Leaving Marathon

3-24-16   Today is the day we chose to leave Marathon / Boot Key Harbor. I couldn’t wait to leave, we’ve been in Boot Key for 31 days and we did enjoy ourselves but I’d had itchy feet for at least 2 weeks and I think Karen has also. This morning we went ashore dropped off shower keys, picked up more water and Karen went to the library to print out our state tax return and mail it. We decided to leave by noon which worked out as planned. We had one more stop on the way out at Burdine’s for fuel and ice. We found Pat, Tim, Jack and Nate waiting to catch our lines as we hung a u-turn into the fuel slip. We put in about 20 gallons of diesel and once again gave hugs said our goodbyes, I even saw a couple tears in Karen’s eyes.

Our last Marathon Sunset for the year.

We picked today to leave because the winds were forecast to be East at 12 to 15 range which is perfect for us. What we found was East 15 to 25 which only required us to unfurl a portion of the jib and away we went. It was a good sail that could’ve been great if it weren't for the 3 to 4 foot waves on the beam that made moving about Mango a bit of a challenge. Fortunately we only planned on going about 12 miles to Bahia Honda State Park where we let down anchor in 10 feet of water only to hoist and relocate after tide switched and we had a neighbor that was far to close for us. They seemed OK with it but I was afraid of getting too near the floating hulk that they called a boat. Our relocation went well as our Mantus anchor quickly found a secure home on the hard bottom and we were now far away from anything that might hit us during the night, or so we thought. 

Cut in the old railroad / road bridge. It's the only way for
larger boats to make it into the anchorage.

Part of the beach at Bahia Honda State Park.
Unknown how long the old washed up sailboat has resided there.

The night went as well as could be with the oppressive humidity and rocking of Mango due to wind and tide. Karen thought of sleeping in the salon due to the up and down motion of Mango’s bow but she did finally decide to spend the night in our bunk with me. Good thing because she felt the rain that started sometime late night or early morning and I was not under the hatch to feel the wake up call. I did however hear the knocking on Mango’s hull at 3 in the morning, I put on some sailing pants and went outside to investigate who was knocking only to find the tide switched which made us share the same area as a crab pot. There was nothing I could do in the dark salty night but wait for morning. So, on and off the rest of the night we heard the occasional tapping of the crab pot.

Morning did come but way too soon for me and Karen asked if I was interested in spending the day at the State Park rather than go out and probably motor sail down to Saddlebunch Cay. It was a gloomy wet morning and I thought we only have to go about 15 miles and we can tuck in to the reported calm anchorage. After about an hour on motoring the wind picked up from the South and soon we were sailing along at 4.5 knots and fishing. This is great because I’m ready to fish but we’ve been sailing far too fast to set lines out. Before I could even catch my third round of floating weeds I pulled the line in because we were moving above 5 knots and I was worried of the lures snagging the many crab pots that littler Hawks Channel. We were moving so well we decided to bypass Saddlebunch Cay and continue to Stock Island or Key West which ever the wind and daylight would allow.

Neighboring boat at the anchorage. Believe it or not the boat is
registered in Illinois. Hard to believe it even floats.

The wind started dying so into Stock Island we motored along with almost everyone else. We made our way in to the shoal anchorage via Active Captain directions and landed softly aground as I was setting the anchor. Karen, behind the helm was not amused at all as she tried to back off Mango’s sandy perch. I took the helm and gave a lot more reverse throttle than Karen and slowly made our way off the bar and into deeper water. We moved a bit further down the channel and laid out the anchor in 10 feet and dropped the dinghy to check water depths. We found an area and the Mantus anchor once again found a snug home. Into the dinghy once again double check the surrounding area. It appears good aside from one small area about 40 feet to port that is 4.5 feet. I’ll let you know tomorrow what the night brings. 

I decided to take a swim and clean off whatever critter has fouled the water speed meter and scrape other critters off the prop. While down in the water Karen pointed to an old outboard motor submerged right off of Mango’s stern, I wanted a picture but was unable to find it again as Mango shifted with the tide and breeze. I hopped back on board and rinsed myself with fresh water and cleaned the cockpit. Karen was cleaning up down below and making dinner. Dinner was great as we watched dolphins swim though the area and watch our boat neighbors peek out at the new people on the block. Not too impressed with our new neighborhood today, I think the boats discovered the area and took roots the same time as Columbus found the new world. 

About an hour before sunset Karen and I were up on deck surveying the water underneath and around us only to see several large Tarpin on the port side of Mango just hanging out near the bottom. If you’ve ever seen a Tarpin you know how big they are, there were at least 5 of varying lengths up to about 6 feet. As the night wore on and morning came we were witness to there acrobatics. They make a huge splash as they go after whatever they eat on the waters surface, quite spectacular. The night was quiet for Mango and us with very little movement, we woke up very close to where we went to sleep and in deeper water.

