Monday 4 January 2021

Yesterday again ran ashore for coffee, internet and the last half gallon of Eggnog at Publix, then motored up to Lake Worth Inlet to get a jump on earlyish departure this morning. Original idea was for daylighting to Fort Lauderdale with a short run Tuesday to Miami. Decided rather to continue on to Key Biscayne, south of Miami, for a night arrival then go into Coconut Grove tomorrow for reasons that will probably bore anybody who might have stumbled onto this site or, saints preserve us, searched it out. Having no shame, will now proceed to do just that. Advise skipping to next paragraph and hope it's better. (1) We already met fellow who advised us on keeping mast upright after intermediate shrouds broke crossing the Atlantic, who we wanted to thank and present with a bottle of champagne, but is still living and working in Palm Beach although his work is moving to Lauderdale at David Walter's Yachts who are now the Hylas dealer, rigger and repair center. (2) Broker and subsequent friends from David Walter's Yachts, who sold us this boat, were visited in Annapolis and are not near any anchorages where nearby marinas cost six to ten dollars a foot per day (276 to 460 USD). (3) We like Coconut Grove and can spare a day or two especially if we save one by arriving a day early. (4) Yanmar engine is showing lower than comfortable oil pressure and parts, including OEM oil filters that may help, are available nearby. Now aren't you sorry you disregarded the warning?

Tuesday

Spent last night at No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne and came over to Dinner Key midday. No moorings at either Sailing Club or Marina so anchored in the open at deepest location where 2.1 meter boat will say hello to 1.9 meter bottom for about five hours this evening. Biscayne Bay is really shallow.

After strolling Coconut Grove for a few hours will have dinner tonight then leave tomorrow morning early before low tide hugs us to bottom again (unlikely) or after it lets us go in the afternoon for return to Key Biscayne, staging for either Rodrigues Key or Tavernier off Key Largo.

Wednesday

As postulated it's going to be that afternoon option. Came in for walk to really great, every day, indoor, fresh market then up to Crook & Crook, marine store. Three mile hike was way more fun with bikes when here almost seven years ago. After fitting out new boat from that February's Miami Boat Show and shipment from old boat in Brisbane left in May for Bahamas. From Georgetown traveled to Singapore for Jan's new knee before returning and continuing on to Caribbean. And the rest is history.. of course, everything before that was history too, but we'll just ignore it.

Perhaps a warning should have been offered at very beginning and you could have skipped this entire entry.

Jack & Jan