The long awaited Keys trip is upon us...

[kchunk]

We hauled the boat out (for the first time since I bought her in February) last weekend. Finishing the last few "must do" items on the list today (Wednesday) and tomorrow. and Friday, early, we're heading south.

We have a house off of Sister's Creek in Marathon for the week (Saturday to Saturday) but we're heading down Friday and spending the night at Blackfin Resort on Marathon. Supposedly they'll have enough water at the ramp to launch our 23. I figured it's worth the extra expense of staying an extra night at a place with a ramp so the kids can enjoy the pool and whatever while I get the boat ready for the water. We plan to have her in Friday afternoon and probably just tie her up for the night. You see, Blackfin Resort is on the Gulf side and Sister's Creek is on the ocean side of Marathon. Saturday will be a long day; moving into the house and repositioning the boat, out and under the 7-mile bridge and then back up around Boot Key to Sister's Creek. I don't know why but I'm really sweating the move. My previous boat (Catalina 27) I've had 20+ miles offshore from Daytona Beach and never thought twice about it. I suppose it's because I've never taken a boat from point A to point B before. All of our sailing has been day sailing...always returning from where we set out. This is more like a mission 

Anyway, praying for good weather for the tow down and for Saturdays move. I'll have my laptop with me so I'll keep everyone informed. It's gonna be a great trip!

[Bob23]

Greg:
   Do keep us informed. Sounds like you are indeed in for a great trip; what could be better than to be on a fun-mission with family and the 23?
   Best to you,
   Bob23, countin' down the sailing days left to summer as I will go in for rotator cuff surgery on 9/11...

[mrb]

Here's another vote for info and reports on your adventure in the Keys. Sure to be some great remembrance times for your family.
A new boat and your first sail from a point A to point B. I may be easily pleased but those are two of the great pleasures of life.
Best of vacation to you
Melvin

[kchunk]

Well, we're back and we had a great trip! The weather was perfect...the boat was perfect...the tow down and back was perfect. The only thing I could have asked for would have been a bit flatter sea the first few days.

We left Friday the 18th, first thing in the morning and made great time getting to Marathon. The Honda Ridgeline towed better than I could have hoped for! We had a reservation for just one night at the Blackfin Resort. I use the term "Resort" loosely. If you've spent any time in the Keys I'm sure you know what I'm talking about  . Anyway, we decided to head down a day early so we didn't waste a day of vacation towing and setting up the boat, plus, the Blackfin has their own ramp and docks. The plan was to set up Friday, tie up the boat and first thing in the morning head out for our house. The only thing was the Blackfin was on the bay side and our house was on the ocean side. This meant a long journey down to the high part of the Seven Mile bridge and then back up to Boot Key.

The first leg was an easy broad reach. My son and I were doing 5.5 kts most of the way. The wind picked up most of the morning and by the time we got to the bridge we were surfing a following sea, white caps and all, and the boat occasionally wanting to round up. Turning to head under the bridge, we were really close hauled. Now I'm no slouch at sailing, but I also know when I might have met my match. The last thing I wanted to do, heading under the bridge, in unfamiliar waters, was have to tack a couple times in the narrow channel so we decided to drop sail and fire up the o/b.

Under the bridge and heading back to Boot Key (Did you know there is no such place as Marathon Key?), we were straight into the wind. Already two hours into this trip and knowing it would be several more under sail heading up wind, we decided to motor the rest of the way. Man, we got our butts kicked! Motoring straight into the wind and now ocean swells increasing to 3' plus, we rocked and rolled for several hours, averaging less than 3 kts and trying not to take too many swells broad side.

Anyway, after almost 6 hours, my son and I found our house and met up with my wife and daughter lounging by the pool.

The seas were pretty bumpy the first half of the week but flattened as the week went on. Unfortunately, the second day out, my daughter (6 year old) got seasick and that pretty much did her in for the week. Other than that was got out almost every day and some days twice. The night sailing was the best! The sky was so clear you could literally see forever. One night we were heading in, we dropped the sails and before firing up the o/b we just sat there, drifting for over an hour; spotting constellations and counting shooting stars. It may have been the single best time of my life!

Here are just a few of the several hundred pictures we took throughout the week.


Loaded up, ready to head out!




Ohana at her new home for the week. She couldn't be happier!




I asked my wife and sister-in-law to go to Sombrero Beach and take some pics of us heading out.




From Sombrero Beach, my son, nephew and I headed out for sailing a diving. Sombrero Reef lighthouse is in the background.




My wife and son on the bow watching the sun set. Boot Key is to the right and the Seven-Mile Bridge to the left.




We were out till almost midnight that night. Might be the single best day of my life!

[Bob23]

Greg:
   Too beautiful for words. Thanks for taking us all along!
Bob23

[Mundaysj]

Wow!  Thank you for sharing your trip and your pictures!  Seems like a wonderful time and great memories for you.
Sherie

[Paul]

Life really IS good!!  Glad you had a great time!  Thanks for the inspiring photos.

Paul

[romei]

Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.  It is indeed inspiring.  I can't wait to do the keys myself some day when I get a bit more experience.

Do you have any more pics uploaded anywhere?

[Ralph Erickson]

Now that's the stuff dreams are made of! Sailing the Keys! When I took a 9 day liveaboard sailing course in 2004, we set anchor overnight at Boot Key on our way from Duck Key to Key West.  Beautiful pictures! I especially like your Ridgeline, and am glad to hear it pulled the 23 effortlessly.  I've only pulled my 19 short distances with my Ridgeline, so any future long trips should be no problem.  Thanks for sharing!

Ralph