Miami Beach 8 February 2010

Another walk along Miami Beach rewarded by closeups of Royal Terns,




Black Ringed Gulls,








Sanderlings








and more Black Skimmers. Now understand the description -"knifelike red bills".





The temperature was cooler today and the Sanderlings where sheltering from the wind in the shallow imprints of footsteps in the sand.



Along Ocean Drive, things have calmed down since the Super Bowl and all the stands and stages were being dismantled. One monster vehicle stood out .

Miami beach 7 February 2010

The New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts in the 2010 Super Bowl in Miami 31 to 17. Judging by the revelry in Ocean Drive this afternoon, there will be a lot of sore heads tomorrow.

Had a stroll along the beach and encountered flocks of Black Skimmers - these seems to be a different variety to those in the bird book as they have white all round the neck.

Miami Beach 6 February 2010

5th Feb had another stroll along Ocean Drive - the hype for the coming Sunday's Super Bowl is increasing - all sorts of tents along the beach with several pop concerts and the media is out in force giving live interviews and chat shows for all to see.

6 February the wind picked up to 25 kts from the W /WWN as a front moved over keeping us on the boat to keep watch as we swung towards the shore. Up North several states were having a tough time with big snowfalls in Washington DC causing transport mayhem including flight cancellations.

Spent the day using newly constructed press to rebuild generator water pump - first time Mike has been able to replace the mechanical water seal without damaging it.

Florida Keys 30 January 2010

Jeannette has been troubled by a splinter in her finger for two weeks. Finally decided to go to doctor, who after giving antibiotics for a couple of days made an incision and withdrew a 1 cm wood splinter - relief all round that it has been found and extracted.

Yesterday took a coach tour to Key West leaving at 0700hrs. Found it a fascinating experience driving along 126 miles along the US 1 highway over 34 Florida Key island chain linked by 42 bridges , some many miles long (the longest is 7 miles long). Most of the way there is evidence of the original railway bridge system built by Henry Flagler in the 1800's. Many films have been shot on the Keys including Humphrey Bogart's 1948 film "Key Largo" and "The African Queen".

Key West has many fine old houses with mature trees but has been almost completely taken over by the tourists - still, well worth a visit. Amongst its famous residents was Ernest Hemmingway.

Miami Beach Anchorage 28 January 2010

After clearing the deck and giving it a good wash, we said our goodbyes to the friendly Miami Yacht and Engine Works staff and cast off our lines. Many bridges later we exited the Miami River and anchored close to junction of the southern side of the Venetian Causeway and Miami Beach. Dinghied into the supermarket Publix and had a good walk down Lincoln street and along the Atlantic waterfront of Miami Beach - much warmer and more people around than last time we were here - most wearing shorts. A great feeling to be at anchor again.

Fort Lauderdale to Miami ICW mile 1089

7 January 0700hrs anchor up to make the 0730 hrs opening of the 17th Street Bridge, the last opening bridge for us on the ICW. As we were waiting for the bridge to open , two other yachts who were waiting with us circled a bit too far out of the channel, ran aground and missed the opening. After the bridge we ... yes we actually raised the Mainsail - first time for many weeks - and headed out of the inlet to the open sea. The northerly wind was unfortunately too light to sail on a very broad reach so we motor sailed most of the 25 miles down the coast. As we approached Miami, we were reminded of the Manhattan skyline. Entered the Miami inlet on the flood thinking we would be anchored in time for an early lunch. However , the harbour police thought otherwise and came roaring towards us just before we reached two moored cruise ships towards the end of the Main Cut. Apparently, they had closed the Cut to non-commercial traffic as a security measure because of the cruise ships, so we had to turn around , motor against the flood for 30 minutes and enter the harbour by the southern Dodge Island Channel. The security measure seems totally bizarre as this route brought us within meters of the stern of one of the cruise ships at which point we were hidden from view from the police boat - so had we had evil intentions, we could easily have carried them out.
By 1330 we were anchored in 3 meters water just south of the Venetian Causeway between the islands of Rivo Alto and Belle Isle just below tall luxury apartment blocks. Dinghied down the Collins Canal under a couple of low bridges to the Publix supermarket - very convenient. Water here is clear enough to see the bottom and is 24 degrees C. Air temperature is higher now that the wind has dropped and we have spent the evening in the boat without fleeces on. We were treated to a superb sunset.

