Hola Gringos!
17 March 2024 | Marathon, Boot Key Harbor, FL
Barry Bartholomew | 82 n Sunny, light SE wind
Up early and preparing for the next leg. Crossing to Bimini, Bahamas. It's approximately 132 miles across the Florida Straits.
Appears to be another motor sail as the wind has been coming from the direction we want to go for a week now.
Had a good time in the harbor. listened to some good music and had some great food. At the "Counch Cafe" Terrie feasted on Counch and Lobster...learned once again I should order what she orders!
Marathon, Boot Key Harbor
12 March 2024 | Marathon, FL
Barry Bartholomew | 80 and sun, minor clouds
Hola Amigos!
Had a favorable window so headed east to the next stopping point, Marathon at Boot Key Harbor.
This a very cruiser-oriented harbor often a gathering place for east and west bound cruisers. Those heading east to Miami, up the east coast of Florida or to the Bahama's.
Those moving west are typically going to Key West, The Dry Tortuga's, anywhere in Mexico or up the west coast of Florida.
The wind was directly on our stern the entire way. We began with just the mainsail up to augment motoring, when it became ineffective, we dropped and put its cover on. Then raised the headsail to aid in being pushed along by the wind.
After dodging crab pots for 250 miles, we finally found one we really liked! So, we hit it! Nah, just kiddin', we didn't like it that much........ but it did pop up out of nowhere and we both saw it too late as it went under the boat at the last second. heard a good THUMP and watched for the float to pop back up. It did, however the float did receive a slight haircut! About a third of the ball was missing and new styro-foam was exposed.
The first day at anchorage, yesterday, was blowing 15 to 20 in the bay so I did not choose to dive on the propeller to assess the damage. Didn't know what to expect because there was no vibration? Right about the time it happened it seemed like we lost about 20% of our boat speed.
Today was the day to look see! The wind was down and the water fairly clear with no current. Time to get wet and dive on the boat!
Amazingly there "0" damage to the propeller!!!
Not a mark!!! Thinking it through we surmised that slowdown was from the gap in the Keys we had just come upon which allowed current from the north to slow the boat down. Also, the boat design has the prop in an aperture (a hole) between the sked and the rudder. Thus, it is pretty well surrounded and protected.
Funny me, had the repair all figured out, where to get it straightened and additional parts and so on and so forth. None of that needed. I did learn that one of the largest and most respected Propeller repair companies is in Marathon, Florida! Jot that down for future reference...
Terrrie has been under the weather for the past 24 hours and is now feeling pretty good, so we are going to dinghy to town shortly and see what's going on there. Of course, there's always a few things to pick up...... plus, we need to find a laundry.
So long for now!
Miss T and Me
on sv SeaSwift
KEY WEST!
08 March 2024 | Key West
Barry Bartholomew | 82 wind 5mph
Hola Amigos!
We finally, finally cut loose!!!
After a fair number of prep challenges (all timely good) and the sailing weather window that never came, we decided individually and collectively to MOTOR if we must! Raised anchor early Sunday morning, March 3rd and headed SOUTH! Thank you to El Nino.
In all my years of sailing this turned out to be the longest voyage by far with no wind per say. 198 miles to Key West at average speed of 5mph with the diesel just humming along. We did have the mainsail up to help with motor sailing. What happens in this mode the speed under power generates its own wind to aid in propelling the boat plus the sail laterally stabilizes the sea motion. The good news was we were kept company by numerous pods of visiting Dolphins along the way!
We arrived at the entrance channel to KW at 9PM on Tuesday evening decided to anchor overnight in the open roadstead. Always prudent to not enter a busy unfamiliar anchorage in the dark. We slept wonderfully with a gentle rocking of the boat and the lights of Key West off in the distance.
SeaSwift was anchored in 25 feet of water depth and 150 feet out for a very secure 5 to 1 scope.
Interestingly, the entire trip was over the eastern shelf of the Florida coast. Even though we were up to 50 miles off shore the deepest water we experienced on the depth sounder was 69 feet!
Terrie kept watching for 70 feet but it never showed.....
In the morning we motored the rest of the way to the Key West anchor area. Found a good spot west of Wisteria Island and put down the anchor. It's a great compact sand bottom so the 52# Rocna anchor buried itself immediately and has held us secure in place. Good area with about a one mile dinghy ride to the town marina.
Thus far we've been to town twice. Off to Jimmy Buffet's MARGARITAVILLE for a cheeseburger in paradise the first night. (accompanied by a Bahama Mama) Then Thursday afternoon we located the "find anything" grocery store, walked around a bit then had conch fritters and drinks at the Schooner Wharf Bar. Then back to the boat before sunset.
We are still organizing and making sure everything is working well. It's lookin' like we're fixin' to move on to Marathon at O'Dark Thirty on Sunday morning. That's around the corner and east down the Florida Straights about 50 miles.
This belated email is on the wire now because the hotspot connection was a little onery hooking up. Or maybe I wasn't pushing the right buttons or using the proper set to my jaw or maybe even the right cuss words? Dunno.....workin' now!
All is well on the good ship SeaSwift!
That's all for now.....
Queen T and the Fix It Guy