Author: Cookies

Today we got back the outboard motor for the dingy and decided to take it for test spin on the Gulf of Mexico must outside the marina.

The sunsets have slowly moved more westerly and now setting with a better view of the sun hitting horizon. The sunsets are better now on the western side of the island where the marina and boat is located.

Since the overnight sail we have been busy on several boat projects including going up the mask in the boson chair, adding a fuel vacuum gauge and learning and operating our water maker. Today we installed another 390 watts of solar with a new inverter to give us more charging capacity.

Today we left the docks about 10:30 am and headed toward big pine key about 24 miles away. The wind clocked into a southerly which might have been a difficult anchorage so we decided to sail along the Atlantic for a bit but return and do the overnight on the gulf side off of marathon.

Today we fixed several boat issues including one where the back step swim shower valve is very difficult to operate as you can’t get your fingers into the hole to pull it out and turn on the shower and mix hot and cold.

So we engineered a solution using one piece of 3/4 inch pvc t fitting with a small notch cut in and a hole to accept the bolt that holds the shower valve knob in place.

The other day a very large manatee just hung out right next to our sailboat in the marina. In the evening now we bike down to Sombrero beach for a swim in the Atlantic and watch the sun set.

Today we biked out to pigeon key and Sombrero beach in the morning. We worked on various boat projects with a bike and swim at sombrero later in the day.

Today we applied a name sticker with the new boat name Allegra – that is registered with the coast guard and also putting the required hailing port location on the boat as required by the coast guard.

A set of traditions also go with naming of the boat ceremony.

Today we did a 4-5 hour sail in some stronger 18-22 knot winds. It was strong enough winds that we decided to start our sail with both a partially reefed main and partially reefed Genoa. We tested out our windlass and anchor in a more protected waters area closer to marathon. We did several tacks while we took turns working the jib sheet and winches and the helm.

Today we started out the day with a bike ride to sombrero beach and an afternoon sail out of the marina for about 17 miles of sailing. The wind was higher today between 10-20 knots.

Today we worked on more boat projects and kayaked around the gulf. In the evening we went to the local sailor and boating community bar with live music called dock side. Many folks who live on anchor buoys will dingy over to this place and have dinner and enjoy the music every night of the week!

The wind died down one morning for a nice quiet kayak just outside the marina.

One day we biked around big pine key about 20 miles south of marathon. This island is famous for its small and rare deer.

Today we did our first sail with just the two of us sailing the boat. It was calmer winds compared to the 15-25 knot winds of the previous week.

We have spent several days going over all of the boat systems from the diesel engine to the navigation chart plotters to repair and document each of the systems.

As part of the boaters community in marathon Florida we tune in at times to the daily vhf channel 80 community net where at 9 am a moderator helps connect local boaters with everything from weather to pickle ball to social events.

The video was recorded during the first minute of the radio community net.

We got up this morning and the marina was as all up preparing for a major storm event that had manifested it self overnight and was set now to hit marathon Florida in about 1.5 hours. The ship to shop radio channel 68 had reports of major wind and tornadoes.

The tornado watch was issued at 7 am and updated at two times today.

At about 10 we were hit with a storm storm and tornadoes rotations were found on radar.

Later in the day we went biking and kayaking to watch the setting sun.

Yesterday we took the boat out for a short sail from our marina in marathon Florida with some friends visiting.

Today we continued with boat documentation projects and various boat projects and some bike rides around the island of marathon.

Late this afternoon we got together with about 20 of our marina friends and had a short celebration of the new boat and a good way to connect with fellow boaters.

We were able to fit about 20 folks on the boat with several down in the salon and another set up in the cockpit.