Exploring Biscayne Bay while we wait for a weather window

Since the northern winds are still blowing strong and crossing the Gulf Stream is still not an option for us, we moved a bit north up Biscayne Bay to anchor outside Hurricane Harbor to explore a different anchorage. We used the time to sand and varnish all the exposed teak to give it new protection against the strong southern sun.  Here Jay sands the teak trim around the lid edge of the propane tank locker. We dinghied inside Hurricane Harbor to find it is very protected to all but west winds with more beautiful homes all along the shores. 

 Wednesday morning we came across to the western side of Biscayne Bay to motor in Dinner Key Channel to Coconut Grove. Coconut Grove Sailing Club offers moorings inside the protected anchorage between shore and a spoil island.  The island was created to make a safe refuge to moor the Pan American clipper seaplanes flying to the Caribbean and South America and later for the US Coast Guard. Today private marinas and sailing clubs call it home. The moorings are  tightly packed to make the best use of the harbor.

The usual shore chores were done one more time in hopes of a weather window opening soon -laundry, fill water and fuel tanks, find fresh produce, refill a propane tank.  The captain even got a new crab net (the black net on aluminum extendable handle) which we most often use to retrieve things that fall overboard.  Norma hated to part with the old wooden handled rusty one that has nostalgic 30 year old memories attached so we'll carry it as a spare for a while. Coconut Grove is another unique community just south of Miami.

Several moths, new sailing boats to us, were flying across the Bay as we motored in the Channel. We got a close look as five of these moths sailed back into the Sailing Club where we are moored. They appear to give a high speed ride while providing an athletic workout. You can actually watch how they ride on foils on top of the water on the following youtube video.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCY1EAp9FfY