Thursday, April 16. Today was about as opposite from expected as could be. NOAA was predicting winds 5-10 from the W building to 10 from N. We awakened to 5-10 from NW, OK, close. I raised the main, Deb raised the anchor and helped me unfurl gennie, and we sailed out of the anchorage without ever using the engines. After we got to deep water (8' instead of 6'), we furled gennie and popped the spinnaker. We were comfortably making 4 kts to SE as we noted rain on the other side of Hawk Channel. Probably won't make it to us, but the dark clouds are certainly building our way, and with them gusty wind. We snuffed and dropped the spinnaker as the first strong gust hit. After rolling out gennie again, Deb kept us headed in the right direction while I stuffed the spinnaker back in its bag. We were making 7 kts to SE in 15 kts from NE. Must be just cloud effect. It won't last. But by the time we reached the outer edge of Hawk Channel, it was still blowing strong from the NE, so we tacked and headed back towards land. At this point our VMG was 0, but at least it wasn't negative and we were making good headway on the outbound tack. Sure enough, by the time we made the edge of Hawk Channel the second time, the winds were dying, but still from the NE. We sailed a bit beyond the Channel into the Florida Straights and the sea was flat as a mirror. Finally we gave up sailing and motor sailed toward Indian Key, our destination and still 15 nm away. As we were out over the reef and going back and forth from deeper water to shallows, we really should be able to catch a fish. Ballyhoos were jumping all over the place, so I rigged my Ballyhoo lure. It looked good to me, but not to any fish. I also put out the vibrating squid lure. It hummed nicely, but no fish liked it. All the way back over Tennessee Reef. If ever there was a sail that should have caught a fish, this was it, and we didn't. So, if anyone wants to get me something for my birthday, get me some lures that are guaranteed to catch reef fish in the Bahamas or pelagic fish on the trip to Panama. The ones I bought in Florida sure aren't working! Fishless, we sailed into Indian anchorage and picked a spot between two mooring balls. Of course now the wind is blowing 10-15 from the W! The prediction for the next couple days is 15-20 from the NE to E so we are planning to hang here for it to pass, but we have to set the anchor with winds from the W. I dropped back as close tot he island as I dared (6.2' with the tide @ +1.7. close!) so that when we swing we will still have good protection. We may have to pick it up and move it, we'll see what tomorrow brings.