Crossing to Marathon

It was a beautiful sunrise on the Little Shark River and we were anxious to get under way for a 40 miles open water crossing of Florida bay. We knew the biting bugs were waiting for us outside so we got everything prepared, started the engines and ran out to pull up anchor. We put up a good fight but got slaughtered and lost a lot of blood in the battle!  2.5 miles later we were in the Gulf of Mexico with the Ten Thousand Island, part of Everglade National Park to the East.

 The deepest water we spotted on our 41.46 NM crossing was 9.5’and typically around 6’, incredibly shallow. 

 Once we came around Cape Sabel and entered the Florida Bay it became Ten Thousand Crab Pots and at first it was a fun game to slalom between crab pots and clump of weeds but shortly became exhausting and we had to take turns at the helm frequently. 

We arrived in Marathon 4.5 hrs later, dropped anchor in Crane Point and it was time to jump in the water for a well deserved swim.  Welcome to the Keys.