GLORY DAYS ON THE GREAT LOOP: KEY LARGO AND OLD FRIENDS

DAY 251, SUN. . MARCH 25, 2012

DEP LIG. KEY (mm 1166) 09:30 ARR. TARPON BASIN, KEY LARGO (mm 1140) 1:25

D. 28 sm / 3748

The cruise from Lig. Key was scenic and uneventful. The wind was out of the WNW at 15K and was supposed to pick up to 18K-20K and become NE. When we got to Tarpon Basin we had to turn east to hug the shore as there is a huge shoal in the middle. The basin is about a mile wide and there is plenty of room to anchor. The guide books say to avoid anchoring in the grass beds as the holding is not good. This is good advice, but rather than listen to the voice of experience we anchored where most of the other boats were and hoped the anchor would find sand. Mistake. But more about that later. We called AGLCA Harbor Host Capt. Sterling Kennedy and his wife Judy. We knew him from last year when he bought my used dingy davit. His home, a double wide, is on a canal just off the basin and he invited us to dinghy over for docktails. We spent a very enjoyable couple of hours with them and a couple of their friends, and are very thankful for their hospitality and local knowledge. We got back to the boat about 8PM and the wind started to pick up and change direction. I had the feeling we were dragging the anchor, and sure enough at 10:30 she broke loose. I hate having to re anchor in the dark, but there was no choice. We hoisted the anchor, and sure enough it was fouled with grass. Thank goodness there was light from the shore and I could see enough to know where we were. We moved south and east about 200 yards, dropped the hook, and prayed. We also stood anchor watch until midnight and awoke every hour to check our position until 4AM when I felt comfortable we were secure. Our original plan was to spend 2 days here, and Sterling offered us his car for the day, but we decided to leave that morning for the security of a tie up in Boca Chita Key.