail down the ICW.
By Saturday morning, the winds had slowed so before sunrise we slipped out the inlet and headed south. It was a great run outside - moderate seas, winds out of the north at 15 to 20. We put up the spinnaker and sailed downwind to the northern Keys. Once in the Keys, we motor sailed through Hawks Channel finally reaching Marathon on Sunday. On arrival we were greeted by friends John and Goliath in their dinghy.
We plan on using Marathon as a jumping off spot for day trips throughout the winter. Key West is only a 45 minute bus ride away and there are lots of reefs to snorkel within a 10 mile sail. It should be a great winter!!
The Admiral
So south we headed. We left the marina Friday morning anticipating that we would go offshore. By the time we reached the crossroads for the inlet and the intracoastal the wind had picked up to about 25. A check of weather radio said 6-9 footers offshore and 7-13 footers in the Gulf Stream. With that we scrapped Plan A and instead opted for Plan B – a southbound motor sail down the ICW.
By Saturday morning, the winds had slowed so before sunrise we slipped out the inlet and headed south. It was a great run outside - moderate seas, winds out of the north at 15 to 20. We put up the spinnaker and sailed downwind to the northern Keys. Once in the Keys, we motor sailed through Hawks Channel finally reaching Marathon on Sunday. On arrival we were greeted by friends John and Goliath in their dinghy.
We plan on using Marathon as a jumping off spot for day trips throughout the winter. Key West is only a 45 minute bus ride away and there are lots of reefs to snorkel within a 10 mile sail. It should be a great winter!!
The Admiral
1/16/09 – 1/20/09
3 comments:
Hey,
Just want to say Hi. YOu look happy in the pictures.
Wei
Wei -
Thanks for the note. I will try to drop you an email so we can catch up. Hope all is well with you and yes, I am loving our adventure.
Joanne
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