Manatee Pocket to Lake Sylvia, Fort Lauderdale Mile 1065

Anchor up at 0810hrs on a bright but cold morning. Similar day to yesterday - passed through 14 bridges which opened on different schedules causing us to either motorsail flat out or turn motor off and potter under sail only between them.

Spacing between houses is getting smaller so land prices must be getting higher. We understand that multimillion dollar houses here are pulled down to build even more grandiose mansions. Many mega motor yachts lining the waterway. As we approached Fort Lauderdale , the number of highrise apartment blocks increased.

Caught a glimpse of the whale like tail of a Manatee but not the body.

This was our last full day on the ICW - between here and Miami there is a 56 foot fixed bridge so we have to go out to sea for the last leg.

Manatee Pocket to Lantana Bridge ICW Mile 1031

Anchor up at 0750 hrs and set off south on a cold very windy dullish morning dressed for the Arctic in fleeces , heavy weather gear, hats and gloves - and yes we are only 27 degrees north of the Equator - is this possible?

We regained the ICW via a short but very shallow section of the St Lucie river 1.4 meters - OK for us but not so good for Yara with her 2 meter keel - we wish them luck.


Most of the route was along waterfront properties some of which were very grand, and lots of moored expensive sports fishing boats and motor yachts. There were some wilderness areas with mangrove where a flock of White Ibis flew by and at one place we passed a large gathering of Turkey Vultures perched in the bushes. We saw only one Osprey but many Pelicans.

During the day the clouds disappeared and we were treated to blue skies - and as of Lake Worth, the water colour changed from murky brown to clear tourquoise - I think we must be getting close to where we want to be.

Today was the day of the bridges - only one fixed bridge but the 63.5 feet tide gauge was correct this time and we watched as our poor VHF antenna bent double - luckily it promptly regained its verticality. The rest were opening bridges - some opening on demand but most at fixed times so at times were were motor sailing flat out and others were were sailing with a partly furled Genny to kill time - all a bit tiresome.

At 16.00 hrs we turned the wheel to starboard and dropped the hook in 2.4 meters water just outside the channel just south of the Lantana Bridge.

Vero Beach to Manatee Pocket Florida ICW mile 988

Yesterday, Yara left for Stuart on a cold bright morning. Florida is gripped in an exceptional cold spell with temperatures dropping to the freeze point in the early morning. We have been sleeping with several layers of clothes on and even fleece hats - back to the middle ages!





We had a walk along the beach. We think these were Royal Terns - does anybody know?







UPS delivered the ordered charts and pilot books from Bluewater Charts at 0900 this morning so we left the mooring straight away to head further south and try to find the warmth. The first bridge looked very much like a cathedral.





Had an uneventful motor down the ICW - cold but blue skies with a following northerly wind. Are now anchored in 1.7 meters water in a very sheltered creek called Manatee Pocket. The sides of the creek are full of houses with expensive sports fishing boats and several marinas and lots of WiFi signals.

Vero Beach Florida

Vero Beach is living up to its nickname "Velcro Beach" - it is so convenient and pleasant here that we have not yet moved on.
Hope all our readers have had a very good Xmas and we wish you all a very Happy 2010.
We celebrated Christmas Eve on Yara , Xmas lunch was a pot luck lunch at the marina where all the yachties brought a dish - very enjoyable meeting everyone.

There is a very convenient free bus network here - a bus comes every hour to the dinghy dock and brings one to either the beach or the shops.

The temperature has been variable but some days have been warm enough for shorts and T-shirts - mid 20'sC. Had several walks along the beach (some brave souls are actually swimming in the sea).

Since then spent 3 days working on the boat - Generator sea water flow was low - found that most of the blades on the sea water pump impellor were missing so had to dismantle the heat exchanger and clean the blocked sea water injection nipple on the exhaust elbow. As the forcabins had had to be emptied for this, took the opportunity to replace the faulty 220volt low pressure pump for the watermaker ready for the Bahamas.


Saw a few Frigatebirds soaring effortlessly above the beach - a sure sign that we are getting south.









Many baby Portugese Men of War Jelly fish are on the beaches at the moment.






Celebrated New Years Eve on Dutch Link with Pol & Kyra from Yara - Jeannette made Appel Flappen for the occassion - gezellig evening.

