Fresh Breezes in Hawk Channel

Entering Hawk Channel via Channel Five at Long Key the trip down to Boot Key Harbor is approximately 18 NM.   

 We cleared the Channel Five Bridge under a full main and the motor.  Once on the outside we welcomed the early arrival of the 15 to 20 knot east winds forecast for the afternoon.    I put one reef in the main and raised the genny while Anne took the helm and silenced the motor. Sailing on a close reach southward to the red day mark we were over canvassed and placed our leeward toe rail close to the water.  As the red day mark passed our port side, we turned westward and eased our healing as we rounded onto a broad reach.  The seas were already building.  Three to five foot swell with some white caps overtook us on our portside stern quarter.  The swell made for some good surfing and C’est la Vie would occasionally hit 9 knots. 

Since we would need the dinghy at Boot Key Harbor, we already had her assembled, and she was in the water we elected to tow Origami.  She handled the early morning conditions deftly.  Her starboard gunwale can be seen in the lower left of the image above.

Unfortunately Anne went green.  Following seas are her nemesis and after falling onto our broad reach she gave up the tiller and headed for the rail.  In the words of Captain Kim, Anne began “chumming.”