Vero Beach to Key Biscayne

On Sun. Nov.20th we held a small “farewell party’ aboard Fortnight to say thank you and good bye to our friends aboard “Makai” and “Brydil Ankar” and early the next morning headed off once again. About two hours into our trip we passed Tom and his cousin rowing ever southward toward Key West and also passed “Curieux” whom we hadn’t seen since anchoring together in Norfolk. They followed us into Hobe Sound and, after dropping the hook for the night, joined us aboard Fortnight for “sundowners.” The next day we both headed off to Lake Worth--only a few hours away--where we prepared the boat for the 2 day outside passage to Key Biscayne.

A weather window had opened and the Lake Worth anchorage was full of boats ready to leave for the Abacos--among them our friends from “Kokopele” and “Antares.” Conditions were ideal for a crossing to the Bahamas with light winds of 5-10k and seas less than 2 feet! And we almost wished we could go with them. But instead we said our good-byes and promised to hook up with them again at the Abacos sometime in the spring and as their convoy headed east across the gulf stream we turned southwards towards Miami. It was a perfect day! The water was glassy with gentle swells, the sun shone and the coastline from Palm Beach to Lauderdale was magnificent. We reached the Port of Everglades inlet mid-afternoon and made our way to the Las Olas Marina where we had reservations for the night. As we were contacting the dockmaster on channel 16 we were surprised to hear “Fortnight--is that you? This is “Carefree!” It was our old boat buddies Ike and Barb whom we had crossed over with in 2007 and spent several months with in Georgetown! We caught up on news and are hoping they’ll be able to join us again on this years crossing.

The next morning we made the 2nd of our 2 day outside passages--this time to Key Biscayne. But the weather window we had been enjoying was slowly starting to close and conditions on the Atlantic were not as benign as they had been the day before. Winds were picking up and seas running to 4 feet as we sailed into No Name Harbour just a few hours ahead of a cold front and an unexpected band of thunderstorms. We were very lucky to arrive safe and sound when we did. That evening and all the next day and night winds blew, lighting flashed and storms materialized on and off all around us. We managed to get off the boat during a “lull” and make it over by dinghy to the little Cuban restaurant, tantalizingly close to where we were anchored, for a hot breakfast and chance to stretch our legs. And early on Thurs. Nov 26th, after the storms finally blew off to the northeast, we pulled up our anchor and motored the short 1 hour trip across Biscayne Bay to Coconut Grove--our final destination.

We spent 3 comfortable days here anchored out on a mooring ball at Dinner Key Marina. We did a final laundry, arranged to have our alternator checked (it’s causing a squeal on our radio), and explored the trendy streets of Coconut Grove. On Friday afternoon we were summoned out of our cabin with cries of “Fortnight! Fortnight!” and, when we came out on deck were surprised to find Phil, Satya and their 4 kids from “Brydil Ankar” pulling up to the mooring ball beside us. The next morning we were invited over for coffee and will be joining them and another family (“Magi” from Montreal) for a “clean out the fridge” dinner this evening. Until then however we still have to pack for the cruise, and prepare Fortnight for security during our absence. But it’s good to be busy in such beautiful place in warm surroundings and we can’t wait for tomorrow when we’ll all leave together to board the Norwegian “Dawn” for our trip to Grand Cayman and Cozumel.