26:06.70N 80:06.40W

 

Before we departed the previous days we took the tender south to the entrance to check the depth.  We have a portable Gamin depth sounder that worked very well.  We found at low tide the depths to the north side of the channel were 1 - 2 feet shallower than the south side.  Obviously the sands are depositing in faster than expected.  Our departure was planned for high tide so there should not be an issue.

 

We delayed our departure one day as the winds built during the night (25 knots) and were much higher than predicted.  While they were from the east making the trip sailable the rough water in the Gulf Stream was more than we wanted, just getting lazy with rough seas after so many trips in them.

 

We departed at high tide early morning before the construction barges and tugs filled the narrow channel.  To our surprise there was a fleet of sailboats all heading out along with the sport fishing boats.

 

Winds were light but we set sails and hoped for the best.  We were able to sail about 1/3 the way but the Gulf Stream was pushing us way too north in the light winds.  So on with the motor and we pointed to Port Everglades entrance.

 

No big deal along the way.  Saw many Portuguese-Man-of-War along the way back to Florida.

 

Now in the marina with a long list of repairs that will take a month+ to fix.