Hawk Channel to Vero Beach

Rodriquez Key, LasOlas, Boca Raton, Hobe Sound, and Vero Beach

Days 145 – 14 March 29th - April 2nd

We had a delightful sail through Hawk Channel in beautiful turquoise waters and were again visited by graceful dolphins. At Fowey Rocks, the end of Hawk Channel, we headed 5 miles out to sea to pick up the edge of the Gulf Stream. This was another first for us, and I, as always with new experiences, was a bit apprehensive having heard so much about the potentially treacherous “river that flows in the ocean.” As we neared the Gulf Stream, the water temperature rose from 75.6 to 78.8 and DeLaMer gained 1.2 to 1.6 statute mph speed over ground. I really enjoyed the experience and, once again, was glad I stretched my comfort limits! Our best speed over ground in the Gulf Stream was 9.6 mph. As we neared Fort Lauderdale, the winds picked up to 15-20 kts gusting into the 20’s, we reefed our mainsail and set a course for Port Everglades at Fort Lauderdale. We picked up a mooring ball at Las Olas City Marina and nodded off for the night.

Fort Lauderdale is called the “Venice” of America. The canals and taxis are quite picturesque, although the buildings are in stark contrast to the ancient structures in Venice, Italy. Early Sunday morning, we began the “battle of the bridges” as we headed north on the ICW. This is the section of the ICW known as "the ditch" since both sides are concrete walls for a number of miles. I was blown away by the number of spectacular multi-million dollar homes lining both sides of the ICW mile after mile.

Bob completed his next assignment for the Writing for Children’s Literature Course he has been taking. Appropriate to our voyage, the article is entitled; “The Lure and Lore of Sailing” geared to 12 to 16 year old boys.

While we were in Boca Chica, John and Nelly VanBlois had invited us to their home in Boca Raton. We arrived at their dock shortly after noon. While in Boca Chica John, who has been to the Bahamas many times, shared a wealth of knowledge with Luke, Jan, Bob, and me. Bob and I spent two days with them at their lovely home and had a most enjoyable visit. Nelly graciously hosted a formal dinner while we were there, inviting their son and his family and their good friend Ed Carey (who had come to Bob’s birthday bash in Key West).

After dinner, Ed invited us to his home to show us the carbon fiber Lanceair two-place high performance (retractable wheels, controllable pitch propeller, and variable manifold pressure) airplane he has been building in his garage for the last four years. Bob was most impressed with the meticulous details and high quality of his work, as well as his ingenuity in working around the many problems that arise in building such an airplane. Coincidentally, this is the very airplane that Bob almost bought the kit to build in the late 1980’s. Ed, a retired Navy fighter pilot, now flies internationally for Northwest. Tuesday morning, we bid our hosts adieu and once again began our journey north.

Our plan was to sail offshore along the entire coast of Florida, as we had done on the way south. In good weather, sailing offshore is a lot faster and a lot less stressful than the ICW (no bridges or shoaling or cross-currents or big powerboat wakes…). The weather, however, is not cooperating, and we are imprisoned in the ICW! Hard to believe it was only two months ago I was feeling apprehensive about going offshore -- and now I’m disappointed I can’t be out there!!

Tuesday we motored 48 statute miles from Boca Raton to Hobe Sound. We averaged 6 mph, impeded by 17 bridges. Most of them were on a fixed schedule, forcing us to wait up to 25 minutes for an opening. We anchored overnight in Hobe Sound, at mile marker 1,000, and spent a quiet evening reading and preparing for the next day’s navigation. Only 1,000 miles to Norfolk at seven mph!!

We weighed anchor at 8:25 this morning, accompanied by two playful dolphins. They swam back and forth under our bow for about five minutes. I snapped a picture of them underwater – if you look closely you can see our wake, the anchor and pulpit of the boat, and both dolphins in the picture.

Near Jensen Bridge we overtook a Canadian sailboat, “Whitecap.” The captain, an older bearded man named Dick, radioed us asking if we had a cell phone on board and would be willing to make a call to his wife Mary. We were happy to oblige. He had just made an uncomfortable overnight passage from Marsh Harbor in the Abacos to St. Lucie Inlet in multiple thunderstorms and squalls. His message was, “I’m safe and having a spot of brandy to celebrate. All is well.” He is returning from several years of soloing in South America.

About noon, we motored past the St. Lucie Nuclear Generating Station (St. Mile 975), to which Bob led two evaluation teams during his years working in Atlanta for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. The station is located on Hutchinson Island and generates about 2,500 MW of electrical power for the homes and businesses in Florida.

We should reach Vero Beach in about two hours.