Of course, as we own a sailboat, we try to get out on her for a long weekend during the 4th of July. It's well into the annual Hurricane season, but 4 days out on the boat are worth the risk.
By 0600, trucks were pulling into the Marina with their boats trailing behind them. They may have been surprised to see a sail boat in the staging area so early. Breakfast on board and then a couple of hours work on JD and she's ready to take to the ramps.
We're out of the channel by 10am in stormy looking weather. By the time we had cleared the shallows surrounding the Bay, both sails were bent on and we were ready to sail. But the stormy conditions were building and we decided to motor further south and hope for better weather.
Lunch time, so we dropped the hook off of Elliott key for a lazy break. Big surprise, not many boats around! I expected hundreds, barely a dozen in sight! Are they not celebrating ... .oh! it's us! We're a day early ... Woohoooo! A really nice sail after lunch is cut short by quickly rising winds, not going to get better, so time to head up to the anchorage on the north side of Sand Key.
By dawn there were four boats anchored off the key, a couple of Catamarans and a power boat. Nice! didn't even realize the power boat was there till we looked around after dawn. It's a very nice anchorage, providing shelter from winds from the East veering around to the South. Cooked breakfast of Eggs, Corned beef hash, tomatoes, and toast and of course, a cup of fresh hot coffee to get the day going.
Determined to get in some sailing today, we motored south west to the south of the Feather Banks looking for wind. There wasn't much, but enough to fill the Spinnaker. So we decided to fly the Asym over towards Homestead (Turkey Point Power Station) then tack over to Billy's Point. We hit 5.2 knots under our golden Asym spinnaker, felt good to get the boat doing what it is supposed to do! Then a couple of hours tacking with the 110 jib south east to Billy's point. The wind dropped down and coming directly from our destination we motored the last mile south east and dropped anchor off the point.
Still not many boats around, several family's were bobbing around astern of their anchored power boats in about 4+ feet of water. Everyone was having a good time. But it's the 4th! Miami is about 20 miles north of us, too far to enjoy the fireworks, so after a couple of Totts of Rum we turned down for the night. Our handheld GPS setup as anchor alert.
During the night we tried out our new Mosquito repellent lamp unit. Worked well but smelly. At least I thought it was the lamp that was smelly~! NOT! A power boat east of us was running a genny all night long. At dawn, we noticed a slick stretching back to the stern of their boat! Diesel! We reported it to the Florida wildlife patrol down at Elliot key. Later we heard the Coast guard was checking it out. Phew, as well as the environmental impact!
After our visit to Elliott key to report the diesel spill, we decided to practice sailing from an anchorage. That went really well! Hoisted the main before pulling the anchor. Once free, Peggy turned the boat and I unfurled the jib. We were soon moving 180 from our point of anchor heading north east in a light wind on our stern.
We sailed up towards Sands Key for our anchorage overnight before heading back to the marina in the morning. Of course, there are lots of boats around now! Party boats everywhere and all of them seemed to be pumping out the stereo amps. We anchored further from the shore hoping to be away from the noise. Didn't work :( Perhaps it would quieten down after dinner. Nope! Perhaps after we turn in for the night.. Nope! Perhaps after the midnight hour ... Nope! This is getting silly! We had our alarm set for 4am to beat the heat.. Did they turn the volume down at 4am? Nope! 5am! YEAH!
So, and here's the point of my rant (sorry, not really!)
If you take your power boat out across the bay for a PARTY, especially on the 4th of July weekend! Go for it! But... by midnight you have probably told your life story to everyone on the boat. Probably tried to talk the panties off every girl on the boat. Eaten every hot dog, beef burger, pizza, steak, and every bag of chips and dip. You have probably drunk every bottle of cerveza, even every tott of rum (my fav) and smoked every cigar on the boat and perhaps shared all of the exotic drugs that made your trip worthwhile.... BUT why the heck did you have to keep your damned super amped stereo revved up till 5am! Come on, you are not the only folks around and we don't all appreciate your taste in music.
So at dawn we hoisted anchor and headed back to black point marina to get the boat on the trailer and head for home.
Then it was all put in perspective. We had a great weekend on the boat, got some great sailing, and got home safely. While up at the north end of the bay the power boater lunes were being stupid and we all know what happens when stupid power boat owners rush to the dock after the 4th of July fireworks. And sadly, again, more people were killed during a multi power boat accident!
We all celebrate the 4th, but lets not allow it to be our last celebration. We feel for the families of those killed this weekend. So stupid, so needless, and sadly so predictable.
Let's be a bit more considerate of each other next year!
Sail - it's the safer way to be there.
Link to the NBC News Miami
Paul
