December 4, 2007. We were up underway at 0730 for a quick 30 mile hop to Miami.

We left the anchorage on a falling tide and got over a knot boost as we made our way out the inlet. The Freedoms had to hit the fuel dock so they were up and underway while I was out with the dogs. They hailed us as we were raising our anchor to say that they were done refueling and were headed out.

That meant that we were about a mile behind them. It was about a twenty mile run from sea buoy to sea buoy. We were so closely matched in speed that it took us about 13 miles to catch up with them. One of my favorite things about cruising is making runs of 20 miles or more all on the same tack. It gives me more than a little opportunity to adjust this and tweak that trying to coax a little more speed out of the boat.

The sail down was uneventful although the water is absolutely gorgeous. Government Cut is the main channel into Miami. If there are cruise ships sitting at the docks then Government Cut is closed to pleasure traffic. There’s an alternate route that would add a couple of miles to our day so we had to call the Coast Guard and find out what’s what.

The Cut is open so it’s pretty much a straight shot in from the inlet. After traversing the cut we took a winding route to our favorite anchorage right next to South Beach. On our way in we had to pass the Miami Yacht Club’s mooring field. A lot of cruisers stop and take a mooring or just anchor near the yacht clubs mooring field. I guess they don’t realize that you can keep heading east for another mile and anchor just off the downtown area.




Miami was fun again, just when you think you’ve seen everything you find out that you were wrong. The shit some of these people will wear in the name of fashion is ridiculous. To each their own I guess.