Saturday, February 27, 2016

Stock Island, Key West Harbour to Lignumvitae Key, Fl

Miles Traveled 74.6
Total Miles Traveled 2259
Day 170                       

We had planned to leave Key West Harbour Marina Monday, but the weather forecast for today looked like the best opportunity for the smoothest cruise.  The marina reserved our slip for another boat on Tuesday and we didn’t want to take a chance on rough seas waiting until Monday.  Although we really enjoyed the marina and Key West, it felt good to get back out on the water again.



We saw two dolphins, and two sea turtles but I could only get a picture of one of the sea turtles, you’ll have to look close, but it’s a big one.



We normally cruise 40 to 50 miles a day but we wanted to get back into the Intracoastal Waterway to have some protection from wind and waves.  This is the Channel 5 cut at Fiesta Key that allows us to cross from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway.



This is the first time we have anchored to a mooring ball.  Lignumvitae Key is Florida State property and the state provides five mooring balls, free of charge, for boaters to use.  A mooring ball floats on the surface and is connected to a large, heavy anchor permanently attached to the seabed.  A length of line called a pennant, usually with a loop at one end, is attached to the mooring ball.  You attach your boat to the pennant with a line or bridle.  We use a bridle which helps keep the boat facing the wind, and reduces swinging back and forth.


We arrived about two hours before sunset……it feels good to back on the Loop.


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