After three days hiding from a cold front in a small basin inside a posh Palm Beach community, it was time to leave.

With wind & seas now from the wrong direction, if we wanted to continue south to Miami, we would need to stay in “The Ditch”.

This section however, is particularly unpleasant due to over 30 bridges, most all with restricted opening schedules. Waiting in front of a closed bridge is challenging.


Standing still or “Station Keeping” at a bridge with strong tidal currents tests nerves, skill, and depth precision. A full keel boat, like Calypso, if caught sideways in a current could get her dangerously close to or even hit the bridge. That would be a BAD Day!

Boats that travel at roughly the same speed will usually group together, dancing in the tide, from bridge to bridge. Once fully opened the bridge tender would give the “All Clear” boats pick up speed and head for the next bridge to do it all over again.

This continual hurry up & wait creates an Accordion Effect as a group of boats get strung out after clearing one bridge, only to compress back together one or two miles later at the next.


All under the carful eye of some of South Florida’s visitors.

Dealing with the extra bridges was worth the trouble. Tomorrow, 16 December 2018, we will cross from Key Biscayne to the Bahamas. Stay tuned, the adventure continues...;)

Fair Winds & Quiet Anchorages,
Jeff & Wendy