Beach at Fort JeffersonSailing into the sunrise
Goliath grouper with our reflection.Loggerhead Key lighthouse as the fog rolls in.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Pictures Dry Tortugas
Beach at Fort JeffersonSailing into the sunrise
Goliath grouper with our reflection.Loggerhead Key lighthouse as the fog rolls in.
Dry Tortugas
Thursday 2-12- Left Key West with lite N wind, beautiful hot sunny day. Motor sailed to Marquesas Key, where we spent a bumpy night with shifting winds. I have read that this group of islands makes up the only known atoll in the Atlantic. Shallow draft boats can enter inside the lagoon and be nearly fully protected, unfortunately our draft limited us to anchoring offshore. Beautiful beaches and many shipwrecks to explore and we hope to spend time here on our return trip.
Friday-Fogged in, but a long trip ahead of us across open water. Headed out under full sail in heavy fog much of the day. Anchored at Garden Key in Dry Tortugas late afternoon. Protected anchorage off of Fort Jefferson. We are now 75 miles west of Key West, the waters are crystal clear with great beaches.
Sat,Sun,Mon.- Warm but fog keeps rolling in and out. Spent our days snorkeling in magnificent coral reefs and shipwrecks and exploring the islands. Colorful fish and corals abound in the shallow reefs. Goliath Groupers at least 5 ft long hang around the boat whenever we are cleaning fish. Apparently these protected fish have become like pets to the divers. Have been given numerous fish by the commercial boats that spend the night anchored here. Wishing for shrimp or lobster but no luck there, next trip we bring rum to trade. The fisherman won't take cash but a 6 pack got me a bucket of Yellowtail Snapper today. These boats come out of Key West and this is the only protected anchorage for nearly 50 miles.
Tues,Wed- A cold front with strong N winds came thru Mon afternoon. Skies have cleared but the Waters are much rougher today, and until winds subside we plan to stay put. Spending our time wandering around Garden Island, Finding spots out of the wind to snorkel and hang out on beach.
Thurs 2-19, Today we get a break from the strong winds before the next cold front arrives this evening. Headed out at 5:30 am under moonlit starry skies. As we were leaving the harbor schools of flying fish were leaping all around us. They actually look like they fly as they skip across the surface. Wouldn't make much of a meal though as they are only 6 in long. Great sailing with winds 10 to 12 kts from the south with temps near 80. Arrive Key West late afternoon. Todays sail brought us 75 miles, our longest stretch to date.
Fri,Sat- As predicted winds strong again from North. Much cooler but sunny with a high of 70. To town for lunch, shopping, internet and biking about. Dingy ride across harbor very wet with spray from wind and waves. Moved to north of city as wind shifted, better dingy ride and protection.
Friday-Fogged in, but a long trip ahead of us across open water. Headed out under full sail in heavy fog much of the day. Anchored at Garden Key in Dry Tortugas late afternoon. Protected anchorage off of Fort Jefferson. We are now 75 miles west of Key West, the waters are crystal clear with great beaches.
Sat,Sun,Mon.- Warm but fog keeps rolling in and out. Spent our days snorkeling in magnificent coral reefs and shipwrecks and exploring the islands. Colorful fish and corals abound in the shallow reefs. Goliath Groupers at least 5 ft long hang around the boat whenever we are cleaning fish. Apparently these protected fish have become like pets to the divers. Have been given numerous fish by the commercial boats that spend the night anchored here. Wishing for shrimp or lobster but no luck there, next trip we bring rum to trade. The fisherman won't take cash but a 6 pack got me a bucket of Yellowtail Snapper today. These boats come out of Key West and this is the only protected anchorage for nearly 50 miles.
Tues,Wed- A cold front with strong N winds came thru Mon afternoon. Skies have cleared but the Waters are much rougher today, and until winds subside we plan to stay put. Spending our time wandering around Garden Island, Finding spots out of the wind to snorkel and hang out on beach.
Thurs 2-19, Today we get a break from the strong winds before the next cold front arrives this evening. Headed out at 5:30 am under moonlit starry skies. As we were leaving the harbor schools of flying fish were leaping all around us. They actually look like they fly as they skip across the surface. Wouldn't make much of a meal though as they are only 6 in long. Great sailing with winds 10 to 12 kts from the south with temps near 80. Arrive Key West late afternoon. Todays sail brought us 75 miles, our longest stretch to date.
