January 20-21, 2016

We left Cape Canaveral about 8:30 am with the help of Dave (a friend from Canada). His sailboat is the one that was lost its mast going under a bridge in Florida on the ICW.

10:40 stats
winds 11 knots
seas 4-6 ft.
water temp. 64
cloudy
off shore about 6 miles

We can see the clouds over the Gulf Stream. The  Gulf Stream plays a part in our sailing the current runs south-north and the weather is ever changing. The Gulf Stream has the current headed north and from the north you have the Labador current headed south and they meet off of Hatteras and this is why there are so many issues going around Hatteras. When we head home in May we get in the stream and fly awesome go maybe 10-12 knots.

As you head south off shore in Florida it is one big city, you have no idea when one town starts or ends they run all together.

We will stay about 6 miles from shore util we we get closer to the Gulf Stream which comes very close around Jupiter Florida and even closer to Lake Worth.  (West Palm Beach)


stats

water temp over 100 degrees
depth beyond our 200 ft reading
winds 18 knots
sea height about 6 ft.

What happens with the Gulf Stream is the water temps will go up as they are very warm and we will be fighting the currents which will slow us down.

It has been an incredible day as there is no noise from the wheel, as you remember from our trip to Cape Canaveral our wheel made so much noise we had to wear ear plugs, one project Bo tackeled over our stay at Cape Canaveral. We had to replace our Genoa lines and main sheet fuller lines. Rewire our AIS as we were having a problem with it going off while we sailed.

We received a call on our VHF radio from a sailboat, Relativity that was a 56 ft boat. They just wanted to find out where we were going and check in with us. They are going to Miami and then doing a race to Cuba.

11:08 am
winds have risen to 18 knots so we put out our Genoa for stability and balance and our speed was now 7-8 knots. We later brought it in and put our our sail for stability and left it out until we came in Government Cut.

As we get closer to the Gulf Stream the ocean temp goes over 100 degrees and the depth goes deeper than our 200 ft. We also loose speed as we then fight the current.

To pass time Bo reads and I listen to my 40 plus country CD's in shuffle mode. Goes from the Oaks, Brad Paisley,  Little Big Town, Rascall Flatts to the Gatlins.

We took our first selfie at the close of the day and we will send it along with other pictures of our trip to Miami.

Thursday the 21st

There was a lot of traffic off shore last night as there are busy ports for shipping and cruise ships so  we both were up most all of the night.

Turning into Government Cut from off shore and going down the shipping channels where all the freighters and cruise ships are is always a moment you think about the freighters that loose cargo off shore, they are hugs. I will include a picture.

The dolphins created us, about 6-8 swam and jumped around our boat, they love to play in your wake.

Our destination was the Stadium to anchor for the front but this was not a choice this year as this is where the Miami Boat show is going to be this year in Feb. so were putting out docks.  Much to our pocket book we came to Dinner Key in Coconut Grove. It cost us for 4 days what we would pay for 1 1/2 months in either VA or Myrtle Beach, suck it up!!! What will be will be. At least we can go and do things, go to grocery and bank.

Before we were married Bo worked for a company that he was assignment was Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in Key Biscayne for 6 months so had a place. We love it here but expensive.

We each took naps after coffee and breakfast/lunch combo and are ready to watch some TV, relax and back to bed for a good nights sleep.

This was an incredible trip and one more journey for us, God's beauty is all around us just take time to sit back, relax and take life journey.

Joyce