MIDORI ADVENTURES

On Saturday, January 7, 2012 we departed Boot Key Harbour along with five other boats (LIVING WELL, SAYYES II, GRATITUDE, SPINDRIFT, ISLAND GIRL). MIDORI and SPINDRIFT were able to go out via Sisters Creek due to shallower drafts, but the rest had to go out the longer main entrance and around into the Straits of Florida. Hawk Channel is the route on the "outside" of the Keys running from Miami to Key West. It runs between the line of Keys and the Florida Reef (actually a series of reefs paralleling the islands). With a controlling depth of 9 feet at mean low water, it is the deepest and most viable route for vessels with a draft of 5 feet or more.

As usual, the wind was on our nose and our two Yamaha 9.9 outboards' peak performance was 4.5 knots at 3,400 RPM's.

Rather than continuing on to Rodrigues Key off of Key Largo, MIDORI and SPINDRIFT decided to go through Channel Five, under a 65' bridge and continue on the "inside" to the well-marked but shoal-draft ICW channel.

The very first thing we had to contend with were the numerous crab pots in the channel. However, they are much easier to dodge in daylight! Next, was the tide (going out) which created quite a current against us, making it difficult to maintain control when passing through the many narrow cuts like, Bowley's Cut, Steamboat Channel, Cowpen Cut, Ramshorn Cut. Our speed was reduced to 3.5 knots.

We stopped at 5:30 in Community Harbour (town of Tavernier) and anchored for the night. SPINDRIFT put down their dinghy to go ashore with their dogs. They stopped by on the way back to let us know that they had decided not to carry on because of continuing issues with their engine shaft. They felt it would be better if they returned to Marathon and work on their boat issues. We asked them to think about it overnight. We watched a beautiful red sunset and a beautiful full moon came up in the sky. We had a very calm night at anchor and slept soundly.

On Sunday morning, January 8th, Mike came over by dinghy to say they would not be proceeding. We were disappointed, but understood.

We carried on in the shallow ICW with current and wind against us, but it was a beautiful day - sunny and warm (70's) with blue skies, no humidity. PERFECT. We passed through Little Card Sound and could see the bottom - the water was so clear. When we passed through Cutter Bank into Biscayne Bay we could see the Miami skyline off in the distance - still 30+ miles away. We finally were able to put both sails up! Biscayne Bay also had clear water which is very unsettling because it looked like only 2 feet deep when, in fact, it was 10+ ft.

We arrived at Dinner Key Mooring Field at 5:16 p.m. where we were met by Steve and Mary Ann on their dinghy who took us into shore to register before the office closed, and, we were just delighted to meet up with our friend Mike J. Brennan from JULIANN. He was single handing his 45' Hunter and had just arrived from Fort Lauderdale and has taken a slip here for a month.

First thing Monday, Brian ordered new propellers in the hopes of improving our speed. Current props are 11 3/4" x 7" pitch. New props will be 11 3/4 " x 91/4" pitch. Of course, as these things go, the props arrived on Tuesday, but the flanges weren't included………..although ordered to be overnighted, the flanges have not arrived as of today. We are hoping that they will arrive and be installed tomorrow which is Friday. Unfortunately, we have missed our weather window to the Bahamas. Hopefully, we will get another window next Wednesday.

Our loyal, wonderful friends, Steve and Mary Ann are waiting with us, although they could have left today with s/v GRATITUDE.

Dinner Key (with the community of Coconut Grove nearby) is not a bad place to be and the mooring ball is only $20.00 per night.

Stay tuned,

First Mate Lynn