Sailing in the Florida Keys with Island Dreamer

Monica and Keith doing a ASA Bareboat Certification

We enjoyed hosting Monica and Keith for an ASA Bareboat Certification Class. They got to see a whole range of weather from gale warnings (watched from a calm anchorage) to no wind. We had 2 days of winds in the 30 knot range which is very unusual for our area. It gave us a chance to practice docking in difficult conditions and we spent the night tucked comfortably in a protected mangrove canal using a Bahamian moor to limit the swing room of our anchors. One of the advantages of sailing in the Florida Keys is the diversity of environments so that even in difficult weather conditions there are interesting places to go.

Monica and Keith are experienced adventure travelers who own a whitewater rafting company in Tennessee, named Quest Expeditions. After having done lots of wilderness travel, I think they enjoyed the comforts a cruising sailboat had to offer.  The ability to be out in nature but still have a comfortable bed and a hot water shower is kind of nice.

A Protected Mangrove Canal Great for Anchoring your Sailboat in High Winds

We are passing through a canal in Key Largo in John Pennekamp State Park in the picture on the left. This is the type of canal where we go when the weather gets bad. Our sailboat has even rode out hurricanes in this type of area. Not fun but much better than cement docks or open anchorages. Part of learning to sail is knowing when not to go sailing!

A comment about an ASA 101 Basic Keelboat learn to sail course we just taught in Miami;

Hello Captain Harold,

First of all I wanted to once more thank you VERY much for such a great experience and sailing course.

My wife and I are very happy and pleased with the course and the entire experience.

Thank you once more to you and your wife for a very professional as well as personal experience.

Sincerely yours,

Francisco

Bruce Springsteen in todays Washington Post;

“The only thing I would say [about turning 60] is that a steaming train rolling down the track towards you clarifies the mind,” he says, laughing. “It does excite the senses and is thrillingly inspiring in ways that you might not have imagined.”

Been dreaming of Learning How to Sail? Margie and I moved aboard in 2002 and have not looked back.  New friendships, new places, new experiences are all reasons to do it now!

Vew from our evening's anchorage in the Lower Florida Keys