Day 33 - Key West

We made it! Kite arrived in Key West on Friday afternoon after a brisk downwind sail from Marathon in the Hawk Channel. Ringle was right on our tail as we entered Key West Bight harbor and tied up at the city marina there. The weather forecast predicted increasing winds as the day progressed and even stronger winds on Saturday, so we decided on an early start on Friday. Today, Saturday, we are being rocked at our dock by the stronger winds - glad we made the right decision to go yesterday.

As we sailed down the Hawk Channel toward Key West, we passed Bahia Honda which is reputed to have the best beach in the Keys. We were a mile or two offshore so it wasn't clear how wonderful the beach is, but it is clearly a beach, not a mangrove. Our cruising guide says that sailboats should anchor south of the eastern (right) side of the falling apart railroad bridge and row ashore to this best beach in the Keys. We were in a hurry to beat the strong winds of late afternoon, so we didn't stop.

Old railroad bridge, Bahia Honda on right

By the time we reached the Key West shipping channel (15:30) the winds were blowing 25 knots from the east. We turned north into the shipping channel and encountered a strong southerly current of 2 knots! Our progress north to the marina we had reserved was very slow against this current but we finally arrived at a little after 16:00. We  have a photo of Kite and Ringle docked one before the other at Key West Bight Marina, the city marina.

Kite and Ringle at Key West Bight Marina

After checking in and straightening up our boats, the crews of Kite and Ringle walked to the Schooner Wharf Café nearby and enjoyed adult beverages and seafood. It was dark by the time we finished our dinner, but we walked to Mallory Square anyway to see the view of the Gulf of Mexico from which so many sunsets have been photographed. Tired after an active day, we returned to Kite for showers and bed.

Rooster and hen freely roaming the streets 

In the morning we were awakened by one of the many roosters walking freely around the streets of Key West. We slept until 08:00 and dallied before having breakfast at 10:00. Did I mention that Kite is air conditioned, and the temperature in Key West varies from a low of 80° to a high of 86°F. We were happy to enjoy the 75° inside Kite for a while. Around noon, all five of us took a walking tour of the downtown area of Key West. Kevin and Lyn joked around in front of Irish Kevin's Bar. Vince and Kevin broke off to go to Capt. Tony's Saloon for a drink while Eveline, Lyn and Peter walked up Duval Street, which had been converted into a street market. On our return to the Saloon, we walked past a very large banyan tree on Whitehead Street.

Kevin and Lyn at Irish Kevin's Bar

Eveline and Lyn in front of Banyan tree

The day was hot, as usual, but there was a strong breeze blowing from the east. We decided to have lunch at Fogarty's on Duval Street, in the well shaded outdoor dining area. Here the breeze cooled us as we sat in the shade and enjoyed our lunches with some beverages. Vince wanted to go the the Shipwreck Museum, so we walked there after lunch. Apparently shipwreck salvaging was big business in Key West back in the 1850 - 1900 timeframe. The museum included a lookout tower about 65 feet high from which one could see into the Gulf of Mexico. Peter shot a couple of panoramic photos looking southwest and northwest from this vantage point.

Southwest view over Tank Island (right)

Northwest view over Wisteria Island (center) and Fleming Key (right)