Off to Key West

2-12-20 We left from Marco Island heading to Key West at 4 pm with promises from the weather gods of a rollicking sail all the way to the entrance of the North West Passage in Key West. I was really looking forward to sailing the entire 20 or so hours passing through the myriad of land mines (crab pots) without the worry of snagging a pot on a spinning propeller. My heart sank while exiting Marco Island pass and sensing that the wind was not blowing in the predicted direction and virtually non existent. I set Mango’s autopilot for the proper course and accepted that the motor would be on for quite a while as the ocean looked like a mill pond. S/V Fracas calls the water’s appearance “Flat as piss on a plate”. Karen could sense my frustration as I informed her I was going below to break out the fishing poles, might as well try and catch some fish.

Sun Down aboard Mango

Full Moon Rise aboard Mango as water rushes past.
Almost as bright as the sunset.

The late days sun was lowering and off in the distance to the south I could see a line of ripples in the water, I anxiously awaited the appearance of wind, its intensity and direction. Upon passing through the flat water to the ripples I noted the wind was on our nose but at least it was not too strong. The wind was forecast to be a bit on our nose but changing to a close reach and then later full on the beam. Approximately an 45 minutes later the wind veered enough for us to set sails and stay on course at a close reach. Night was setting in and we were really moving well to the point of pulling in some sail. The wind was blowing 17 to 23 knots and I could sense Karen getting uncomfortable so we furled in some jib and Mango was back upright and still sailing well.

Using the Go Sun solar cooker off Sigsbee Beach.
Pork Tenderloin today.

For Karen the Sunday Morning Coffee Queen

Lunch and Drinks at the Flying Monkey with the crew of Fracas

Big fan of the Miami Vice

Karen getting her four legged friend fix.

During this time S/V Fracas called on the radio and stated they would follow for a while as Greg attempted to track down a gremlin in the autopilot causing it to only work for an hour or so. I felt bad for him but this was no problem for us as Fracas can run circles around Mango (speed wise) in the current conditions. Karen and I watched Fracas’s lights dim in the distance behind us only to quickly appear a hour or so later. Mango and crew did a great job and winds throughout the night changed direction and eventually died out in the early morning hours. I attempted to sail as long as possible but 3 knots of speed at 4 in the morning seems really slow so on went Mango’s motor. We motor sailed much of the morning arriving at the entrance to the Northwest Passage Key West just in time to fight the tide for the next 2 or so miles.

Karen and I eventually laid anchor down about 200 yards off of Sigsbee Campground near Fracas who arrived a couple hours earlier. Karen went below and brought up 2 Yuengling’s as I folded the main and put on it’s cover. We sat in the cockpit and relaxed and enjoyed the views and quiet. Soon we were both on Yuengling #2 and taking much needed showers, few things feel better than a hot shower after a long overnight sail. Breakfast/lunch was eaten and we both assumed our positions on either side of Mango for much needed naps. We slept peacefully for about 2 hours, I’m not sure who was up first but I was surprised we did not sleep longer. When I wake up from a nap after not really sleeping for a day it takes a few minutes to get your bearings. We both climbed in the cockpit and vegetated while watching the seabirds and trying to wake up. Karen made dinner and we went to bed early.

Key West Farmers Market at the Truman Annex.
Great produce

One of my Brown Pelican friends giving me the "Stink Eye"

When and If sailing off Key West Bight. Waiting for the start
of the Wreckers Regatta. Beautiful yacht originally built for
General Patton.

Chicken Fajitas just out of the
Go Sun solar cooker.

Pork Tenderloin turned out great also.

We spent a two days anchored off of Sigsbee Park and Campground before our reservation for Stock Island Marina which was just in time for a big blow to come through. We left our anchorage late morning and motored around Key West bight and east to Safe Harbor Inlet and then onto Stock Island Marina Village. We were assigned to slip D16 and where we quickly tied up with the help of a dock hand named Chase from Peoria Illinois. Karen jumped off to pay our bill and run some errands while I gave Mango a much needed bath trying to remove as much salt as possible. She really cleaned up well. Mango and Fracas crew made it into Key West and visited many of our old haunts including the Flying Monkey, I love their Miami Vice.

Bachelor Party in full swing at Rick's Place

Believe of not Celebrity Cruise Line has
a cruise specifically for fans of the
Golden Girls. They're a Hoot in Key West

With the Golden Girls at Aqua's drag show.
Karen's a huge Cher fan.

Last Mango and crew were originally scheduled for a week at Stock Island but re-occurring cold fronts and very blustery weather made it prudent to try to stay longer. After speaking with the marina we found that the very weather that is keeping us here is not allowing others to come here. They gladly accepted our request to stay a month, oddly enough it was only about $200 more for the month’s stay. Karen and I are very fortunate to be able to spend a month here as it’s a beautiful place. There is only one issue I have with the place, the air traffic at times can be loud. I guess you have to expect that being close to an airport and Military base, by the same reason we do get to watch the military jets perform their maneuvers.