Fri,Sat- As predicted winds strong again from North. Much cooler but sunny with a high of 70. To town for lunch, shopping, internet and biking about. Dingy ride across harbor very wet with spray from wind and waves. Moved to north of city as wind shifted, better dingy ride and protection.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Key West
Sun Feb 8- Finally leaving Marathon, skies are partly cloudy, cool with winds NE @ 15. Great sail to Newfound Harbor, (Big Pine Key). After exploring harbor and bumping bottom a few times we decided to move to a more sheltered and deeper anchorage. Sailed on to Saddlebunch Harbor where we found good protection in deep water close to shore. Beautiful evening following a great sail.The highlight of the day was having schools of Dolphin swim with us 2 different times just playing in our bow wave. (See attached picture)
Mon- Sunny and warmer, 62 in morning. Water still cold at 60. winds ENE @ 13-16kt. Great sail to Key West. Harbor which was much busier than I expected, 3 cruise ships at docks, lots of activity with at least 5 schooners giving tours, and dive boats coming and going. Anchored north of downtown off Fleming Key. Great spot with this wind direction.
Tues- Played tourist, biked about- lots of activity in city with 2 cruise ships in port.
Wed- Back in town playing tourist again, some grocery shopping as we plan to head west tomorrow. First stop the Marquesas, then on to Dry Tortuga if weather permits. total distance of 70 NM. Much warmer today lo 80's, winds e@18.
Mon- Sunny and warmer, 62 in morning. Water still cold at 60. winds ENE @ 13-16kt. Great sail to Key West. Harbor which was much busier than I expected, 3 cruise ships at docks, lots of activity with at least 5 schooners giving tours, and dive boats coming and going. Anchored north of downtown off Fleming Key. Great spot with this wind direction.
Tues- Played tourist, biked about- lots of activity in city with 2 cruise ships in port.
Wed- Back in town playing tourist again, some grocery shopping as we plan to head west tomorrow. First stop the Marquesas, then on to Dry Tortuga if weather permits. total distance of 70 NM. Much warmer today lo 80's, winds e@18.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Marathon, Boot key Harbor
Friday Feb 6
Still anchored in Marathon for 2 weeks now. Our plan had been to stay for possibly a week, but when on Keys time there seems to be no reason to rush. The real reason we are still here is the wind has been howling out of the north for the past week. One night as a cold front passed thru we had a storm with winds clocked at over 60 knots. Thankfully it didn't last long and we were in a protected Anchorage where the waves don't get a chance to build. The land here is so flat and the trees are very short, mostly mangroves, so not much protection from the wind. Much of the time the wind has been around 20kts or higher. Not great for heading out to anchorages we aren't familiar with.
We have moved and are now anchored in the main harbor a long ways from the city marina where we can land our dingy, this isn't as convenient but where we were last week we kept bumping things on the bottom. We were in only 7 ft of water and there numerous sunken boats and other junk from past hurricanes that were never removed.
The weather has been sunny but very cool this week. Yesterdays low was 42 with a high of only 56. We did have a few hot days at the beach last week and temps are scheduled to be back to upper 70's this weekend. Mostly good weather for biking about seeing the sights.
Still anchored in Marathon for 2 weeks now. Our plan had been to stay for possibly a week, but when on Keys time there seems to be no reason to rush. The real reason we are still here is the wind has been howling out of the north for the past week. One night as a cold front passed thru we had a storm with winds clocked at over 60 knots. Thankfully it didn't last long and we were in a protected Anchorage where the waves don't get a chance to build. The land here is so flat and the trees are very short, mostly mangroves, so not much protection from the wind. Much of the time the wind has been around 20kts or higher. Not great for heading out to anchorages we aren't familiar with.
We have moved and are now anchored in the main harbor a long ways from the city marina where we can land our dingy, this isn't as convenient but where we were last week we kept bumping things on the bottom. We were in only 7 ft of water and there numerous sunken boats and other junk from past hurricanes that were never removed.
The weather has been sunny but very cool this week. Yesterdays low was 42 with a high of only 56. We did have a few hot days at the beach last week and temps are scheduled to be back to upper 70's this weekend. Mostly good weather for biking about seeing the sights.
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