![\"2017_03_06_21_01_15_AWB-014\"](\"http:\/\/a2baker.com\/magnoliablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/2017_03_06_21_01_15_AWB-014.jpg\" "\\"2017_03_06_21_01_15_AWB-014\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nSeven Mile Bridge<\/a> is one of the few places along the length of the Florida Keys<\/a> that we can cut through without going all the west past the Dry Tortugas<\/a><\/p>\n In addition the stop allowed us to stop and see some of our favorite musicians, Ty & Cory.<\/p>\n We also stopped into the Seafood Festival where Annette got to catch up with Carolyn and Dave (Boat Galley).<\/p>\n Departing out of Marathon we great winds off the starboard quarter and drove us up the Hawk Channel<\/a> towards Rodriquez Key<\/a> <\/p>\n Pat & Becky (Taurus) underway<\/p>\n Magnolia underway (Thank you Pat & Becky)<\/p>\n Anneette & Becky aboard Magnolia<\/p>\n Departing Rodriquez Key<\/a> Pat & Becky were headed to Miami but with a weather front about 18 hours away we really wanted to make Palm Beach\/Lakeworth. We decided to head offshore and catch a real lift from the Gulf Stream\u2026meaning an extra 3-4 knots per hour!<\/p>\n Perhaps a little background. As I was dropping the sail on the Marathon to Rodriquez Key leg I thought I saw a small tear in the sail. When we got anchored I raised the sail back up to find the spot and put some stitches in it to get us up the coast. I could not find the tear anywhere\u2026perhaps I imagined? Oh well little I could do. We knew we would arrive after dark into Palm Beach but were confident we could navigate the inlet in the dark. The one thing we had not previously done was set the anchor after a passage like this in the dark. We like to push ourselves a little and the conditions were safe\u2026so just as we are approaching the inlet and think it time to drop the main sail\u2026we hear the worlds largest Velcro strip separate. I looked at Annette and said I think we found the tear. We brought the sail down and anchored as planned[.<\/p>\n We know the sail is at least 10 years and maybe 26 years old!!! It was time no matter..after a nights sleep we raised the main and could see the sail did not tear but a seam did let go. Thats why I could not find it\u2026when I raised the sail it stretched out and closed at the seam\u2026oh well.<\/p>\n Why we were in Lake Worth we wanted to meet up with fellow Pentagon Sailing Club Members Bruce & Rhonda (The Norm) who are the only other couple from the club cruising full time. It was a brief but fun visit!!!<\/p>\n We moved the 9 miles up to North Lake Worth to visit our friend Mims. She recently relocated from Charleston to Palm Beach so had to stop and see her new diggs!<\/p>\n Mims and the ever handsome Tommy. <\/p>\n This Snapper and I had a real face-off, he lost though when I ate him\u2026he was good.<\/p>\n Going back to the sail\u2026it happens one of the largest sail lofts on the east coast is in Stuart, FL. A mere 20 miles up the ICW. We made arrangements to have our current sail repaired and commissioned a new sail constructed which will be shipped to meet us in Maryland in about 8 weeks. As you can see we had to move around a little to have the sail removed and then bent back on. All in all a painless experience. <\/p>\n Now the completely unexpected portion of the trip was meeting up once again with Al Watson (Kindred Spirit). Al is helping a friend Colin bring Colin\u2019s boat from Stuart to Savannah. So we will have a couple days on the ICW with and Al and Colin (Tortuga)!<\/p>\n Our friends Ted & Sally (Amici) were still in Marathon so a visit back was definitely in order. In addition we had the unexpected bonus of meeting up with Pat & Becky (Taurus). Seven Mile Bridge is one of the … Continue reading <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"