While the anchorage off Key Biscayne is much more calm than No Name, we have meet a lot of wonderful folks here in the little Harbor. Rick and Rose in Merlin, a Gulf Stream 39, were the first couple we met here. They had been to the Exumas many times and gave us a lot of Bahamas crusing tips.

We met two new couples in the anchorage over the past two days. Mike and Brenda on Magic were here for a Thanksgiving pot luck with their yacht club. We clicked with Mike when we noticed him yelling ?No wake� at all of the power boaters plowing into the anchorage at 10 knots. Magic is a very fast looking Cal 27. We joined them aboard for a few beers and some great conversation. They were even more newlywed than we were so we had a lot in common.

Today Jane and Lowell came over to visit for a bit. They are heading to the Bahamas as well on Edelweiss, their Hunter 45. Great people from my folks?? home state of North Carolina. We?? re hoping to make the passage with Edelweiss and some other yachts from the harbor, all of whom have been waiting for a weather window.

We also met Michael, an 80 something year old single hander, who sails to the Bahamas every winter. He is a wealth of knowledge and has laid out the passage plan that most of us are going to follow. It is amazing and encouraging to see his vigor and zest for life and sailing. He is full time aboard his Prout catamaran and spends the summers in the Chesapeake bay.