Miami to Key Largo

Finally, we have arrived. The turquoise waters of Hawk Channel enchanted all of us as we headed out of Biscayne Bay toward Key Largo. We left our anchorage just south of the Rickenbacker Causeway at 8:00 and motored down Biscayne Bay. The day dawned warmer than any we've experienced so far and the NE wind was gentle. After five miles of tranquility, we weren't prepared for the stronger winds and rolling seas as we went out the Inlet south of Key Biscayne! Luckily it only lasted about half an hour and we were soon in the lee of the reefs that line the eastern side of Hawk Channel. The wind turned a little more easterly, and we were all able to cut the engine and sail until early afternoon when the wind died down quite a bit. We were no longer going to make the entrance at Port Largo at high tide (5:00 pm) without a little help from the engine. We motored sailed another two hours, but the wind continued to die and we resorted to engine alone for the last two hours.

We arrived right on time to make the entrance to our marina without any trouble and had all four boats tied up by 5:15 pm. We celebrated with dinner ashore at The Galley, a local hangout, and joined the football fans watching the Steelers beat the Ravens during our noisy dinner. Drinks on the veranda at The Marina del Mar Marina and Resort capped the evening. ~~~_/)~~~M&D

As we headed out the Biscayne Bay Channel, we passed Stiltsville, several houses that were inhabited prior to Hurricane Andrew in the 1990s, this one seems to have a new tenant, or at least there was a small boat tied up to its dock. We aslo passed the lighthouse and said good-by to the Miami skyline. The inlet itself was a bit choppy, but by 10:00 all four boats were under sail and it was smooth sailing through tropical blue waters for the rest of the day. The biggest excitement of the day was being passed by these three stealth-like speedboats that has some sort of camo paint job and no other markings, somehow they looked pretty lethal.

It was very comforting to recognize this distinctive green house and sailfish sclulpture as we entered to channel into Port Largo.