Boot Key Harbor (Marathon)

We arrived here Saturday afternoon after a great sail down the Hawk Channel from Rodriguez Key. We hurried along because a strong cold front with high winds was forecast to arrive Sunday evening. Sunday started out very nice with light northerly winds and sunny skies. Everyone in the mooring field was busy laying in every necessity for a long stay aboard. Last night the winds piped up at near gale force (low 30 knots), have stayed there through the day today, and are expected to last until tomorrow afternoon.

Fortunately there is some sun so it is warm in the cockpit, but the steady rattling in the rigging is getting on our nerves. Last summer I installed a shackle at the end of the bobstay near the waterline. That is now part of a three point bridle which secures us to the mooring pennant. It takes most of the load and we no longer hear the deck fastened lines chafing on the bow of the boat as we tack in high winds.