Yet another cold front
Trip Start
Dec 01, 2007
1
13
35
Trip End
May 31, 2008
Long Key,
Florida,
United States
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Because of the very shallow areas on either end of Angelfish Creek, we could not leave right away but rather wait until (as they say) "the moment is right". This meant that we needed to time our departure to hit the creek at 0945 so we would get to the seaward side of the creek at 1000.
So after an extra cup of coffee, we fired up the diesel at 0915 and hauled anchor at 0930. We rounded the small island which offered good protection during the night and quickly felt the wind increase and boat begin to roll. I had carefully looked at the chart and saw that the area directly ahead showing 4' depth. We draw nearly 5' and could see about a 1' tidal rise so this was really an activity calling for faith in our friend Milt Baker's guidance. I was in high anxiety mode as we approached the red day mark guarding the entrance to the creek. Soon I saw the water depth drop from 9 to 7 to 6 feet and then as low as 5 1/2' as we continued to move dead slow in the gusty winds. I stopped looking at the sounder an instead chose to try to focus on keeping First Forty carefully aligned with the track I believed would be successful. Soon, I exhaled as Sue said..."its getting deeper....we made it"! I ask her how low the sounder got....."5 feet.... we had less than a foot under the keel"!
We proceeded through the creek where depths were supposed to be a comfortable 15'. It was beautiful. No building. Just green mangroves and virgin scenery....scenery that is hard to find in Florida these days. I'm always mixed about Florida. It had so much potential, but has been so ruined by development.
Soon we see the ocean and a series of day marks which would guide us through the shallows on the other side. I had expected this to be every more difficult than the other, but we glided through easily with depth of 7-9 feet. We actually saw a 60' motor sailor getting out before us, so I was feeling pretty good. We had made it. We were through and heading south.
We moved south with the wind at our backs. I looked at the new wind gauge we put on and it showed 5-9 knots which translates into 12-16 knots of real wind. It was a nice day. It was good boating and we relaxed.
I had hoped to anchor at a place where we could get more protection that night as winds were expected to say in the low twenties. This part of the Keys has little to offer in anchorage. That is because we are on the outside of the keys. We could have found more inside, but it was too thin. Depths are often 5' or less so boats of our size are encouraged to use "Hawks Channel" which is outside the island, but inside the reef. This means lower seas than in the open water of "outside the reef". That was true today as seas were no more than 2-3 feet.
By 1500, we could see Indian Key. It was small...very small. I made an approach there and looked at protection...hardly any. This was hardly an anchorage to protect us from a rolly, uncomfortable night at anchor.
I look at the chart and the cruising guide. No real anchorage until Marathon...how far?....we would have to run until 830. That was too far, but it looked like we could tuck in behind a place called Long Key. That would take another hour and a half. Sounds good...so off we go.
In hindsight, we would have been better running into the night. There was a full moon and there was little danger of hitting the reef as Hawks Channel is quite wide here...but we didnt.
By 1530, we arrive at Long Key. Still no protection as the 'anchorage' would be a mile and a half off the island in 7' of water. No good choices here, so we drop the hook. By now clouds had rolled in and we were clocking 20-25k knots. The boat rocked and wind howled. This would not be pretty, but we could find no better.
So yes, it was a 'bad night at anchor'. Normally we love anchoring, but not tonight. We rocked and rocked and rocked. Sleeping was a challenge and the anchor lines creeked regularly. This was not something we would want to repeat soon. All night waves slapped the hull, we rolled, the anchor rode made disturning sounds....sounds like fun huh?
Sue and I have different sleeping styles. I could sleep through anything, but Sue lays awake at the slightest disturbance. When the Admiral doesnt sleep, it is deeped a "bad anchorage". That night, both of us thought the anchoage was bad. We got up during the night and still saw 25kts on the wind meter. That's a big blow.
This cold front thing was getting to us. We began to conclude that New England (last summer's cruise) was looking pretty good and south Florida in the winter....well pretty iffy. We had seen 2-3 cold fronts a week. When would it stop?
