As planned, we changed our plans. Rather than Marathon, we are making a day of it in South Beach in Miami. We could find worse ports to wile away a sunny day.

We were trying to cut through the Florida Keys near Marathon in yesterday’s day light, but it didn’t quite work out. We consequently had a pretty adventurous evening. As we approached the Keys early Sunday evening, we were weaving around sand banks, following a complicated path dictated by the charts. At one point, we were consulting four different sources: a guidebook, NOAA charts on my iPad, the ChartPlotter, and the old fashioned paper charts. Thankfully, with GPS capabilities today, we were always able to tell exactly where we were. Of course, the problem was that where we were was really, really shallow. Indeed, for several miles, we were in only 6 feet of water, worrisome for a boat whose draft is 5 feet, 3 inches.

By the time we got to the most complicated S curve through several sand bars, we were in complete darkness. Archie used the iPad charts to bark out orders (e.g., “3 to 4 more degrees to Starboard, now!”). Somehow, we made it through without touching bottom once.

We were not so fortunate at the top tip of the boat. As we headed under the 65′ vertical bridge under U.S Route 1, the antenna on top of our 63′ mast hit the bridge. Fortunately, no harm was done.

Because we would have arrived in Marathon late at night, we decided to just continue on through the night to Miami. We arrived this morning and have spent the morning washing the salt and seaweed of the boat, making some small repairs, and sleeping. This afternoon, we’ll go swimming and then head out to Lincoln Road for dinner.

On Sunday, May 25, Archie starts his journey north, setting sail from Bradenton, Florida and making his way over two weeks to Point Judith, Rhode Island. If I count correctly, this will be his 11th Spring journey north from Florida.

Archie’s current plan (always subject to weather, mechanical problems or whim) is to do the trip in two legs:  Bradenton to Charleston, Charleston to Point Judith. He’ll fly down to Bradenton on Saturday, May 24 and get the boat ready for his crew (i.e., fluff the pillows, chill the champagne). His first crew (Rob, Alison, Bill and yours truly) arrives late Sunday morning.  We’ll do a speed run through a grocery store (arguing about how many diet cokes are necessary for 7 days on the water) and then ship out as early in the afternoon as possible.

Our goal will be to sail down the western coast of Florida and cut through the Florida Keys before darkness falls on Monday, May 26. Most years, Archie makes a pilgrimage to Key West, his personal Mecca (but with booze and Jimmy Buffet music). This year, he’s tight for time, so we’ll shave off a day or so by cutting through the Keys at Marathon. Marathon is about two-thirds of the way down the Keys. The trick to cutting through is that Florida Bay, on the inside of the curve of the Keys, is really really shallow. There is a channel, all of 6 or 7 feet deep, that leads through the Bay for miles. Needless to say, we’d like to get there in daylight.

Assuming we are not wedged in the sand in the middle of the Bay, we’ll spend Monday night in the harbor at Marathon. Rumor is, Marathon has great Cuban coffee. From Marathon, we’ll sail to Fort Pierce on Florida’s east coast, where hopefully the crew will be allowed a few hours of shore leave before making the final push to Charleston. If all goes according to plan, we’ll make Charleston by Saturday, May 31, flying back to our land lives on Sunday.

Archie’s second crew (Jim G., Stephanie, Jim B. and Eric) will meet him in Charleston. If the weather forecast is good, Archie will head round Cape Hatteras and make a break for New England. If the forecast is not so fine, he’ll head up the Intracoastal Waterway to the Chesapeake, where he’ll decide again whether he can make a beeline home to Point Judith.

Having now described the spring trip plan, the dose of reality is that circumstances almost always throw a wrench in the plan. On previous voyages, wind and rain, propellor shaft, starter, and even a broken helm have all gotten in the way of the best laid plans. The only thing we can count on is that it will be an adventure.