Sunrise and we are underway for Fort Pierce. The main channel at Miami was closed with 3 cruise ships in port so traffic takes the route via the cargo ship channel. Only a slight delay.
It is going to be a motor sail trip to Fort Pierce. The winds are calm this morning but will pick up from the south in the afternoon, just as it has done most every day.
Southbound, this is a 24hr trip but we are northbound and can ride the Gulf Stream for most of the trip. We hope to make it to Fort Pierce about sunset time.
Out into the Gulf Stream off Miami, you only need to get a couple miles offshore to pick up the current.
A patch of sargasso weed off Miami. We didnt see any more than normal this trip.
Seas are relatively calm for this transit. The crew is very happy.
Definitely in the Gulf Stream now, making 11.4kts over the ground. Pretty good for a sailboat that has a maximum sailing speed of 7.2kts. That's a boost of 4.2kts from the Stream, about the max current you see.
Here's an interesting hitchhiker. I wonder how these guys make there way onboard. We have seen these small crabs a couple times. I wonder if they crawl up the anchor chain. People talk about finding snakes in their anchor locker so I guess it's not that uncommon.
Eventually you have to cut out of the Gulf Stream and head back towards the shore. Another sunset at sea. We are a few hours from Fort Pierce, will arrive in the dark about 8pm but, it is a straight and deep inlet with no difficulties. Much better than the Florida Channel by Key Biscayne.
We made our way into Fort Pierce and found a good anchorage spot just inside the inlet and spent a quiet night.
Tomorrow we are off up the ICW northbound.
