Daughters on board!

Months ago when planning this trip, I wanted to have my daughters share the experience with me. Given their work obligations, we decided that Christmas would be the best opportunity for us all to be together. I didn't know where I would be at that point, so we decided on Key West as a good guess -- and we made plane reservations. I had to do a little backtracking to get back to Key West, but it was no problem.

Ginny and Betsy arrived on Friday as scheduled. Too bad Betsy's luggage didn't. She was forced to check it by Delta because all the overhead bins were full. Then they lost it. We didn't worry too much about it on Friday night because we washed our worries away at Schooner's Wharf, the best "sailor's bar" in Key West. The food and music were great. The lost bag was delivered before midnight, so no worries.


Saturday morning, after Cuban coffee con leche, we walked to the "Southern most Point" of the continental U.S. We swung by the Hemingway House and the Little White House. After 3 weeks here, I was a walking tour guide. Then, the girls enjoyed a beautiful sunny day by the pool at the Marina where Agaliha was docked.


Late in the afternoon, we walked to Mallory Square to see the sideshows and the trademark Key West sunset. Then we had a great dinner at the Conch Republic Seafood Company. It was a perfect day in paradise.


I have rented a mooring ball in Marathon for the month of December, mostly so I could go home with the girls for Christmas. So, we needed to get the boat back to Marathon. Unfortunately, the only day the weather would permit that was Sunday. On Monday, the Christmas winds were going to pipe up again -- 30 mph out of the east. So, we made our plans to depart at first light on Sunday headed east to Marathon.


Ginny takes the first turn at the helm before sunrise

The weather forecast said the Atlantic could whip up to four foot waves by mid-day. I was a little worried that it might be a little wild for my girls. The wind did blow at 16 to 18 mph as predicted. And we had a few four-foot waves hit us, but all in all, it was a better sea than predicted. Agaliha made great time, averaging 7 knots into the wind with a reefed main, partial genoa and a boost from the engine. This combination gave us the smoothest ride and shortened the trip.





Captain Ron is happy to have his girls on board




By 1:30 we were tied up at the Marathon Marina, where there is a beautiful pool and a great restaurant called Lazy Days. After rinsing all the salt water off of the boat, we lay by the pool and rested up from our voyage in the big water.


Our slip had a great western view of the sunset, and a bugle rendition of "Taps" was in order. We were a tired but happy crew.


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