So off we went!

Once we got the water maker up and running in Fort Lauderdale, we set sail again! The starboard engine issue (getting stuck in reverse) was due to linkage that popped off the gear shift lever at the engine...More on that later. So we fixed the current problems and set our course for Marathon, the next long stop by way of Miami...which you see here. This was an amazing anchorage! 

Once we arrived in Marathon, we anchored just outside of Boot Key Harbor for a couple of nights. That was a little longer than planned thanks to a major cold front that came through the area. This front created constant winds at 35-40knts and we weren't going to make the next jump, a 45 mile offshore passage north, in poor weather conditions.

During our time in Marathon we met up with some Patrons, provisioned and Jeremiah got the dinghy running smoothly enough to trust she'd take us to shore safely. On our way to the anchorage, we were beating upwind for a few miles, into 4-6 foot chop, that caused a door to open and CRASH...My coffee press was smashed on the floor. Fortunately, our wonderful friends, Lyle, Cheryl and Trace, happened to be on a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor and saved our butts by giving me the french press I had sent them so long ago. How sweet is that?! Thank you guys and you know already how much we love you!! 

We spent the next few days sailing North again. This was exciting because we had yet to sail this side of Florida. I think we'd agree that the passage by the Everglades was our favorite. We were 45 miles off shore with no communication besides a sat phone and were completely alone in the Gulf of Mexico. It was rather breathtaking if you ask me! 

After passing the Everglades it got pretty rough out there, I began to get more sick then I have ever been! We were constantly beating upwind in 6 foot seas. Unfortunately, I think my seasickness was due to the motion of the catamaran while rocking. It’s nothing like a monohull. You’d think after 3 weeks I would have been used to it but no I wasn’t used to it at all. Even Rhys seemed to have a hard time and he has never expressed being uncomfortable in his almost 3 years of life aboard a monohull. 

By the time we arrived, I was ready to go lol. It was time to decide if we want a cat or a monohull again. More on that later.

So the Antares is now sitting on the hard getting her engines replaced plus a  few other items. Will we be back onboard this amazing vessel?! Stay tuned!