Day 114, Year 10: Elliott Key to Rodriguez Key (Off Key Largo)
Date: Sunday, February 1, 2015
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Windy, SE Winds 20, Temp in the mid-70’s F
Latitude: 25 03.352 N
Longitude: 080 27.244 W
Location: Anchored on North Side of Rodriguez Key, Off Key Largo, Florida
It was another short but great sailing day. We wanted to leave Caesar Creek at high tide, so we were up and out of there by 7:15 am. The area where we went aground on the way in was not a problem at high tide. At the point where we had 6’1” coming in, we had 7’1” today. So for a boat with a 6’3” draft, we definitely recommend entering Caesar Creek Cut at high tide. We were only sailing 30 miles today, so we approached the 20+ knots of wind in Hawk Channel carefully. The wind was on the beam, so we first tried sailing with just the staysail. That was a bit slow, so when we had enough depth to turn into the wind, we raised a reefed main and that gave us great speed and a fairly smooth ride. The sun was shining through white puffy clouds making it a delightful day. We are anchored on the north side of the little islet of Rodriguez Key and have no protection from the SE winds. Later this evening the winds will turn to the SW and we will be protected, but even unprotected, it is a fairly calm anchorage with no swell. We bounce ever so gentle in the waves, but it is not uncomfortable at all. Of course, that could change, but so far we are quite pleased. The only thing missing is a television to watch tonight’s Super Bowl, but we’ll be with the Patriots in spirit. Tomorrow it is on to Long Key. Key by key we will make it to Marathon and then head north to the Everglades and on to Fort Myers.
