Boot Key Harbor to Fat Deer Key

After five days of making new friends, hanging out with other cruisers, ticking off small to do projects, and watching frequent rain squalls dance across the anchorage, today we escaped Boot Key Harbor.  The day dawned clear with a warm sun raising everyone’s spirits.  NOAA maintained small craft advisories for both Hawk Channel and Gulf waters due to 20 knot east southeast wind with higher gusts.   

We waited around until lunch, but the wind did not abate.  Reviewing our route – westward out Boot Key Harbor Channel, northward into the Gulf via Moser Channel, and then east northeastward along the Gulf side of Vaca Key to a known anchorage between Fat Deer Key and Bamboo Key our hope was that once we gained the Gulf side of Vaca Key the seas would diminish along the island’s leeward shore.

Within moments of clearing the Boot Key Harbor Channel we unfurled a small portion of the headsail and began a broad reach towards Moser Channel.  The 3 foot seas occasionally surfed us along at over 7 knots.  Turning north into Moser Channel required a jibe.  With Anne at the helm jibe went smoothly and we began a starboard beam reach towards seven mile bridge – our doorway to the Gulf of Mexico.  Clearing US1 and entering the Gulf we then turned windward.  Turning to the east required furling the headsail and raising the main.  Sail change accomplished we began motor sailing under the main into the wind and seas.  At the helm Anne occasionally took spray over the dodger as I tucked into the cabin under the guise of updating the log book. 

 Once we were able to place the Gulf shore of Vaca Key between C’est la Vie and the wind our fetch reduced dramatically and I returned from my logbook update to take the helm.  The remainder of our 8NM miles to Fat Deer Key anchorage went smoothly.