Anastasia delivered us safely once more from another outside passage. So far we have completed four offshore legs on the trip with each one being better than the last. Yesterday we departed Ft. Pierce inlet around 8AM, heading for open water. This trip, unlike the others, found us hugging the shore, staying only at most 5 miles offshore because of the gulf stream. The gulf stream is a strong south to north current that would definitely not be in our favor. So as night fell we enjoyed sailing against the bright city skyline that was with us until the sun rose this morning. Even better, we were able to sail for almost the entire trip, nice to give Ian (our diesel engine) a break.

We entered the main channel of Miami with no trouble and no traffic. We have heard that this is one of the busiest ports in Florida but it looked like a ghost town when we passed. No cruise ships, no tankers, nothing but our good luck.

Something that we have yet to experience on this trip has happened here in South Miami Beach. We are sweating, genuinely and continuously sweating! It is great! After being so bitterly cold and sometimes wet AND cold, it is really nice to sit in the sun with that long lost perspiration cresting your brow.

From here it is over to the Bahamas. We are not sure just when that will be as we really like it here in South Miami Beach so far. Weather permitting, I assume we will be here for 5-6 days. Plus, our great friends aboard Fox Sea that we met in Annapolis are here too in the same anchorage. We plan to have dinner with them tonight and catch up on what has happened for both of us since October when we were in Annapolis together.

Current conditions: (other than the 85+ degree temperatures) A still anchorage in the company of 8 other boats, shore lined with pastel colored buildings and palm trees! We are listening to a latin pop station on the radio and watching the "Miami-Vice" cigarette boats race back and forth across the open water behind us.

Will have photos up soon on SmugMug.