December 8

On the way out of the harbor we took pictures of the ships waiting for passengers. These are the way Annette wants to go to the Bahamas, along with 1500 of her closest friends. The wind was predicted to continue to blow from the east but in the 10 to 15 knot range with seas two to three feet. Acceptable. The Admiral doesn't like it but understands that the next many days are worse with higher winds and waves. We motorsailed with just a foresail out and went close to hull speed the entire trip, making the forty miles in just under 5.5 hours.

The sight of the lighthouse at Cape Florida on the south end of Key Biscayne was a welcome sight, even though we felt it prudent to sail south of it for the channel mouth on the south side of the shoal it guards. We rafted in No Name Harbor with Eagle's Wings, each boat putting out an anchor as there would be no current to turn the boats as the tide reversed in the night.