Marathon - A Crossroads for Many

While Marathon seems to be a destination for many snowbirds, it is also merely a planned stop on the way to another location for many. The city marina has a “Buddy Board” posted where those who are heading to other destinations and seek some company can post their name or check to see if others are heading their way. This isn't for purely social reasons. Traveling by boat includes some danger and risks. The risk can be reduced if there are others traveling with you who could provide assistance if, for instance, your engine quit or you planned poorly on fuel and you ran out before reaching a source for refueling. Going into areas with shallow water can be tricky, but having another boat to assist if you run aground is also reassuring.

So I've checked on the Buddy Board from time to time to see where people are heading next. A number are heading to the West Coast of Florida, down to Key West or perhaps up to Miami and north. Most, however, seem to be heading to The Bahamas. This destination has several attractions: it's a foreign country a relatively short distance from the US; it offers really clear, warm water for snorkeling or diving; it also offers some beautiful beaches and scenic stops which we enjoyed last year for the first time.

                                         On a quiet beach in The Bahamas

But as close as it is, getting there can be a bit tricky. One must sail across the Gulf Stream. During the winter, fronts coming off North America often produce strong winds out of the north. Since the Gulf Stream flows in a northerly direction, these winds can produce large, dangerous seas. Therefore it is generally agreed that one does not proceed to The Bahamas when the winds have a northerly component. So wait for a calm day, you suggest. Actually, it's best to wait for a calm “weather window” of a few days. Many will leave Marathon and travel up the Keys on the first day and then jump off to cross the “Stream” on the second day. And then one must arrive at a port where one can check in with customs. While this can mean only a day trip to Bimini, it could also mean an overnight sail to some other port. It would be best to arrive when the sun is high, so the shallow channels can be negotiated safely. Navigational aids in The Bahamas are scarce and unreliable. The charts can never be one's sole source for such information, so one must be careful. Fortunately the water is so clear that the bottom is visible, and one can negotiate the shallower areas as long as the sun is high enough to minimize reflections.

As a result of all these challenges one must in getting to The Bahamas, many boaters end up waiting for one to three weeks or more for just the right weather window. While they are waiting, they often gather with several others with similar goals and work out joint plans for travel. The rest of the boaters hear about these meetings on the morning radio net when such a gatherings are organized.

While The Bahamas is the destination most are heading to at some point, others are working their way down to Cuba. Of course most US citizens know that this country is off limits for us. Not so for the rest of the world. Many of the boats here are from Canada with a sprinkling from Europe or even Australia. For all of these boaters, Cuba is an attractive destination only 90 miles south of Key West. The rest of us hope for a change in policy, so we too can explore our neighbor to the south. For that reason and others, one of the offerings here for boaters is a Spanish class specifically for cruisers (Perhaps I'll share some thoughts about this class in another blog.)

There's one more group among the boaters who come with plans to stay a short time before moving on. A few of these like it so much they never leave. We've met a few of them who talk about having come for a week...five years ago. Marathon can grow on you.

The result of all this is a great mix of cruisers who gather here for at least part of the winter. Such a mix provides for interesting perspectives on life which can be shared. It makes for a richer community here in Marathon for all of us spend time here.