I have to admit I have been struggling to make the mental switch to cruising mode. I can’t pinpoint exactly why that is, maybe it’s because everything seems so laborious. Even the simplest of tasks can take on mammoth proportions when cruising. One of the downsides of having stowed so much ‘stuff’ is getting access to it.

We have made meticulous inventories of where things are stowed (those of you who know me will not be surprised by that fact) that in itself is not the problem. No, it’s more a problem of the amount of stuff you have to take out to get to what you want, then when you have used it, take it all out again out to put it back. So it does not motivate you to cook……well that’s my excuse.

Whatever the reason I have been struggling, a fact which was exacerbated when the auto helm belt broke and we had to hand steer all the way from Fort Pierce to Miami, including overnight (I know I’m such a whimp!!!). Oh, did I mention we were motor sailing, again?

There was surprisingly little ship traffic on the way down to Miami, unlike last year at Fort Lauderdale.

We sailed into the harbour and round to Marine Stadium Marina anchorage just before the Rickenbacker Bridge and were treated to a wonderful view of downtown Miami (better at night).

The next day we dinghied ashore, grabbed a taxi and $25 later, we were on Ocean Drive Miami Beach!!!! This is where all the Art Deco style hotels are. They didn’t disappoint, with stunning architecture and accent lighting. It was just as I hoped it would be. There were some nice art galleries, but apart from that it was all eating and drinking.

Coconut Grove was the other district we visited, only $16 taxi this time. Lots of nice restaurants and shops, but very little else.

2 nights in the stadium anchorage was enough for us. Great for shelter but that was all so we upped anchor and headed round to Key Biscayne in another part of Miami. We were going to No Name Harbour.

This was a lovely little anchorage in a State Nature Park, very protected, quiet and even had its own little Grill, The Boaters Grill. From there it was about a mile to the nearest shops.

We would recommend it to anyone. Well worth the $15 overnight anchoring fee. It is run on an honesty system. Let me tell you, those rich folk with those big mega yacht ain’t as honest as the rest of us folks….if you y’all know what I mean?????

Have to say, Miami was disappointing, all front and nothing of real substance. But that’s just my opinion and maybe a little unfair.