Finally, we're in the Keys! Left Miami at 9:15Am with 15 knot beam winds and 2' seas. After clearing Biscayne Light, our southerly course became more westerly. Winds and seas abated as we neared Key Largo. We followed 15'-20' deep Hawks Channel. It passes between the Keys and their outer reef. It was sunnny. The relatively shallow water is bright emerald green.
The mouth of Key Largo's entry channel is narrow. Only one boat can transit at a time. About 300 yards in, the channel makes a 90 degree blind turn. Boats announce their position, and approach the turn if no-one answers. Many commercial SCUBA, snorkel and sightseeing boats make several runs daily, so planning arrival and departures outside of their schedule is a good idea. We arrived ten minutes before the biggest boat left and will leave while it is on its morning run today.
We spent the afternoon by the pool, in sunny, 80 degree temperatures. After supper onboard, we walked across Route 1 for a dessert of Cuban coffee and flan at a local Cuban restaurant. Night-time temperatures are in the low 70s.
Next stop is Boot Key Harbor in Marathon, fifty miles away, for one night on a mooring ball and then another fifty mile trip into Key West tomorrow.
Ebb Tide II underway
