It was a real challenge getting out the Cape Florida Channel. Cape Florida is the southern most tip of Key Biscayne. We left at low tide with no markers in the Cape's channel and many shoals noted on the chart plotter. We literally inched our way out. There were markers in the distance for both the Biscayne Channel and our eventual destination the Hawk Channel. The sun was rising bright in our eyes, making marker identification difficult, but we did it! The Hawk Channel is a natural channel of depths between 10 and 15 feet that runs along the Atlantic Ocean from the Biscayne National Park to Key West. There is a chain of barrier reefs that separates and protects this Channel from the Atlantic Ocean. It is critical to keep to your course! "Sail the markers!" (Hitting Coral Heads with your keel would be a huge Bummer!)
This was a great day for "Chasseur", it was the first time in more than a thousand miles she had both sails up for the entire day. We were out in the Atlantic again, this time however, it was uneventful.
The water color is a beautiful turquoise color now and clear. We can see bottom all throughout this beautiful area. We have seen flying fish and sting rays jumping out of the water.
We dropped anchor in Rodriquez Key, an oval shaped island just south of Key Largo. The wind picked up and there was no protection from the east wind. This was not the worst anchorage in our travels - open water anchoring on Lake Huron with 20+ kt winds and 3-4 foot seas tops this!
The wind prediction for Sunday is Southeast 15 kts decreasing to 10 kts, 2-3 foot waves decreasing to 1-2 feet. We should move along nicely to Marathon, Boot Key Harbor, again under full sails. We are so looking forward to a 3 month rest with swimming, bicycling, walking and snorkeling.
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| Cape Florida Lighthouse, southern most tip of Key Biscayne |
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| Water color |
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| Rodriquez Key sunset |
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