Key West to Marathon, FL

Today:    56 miles, 8 hours, ICW St. M 1348.6

Total:     1390.2 miles, 231.85 hours

    It’s time. Water tank is topped off, engine started, and lines brought aboard. At 8:35 am we headed over to the fuel dock to wait for the staff to arrive at 9.  The main and deck tanks need fuel.

     We are underway by 9:25 to begin our journey north. Skies are clear and winds out of the ENE at 10-15.  Unfortunately, they are “noserlies” so we need to motor sail to make Marathon before sunset.

    Underway, we did see 2 sea turtles, a pod of dolphins, 2 large Portuguese Man-O-War, quite a few flying fish and a shark.  It was within 5 feet of the boat and had to be 6-7 feet long!

     We were able to drop anchor in the harbor, but things are pretty tight.  When Pete took Bailey into the dock, he saw a number of mooring balls free, but we heard a boat call in for a mooring only to be told he could come and put his name on the wait list.  It is a real shame.  Without turning over the mooring balls regularly, the cruisers will not be using services, shopping and other things that drive an area that depends on tourism.  Boats come in and stake out their claim to the water.  It is a shame.  When we first came here in 2011, we were able to get mooring for all 4 boats for the night, no problem. Last January, PEKABU was placed on the wait list at #43 and finally got the call 5 ½ weeks later!

~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P