Well we are 12.5mi off the W tip of Cuba. We have following seas about 3 to 5 feet and light winds from directly behind us. We had hoped to be here early in the morning, but our 2 knot current push ended early yesterday morning. The result is our arrival in Key West now looks like Sunday morning rather than Saturday afternoon. I'm actually glad to be rounding here in the daylight because it's been dodge the tanker all night. Lots of traffic rounding the corner here. Being within 12 miles of land brings a big feeling of relief as this was the longest distance Alanui had ever been offshore. It was also one of our few trips without our best buddy boat, Paloma. It was a very different feeling being alone traveling the distances we have over the last few days. It affirms my opinion that buddy boating on long trips is very valuable. Of course getting everyone on the same page can be a challenge, but none the less there is no question its valuable to have someone to compare ideas and plans with and to have more eyes on the radar at night. A pleasant aspect of this trip has been the complete lack of small boat fisherman that plagued us the whole way down the west coast. Because most of the boats we passed were huge tankers we were able to operate the radar at 24 miles, which made for early course changes and generally favorable passing situations. Even with this we did encounter a boat last night that insisted on crowding us to within 2 miles. I much prefer 4 miles when the big boys are involved, but he kept trimming his course to maintain only 2 miles of passing room. Oh well, we are here to talk about it so I guess it's not too bad! We are going to moor at the Westin in Key West. I had talked to the Key West Yacht Club and they had space, but it seemed there was some concern about my 5 foot draft and an unusually low tide? Anyway, I will much prefer to be closer to downtown. We plan to wash the boat really well, change the oil, activate all my land based services (cell phone, TV, bank accounts.) and then head for Miami in 3 or 4 days. I'm going to have James Knight give the boat a once over then take it to Stuart where PAE will hopefully do some long overdue warranty service. Marian will fly back to FL in a few weeks and we will continue our journey north! We may make the 1st ever Nordhavn Rendezvous in Bristol R.I. this July. Some of you have offered slips and moorings along the way, THANK YOU!!! I've got a bit of sticker shock at slip prices here. Is Key West normal at $3.00 a foot? I'd think we will continue our average of anchoring out 50% of the time, but I better be careful to budget for some of the more expensive locations. I understand that East Coast boaters generally have high expectations for roll-free anchorages? Given 80% of our anchoring was in coastal bights and coves I think we will enjoy anchoring out more here. All along the Mexico and C.A. coasts we were advised to bring our dingy up every night, which we did (mostly). Do you find theft is less of an issue on the East Coast? Maybe I should join the Great Loop list as these questions may be more appropriate there. Oh, one last one so I'm not too far off topic. As we rounded the W tip of Cuba I came to a Inshore Traffic Zone. The inside or Northbound lane would have put me inside Cuban waters so I diverted (at great pain and suffering) around both lanes to make way for large ships, should they arrive. I'm now wondering if those lanes exist to promote safe transit around a very congested point and it would have been ok for me to transit inside them without being at risk of "entering Cuba". I read the Nav Rules and since my boat is less than 20 meters it appears to apply to Rule 10, Section (d)(i)? Anyway I went around the whole shebang and found a bit of helpful current so the net net was positive. I'm sure Mike will have comment! Thanks much, looking forward to arrival back in the U.S. of A.!!! Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA Motoring off the W tip of Cuba, bound for Key West

Scott, last time I was there you could anchor just off the Westin Hotel for free. Dingy privileges in the harbor cost a few dollars a day though. Hal > -----Original Message----- > From: passagemaking-under-power-bounces@lists.samurai.com > [mailto:passagemaking-under-power-bounces@lists.samurai.com] On Behalf > Of Scott E. Bulger > Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 07:10 > To: 'Passagemaking Under Power List' > Subject: [PUP] Alanui - Rounding the tip of Cuba > > . Is Key West > normal at > $3.00 a foot? I'd think we will continue our average of anchoring out > 50% > of the time, but I better be careful to budget for some of the more > expensive locations. I understand that East Coast boaters generally > have > high expectations for roll-free anchorages? Given 80% of our anchoring > was > in coastal bights and coves I think we will enjoy anchoring out more > here.