Spent some time planning trip back to the Med and ordered the necessary charts and pilot books and are now waiting for them to arrive before moving further south.

Indiana Harbour Beach to Vero Beach Florida (ICW Mile 952)

Again left at crack of dawn but needed less clothes as temperature is definitely getting higher. In fact during the morning Jeannette was in T-SHIRT and SHORTS !

Passed under several bridges showing around 63 feet but only pinged once.

Still in Osprey country - sighted 8 on the trip. Wind incresed to an easterly 5 Bft so the Genny increased our speed to over 7 kts SOG most of the way.


Many of the houses we passed are much more substantial that what we have seen before . The waterfront was generally lined with mangrove, which was often cut like a hedge in front of the houses.




Jeannette spent much of the trip baking mince meat slices for Xmas.


At 1200 hours arrived at Vero Beach and picked up a mooring at the Municpal Marina close to Yara - very happy to be here . Temperature is forecast to be in the mid 20's (C) for the next few days - it seems as though we have finally found the sun and no longer need to push the pace south to beat the frost.

Later Yara rafted up to us - gezellig ! . Vero Beach is a favourite spot for cruisers - mooring rates are low and there is a free bus network to the shopping areas right from the marina. There are around 100 yachts here at the moment. We plan to spend Xmas here.

Daytona Beach to Indian Harbour Beach at ICW mile 913

Once more dressed for the Arctic , anchor up as just getting light at 0645hrs, continued south past the shoaling Ponce de Leon Inlet. The route took us through Lagoons partly filled with mangrove covered islands. Saw lots of pelicans including the white variety, sometimes flying/ gliding in squadrons with wing tips an inch above the water. Seems to be osprey country - spotted 5 of which one was flying with a fish grasped in its talons - it landed on a nearby marker pole and started eating it as we motored past.


The islands thinned out and we entered the Mosquito Lagoon then through the bascule bridge in the Haulover Canal to the wide shallow Indiana River.





Here we saw in the distance some of the NASA launch pads and Shuttle Vehicle Assembly Building of Cape Canaveral.







Passed, with some trepidation under several fixed bridges showing around 63 feet - most we cleared without touching, but one pinged our antenna so still not sure whether Florida is consistent with the reported changing of the tide guage boards. Anchored off the ICW channel a mile or so before the Eau Gallie Bridge just after sunset at 17.45hrs at ICW mile 913.
With the help of a mainly positive current and some genoa, we covered a record 79 miles.

St Augustine to Daytona Beach, Florida

Kitted out yet again in thermal underwear, fleeces and heavy weather gear we raised anchor at dawn at 0645 hrs 21 December on a fine but cold day and motored south to Daytona Beach where we are now anchored in 1.9 meters at low water (ICW mile 833).


On the way we passed many houses with huge insect screens around the terraces and balconies.






Once again many houses have very long jetties with boat lifts - some more elaqborate than others.

All went according to plan until we reached the first of the many bridges in Daytona Beach - the tide guage showed less than 63 feet and the tidal range was less than 6 inches. In a VHF chat with another high masted boat who was waiting for the tide to drop, found out that due to a yacht suing the State for damage as the central light on the bridge was lower than the stated bridge height , Florida has made the official height of all its bridges 63 rather than 65 feet and adjusted the tide guages accordingly. After anchoring for a while until we had just over 63 feet clearance, we gingerly approached the bridge and amazingly went under without hearing a single ping. The same happened for the next two fixed bridges - so do we in future add two feet to the tide guage readings of all fixed bridges if Florida ?? We will only know after we have passed under the last bridge!

St Augustine, Florida (ICW mile 778)

Dinghied to the St Augustine Municipal Marina dinghy dock at 11.30hrs on a cold but almost cloudless morning 20th December.





Wandered around the old Spanish town with its many beautiful well preserved old buildings all in Spanish style - we felt that we could have been in Spain. Indeed St Augustine was founded by the Spaniard Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565 and is the oldest permanent settlement in the USA.
Many of the later buildings were built by the railroad tycoon Henry Flagler in the 1880's.



Went through the Lyon's Lift Bridge late afternoon to fill up with diesel (2.79 USdol/USGal equiv to about 45 pence per litre ! ) and water at the Municipal Marina and anchored on the southern side of the bridge ready to catch the flood tide early in the morning.






Passed an Osprey perched on the guard rails of a nearby boat.