Over the Thanksgiving weekend, we were joined by Steve and Linda Leeds for a sail down the coast from Fort Lauderdale and then into Biscayne Bay via the entrance at Cape
Florida.
We had a spanking run down the coast with all sail up (after managing to drop a foresail in the water momentarily) and one reef in the main. Windward is very sea kindly. We were in a good wind of Force 4 and 5 on occasion with disturbed wave action but she tracked through this very steadily and impressed us by maintaining a good speed over the ground around 7 to 8 knots.
We threaded our way through the shallows and channel markers into No Name Bay. You can see the breadcrumbs of our route and the exact position on the bottom right hand of the picture:
No Name Bay is tucked in behind Cape Florida and is very sheltered in NE and E winds.
Just inside the Bay, there are some holiday homes built on stilts – you can just see them in the distance:
We took a walk around the park reserve and visited the old Cape Florida lighthouse.
The next day we had a good sail up the bay and anchored near the Lewis cut off Sands Key.
Very pleasant anchorage and we had Turkey stir fried in Korean Teriyaki to honour Thanksgiving.
Liz had an early morning swim – last seen heading for Miami on the horizon!
We headed back to Fort Lauderdale via the Port of Miami. Bit of a hassle with an engine belt breaking on the way up but quickly repaired.
Going through under the Rickenbacker Bridge was scary – you KNOW that the bridge is 76 feet high and you KNOW that your mast is 58 feet 10 inches high but it still LOOKS like you are not going to make it!!
With the wind on our nose, it was motor sailing back to Fort Lauderdale with a bit of help from a tightly sheeted mainsail.
Entering the Port Everglades cut was scary as we chose the same time as all the cruise ships chose to leave for the Bahamas.
It was dark by the time we got through the waterway and we anchored off in Lake Sylvia for a pleasant evening before returning to our dock in Isle of Venice the next morning.
Great trip with nice folks – now back to work.
Windward Ahoy! 
Hi chaps….apologies for the prolonged radio silence. (We squirrelled away your invitation to enlist for WordPress/duly did so and then lost the link…until now; so we hope this reaches you).
Just been catching up on your maritime meanderings. You really are living the dream you’d long harboured…even if the height of Rickenbacker Bridge needed to be raised to allow safe passage.
We’re just back from November spent in Chile & Patagonia which was all very fantastic. From right up the far north in the Atacama Desert and down to the end of the world, stopping at many places on the way down.
Hope you’ll find safe harbour somewhere nice to spend Christmas. As ever, we’ll be in fair Scotia’s glaciated terrain.
Saw Bill & Anita last Friday at The Ram. Both looking and faring well.
We’ve sent a Christmas card to Roland & Liz, c/o The High Seas. Should reach you tomorrow.
Travel safely, you two. Great blogging, by the way.
Love ‘n best wishes
Bob & Maggie
XX
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Everyone is asking about you at work, wondering how the new life is going. By the looks it quite well. I am sure you don’t even think about business continuity any more, just risk assessments associated with sailing. Lovely pictures. We have a team meeting in Sunbury in January so maybe I will share some of your photos with the team. Happy sailing and glad you are enjoying yourselves. All the best, Gael.
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Oops, yes , that bridge was rather troublesome. Sure all of you have sore neck muscles from gawping upwards.
Lovely pics
Xx
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