Sunday, March 6, 2011

The Annual Hatteras Voyage Begins

Today, after waiting out a few days of extreme wind in South Florida, the Hatteras departed on its annual voyage to Fort Myers Beach.  Jane and Maynard (Mom & Dad) set out this AM in moderate winds (12-15) with partly sunny skies and a moderate chop in Biscayne Bay.

Overall, this will be a three day voyage with the first leg being Coconut Grove to Islamorada (Plantation Yacht Harbor).  This marina is one of the only large harbors on the bay side of the keys and has a lot of good facilities including a fuel dock.

Plantation Yacht Harbor is a great bay side large yacht stop
 So the route for the day is a rather interesting ride.  It starts in Biscayne Bay, goes through a large section of Everglades National Park and then runs through Jewfish Creek into Florida Bay.  As you head south, you go through some really shallow water and some great tight and scenic mangrove passages.

The SPOT does a great job of tracking to Hatteras
So that was day one.  Docked the boat, fueled it up and then they headed up to a great little place named Marker 88 for dinner.  Tomorrow is a long run to Everglades City along the bottom side of the National Park boundary.  Weather is supposed to be warm with 8-10mph winds from the NW.  If this is the case, should be a very scenic ride.