Key West - we're home 6.16.7

our ship Hakuna Matata. (back left corner)

nightfall during passage. sunrise Key West after sailing all night.
every hour a plane landed from key west. also every 2 hrs a large ship of tourists from K.W. $140 round trip.

'Hakuna Makada' - Craig's boat

Saturday night 7:30pm Marathon Florida. we made it back about 4:30pm.

we took an 'overnight' sail from the Dry Tortugas to key west. left at 5pm and got into key west at 6am. it was exciting! Craig took time away to sleep and left Angela alone on deck to brave the big big ocean. it started with mirror smooth water then about 1am a storm blew up from Cuba (~60 miles south) and the waves picked up along with the wind. we did a "zero to sixty" kind of turn by raising the sails and sailing!

NOTE: in the photo of 'plane/fort/boat' the small (tiny) boat was a bunch of Cubans who landed at the fort for asylum, the day prior to our arrival. (if they land on US shore without being stopped, they stay.)

have to go run out and grab dinner now. very hungry from the trip.

skip

Friday - back to K.W. 6.16

Craig and Angela with Mahi Dinner.

So, we left key west and sailed about 40 miles to the Marqueses keys. (actually it was too calm to 'sail' so we motored. used the iron sail.) then we went on out to the Dry Tortugas. spent a couple of days at Fort Jackson. built in the 1800's. very cool old place. (not "cool" - duhhhh) had visits via sea plane and lots of other cruisers show up during our stay. saw 200 lb Jew Fish, 6' shark, 100+lb Tarpon, lobster, crab, and swam with them.

Caught some fish! Barracuda, Mackaral, Mahi Mahi, and enjoyed eating them.

Last NIGHT we sailed back to Key West. after 3 days of dead calm. (see photos) as in not a darn ripple... we decided to motor back overnight. had a nice surprise blow about midnight that pushed us along at about 7 knots. (that's fast mom) now we are back in K.W. anchored and had naps. are loading up for Cheeseburgers in Paradise. will leave here for the sail back up to Marathon in the morning. everyone is healthy, happy and feeling younger than ever!

xo skip

Key West - Sat. 6.10.07

Key West, FL. street performers and tourists mix on the pier to watch sunset. (we arrived early before they were set up and found an empty plaza.) Now it's Sunday early. today we sail for the Marquesas Keys. then in 2 days onward to the Dry Tortugas. Lovely weather today and all of the days so far.

('some' tourists overdress for the shore! we didnt)

i won't have email again till we return to key west on Friday. plan to have lots more photos then.

having a great time. -skip