Leg 1 - Hilton Head to Key West
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The great adventure began on
January 28, 2004 as Gary Keappler
and I cast off the dock lines and
cleared the lock at Windmill Harbour,
Hilton Head Island, SC and picked up
our southerly heading.
January 28, 2004 as Gary Keappler
and I cast off the dock lines and
cleared the lock at Windmill Harbour,
Hilton Head Island, SC and picked up
our southerly heading.
With winds forecast from the NW at
15-20k, we settled in for several days
of delightful sailing down the coast of
Georgia and Florida. The winds
proved to be lighter than forecast, so
we had a chance to try out our new
spinnaker...at 1400 square feet, it is
one big sail, and it moves the boat
along nicely in lighter winds.
15-20k, we settled in for several days
of delightful sailing down the coast of
Georgia and Florida. The winds
proved to be lighter than forecast, so
we had a chance to try out our new
spinnaker...at 1400 square feet, it is
one big sail, and it moves the boat
along nicely in lighter winds.
Click on any picture for full
size impression
size impression
On the morning of the 31st, with the sky threatening and the wind
shifting to the south, we ducked inat Fort Pierce Inlet and spent
two restful nights at the Northside Marina in Stuart.
shifting to the south, we ducked inat Fort Pierce Inlet and spent
two restful nights at the Northside Marina in Stuart.
Out to sea again via the St. Lucie inlet, we put in the next
morning at Ft. Lauderdale, spent the night, took on some fuel,
some parts and a new dinghy, and set off on the 3rd for Key
West. By the 5th, we had settled in Key West at the Key West
Bight Marina. The plan was for Gary to return to Atlanta from
here, and nephew Mike Farrell to join me for the sail to Grand
Cayman. However, a strong cold front caused us to delay
departure, and Mike, who was flying on to Chile for another
adventure, had to move on.
morning at Ft. Lauderdale, spent the night, took on some fuel,
some parts and a new dinghy, and set off on the 3rd for Key
West. By the 5th, we had settled in Key West at the Key West
Bight Marina. The plan was for Gary to return to Atlanta from
here, and nephew Mike Farrell to join me for the sail to Grand
Cayman. However, a strong cold front caused us to delay
departure, and Mike, who was flying on to Chile for another
adventure, had to move on.
With rather fickle weather, I have chosen to stay in the Keys until Gary’s return in
mid-March. There are worse places to spend a couple of weeks! There has
been a terrific boom in real estate values in Key West during the past 10 years,
and construction is ubiquitous. The old working marinas have all been cleaned
up, and the tourist section now extends from the Truman Annex on the east to the
Coast Guard station on the west. Many of the historically significant houses have
been or are being restored, and the city is alive with visitors from the numerous
cruise ships that arrive daily. On the few days when the cruise ships are not in
port, Key West is a less crowded, but still extremely eclectic jumble of human and
architectural sites.
mid-March. There are worse places to spend a couple of weeks! There has
been a terrific boom in real estate values in Key West during the past 10 years,
and construction is ubiquitous. The old working marinas have all been cleaned
up, and the tourist section now extends from the Truman Annex on the east to the
Coast Guard station on the west. Many of the historically significant houses have
been or are being restored, and the city is alive with visitors from the numerous
cruise ships that arrive daily. On the few days when the cruise ships are not in
port, Key West is a less crowded, but still extremely eclectic jumble of human and
architectural sites.