3-26-16    Morning came and we were up and out of the harbor by 9 only to be greeted by little wind, certainly not what was forecasted. We took out the spinnaker and flew it in 7 knots of breeze which moves Mango along in the 3 knot area. I of course threatening the wind gods put out the fishing line and the breeze freshened and soon we’re moving along above 5 knots. Pretty darn good. We arrived in Boca Grande shortly before 2 and dropped anchored in 15 feet of water on the West side on the Cay in the channel. The Mantus drug on the bottom for a few feet before it set and soon we were cleaning up Mango for a day of relaxing. I dropped the dinghy and soon the tide started to really rip through the channel and at times we saw over 2 knots of current. Our Mantus held well.

Side #1 of our anchorage at Boca Grande

Side #2 of our anchorage at Boca Grande, The busy side.

Side #3 of our anchorage at Boca Grande, The entrance to the anchorage.

Side #4 of our anchorage at Boca Grande, Looking North.

After lunch and a bit of rest Karen and I lowered the dinghy and ventured onto shore with the many power boaters that came for the day and had picnics and drank while knee deep in water. It appears the beach where Mango is located is open to the public but the rest of the cay is a wild life refuge. This is great because I have a fondness for Brown Pelicans and Frigate Birds and I am able to see both of them here. Today I actually saw a Frigate Bird touch the water and pickup something it appeared to eat. Normally I’m resigned to watch the soar high overhead with their long thin wings and forked tails, I just think they are cool birds. The Brown Pelicans here seem to team up to catch fish. Several of them will fly 10 feet off the ground in the shoal areas and dive a  once to catch their prey.

It’s now shortly after 7 and all the day boats have left and things are very quiet with only 5 sailboats anchored throughout the channel. The sun seemed to set slowly and I think I took 50 pictures as it passed below the orange horizon. Darkness also seemed to come slowly but once it came it was very dark. The low trees from the cay blocked any light pollution from Key West.  The moon did not rise until late, which seemed to make the stars shine ever more brightly. Every to often we watched and lights from ships twinkle in the distance as they passed on their way to points north. Sleeping was a bit restless as usual for a night on a new anchor, it seems both Karen and I hear every creek or bump Mango makes.

We loved the dog, He would run back and forth across the pontoons
of the boat waves and all and not fall.

The view after 5 pm. Everyone leaves and it quiet except for the birds
and water.

03-27-16   Easter morning came as we heard our boat neighbors on the Whitby 42 (Schirzo) raising anchor for their trip to the Dry Tortugas. We woke up slowly as the morning was cloudy and looked like rain. I lowered the dinghy and took a look around the cay as Karen drank her morning coffee. The wildlife is much more active early before any of the party crowd arrives. Birds and yellowish white butterflies everywhere. Shortly after my arrival back on Mango Karen made breakfast and started cleaning. I tried to do a little fishing only to tangle my large rod to the point of removing all line and winding new, it’s not pretty.

Cormorants and Herons roosting.

Brown Pelicans enjoyed watching us slowly pass by.

Butterflies everywhere. Not the best picture to show but it's all I have.

Frigate birds constantly overhead.

After the Karen finished cleaning and we went for a tour around the cay only to see more birds and fish. I saw my first Gannet and witnessed the Frigate birds harass gulls until they dropped their food and the Frigate’s swooped down to grab it. Upon our trip around the south side of the cay we found all kinds of crab pots and lobster pots washed ashore in the shallows with live critters in them. I attempted to tip the traps to allow them to escape, hopefully they can.

Night came quickly as two new sailboats joined us in the anchorage. Once the sun was down there was virtually no wind which should make for a quiet nights sleep except for the change in tide. This was not to be the case as I tossed and turned most of the night itching. I noticed Karen was itching also and then found that I had not put in the hatch screen over our bed. I installed the screen ASAP but it was hours too late as we were now infested with No-See-Um’s. For those of you that don’t know about these nasty little biting insects, they bite and leave little pock marks which itch for hours. They also are blown by the wind or fly when there is no wind, being small screens just slow them down, they're just terrible. Our bed was loaded with them and there wasn't anything we could do except attempt to sleep. Waking up in the morning I found many of the little shits caught in our screen, at least the screen stopped some of them.

Mango resting at anchor, Boca Grande.

Great Sunsets at Boca Grande

Beautiful. Darkness sets in quick and the stars become amazing with the late rising moon.