Miami to Pumpkin Key

Saturday March 12, 2011

After a long night's sleep and a quiet, unhurried breakfast we left Miami to the south, again on the ICW. Biscayne Bay opened up and we were able to stray off the path and let the autopilot take us south. No need to watch for other boats and depths left and right of the ICW. The bay is 10-11ft deep and very wide.
This was the first day we could actually put on our swimsuits and enjoy the ride on the bow seats. Very peaceful and relaxing, just hearing the water rush from the bow. We had time now to go slow and used the port engine at 1000 RPM, which gave us a consumption of 1.7 GpH and a speed of 5.4 kts. This resulted in a very good 3.17 mpG. At this speed and fuel flow, Sunny Days could theoretically travel 2500 nautical miles in calm seas, with a 20% fuel reserve!
A more realistic value would probably be 1100 RPM, 2.5 GpH at 5 kts (2 mpG) with some seas and wind. This would result in a range of 1600 miles with 20% reserve. But this is all dry theory until the fuel flows can be confirmed by comparing the fuel used indications with the fuel filled.
After the shortest trip ever, since we left Savannah, we arrived at Pumpkin Key at 3 p.m. and anchored on the lee side of the island. E winds at 15 kts. We were not the only ones.
Tonight there will be some meat on the grill, up on the flybridge. A premiere as well.
Just got an email from a worried friend, that the clocks will have to be changed to daylight savings time tonight. What would we do without good friends like these...?!
By the way, we tried the other anchor tonight, which is a Bruce type. Worked very well too. So we seem to have two good anchors on this boat.
Barbecue time now, I need to light the grille on the flybridge.
Plans for tomorrow: Don't know yet...!