Day 139 - February 17, 2013: On to an anchorage in Hobe Sound

We spent part of the day just being lazy, watching the Sunday morning news shows and some basketball. We were hoping the 24 knot wind gusts would die down enough to get a few more miles north. Finally, at 4:00 pm, we decided it was a go and headed for Hobe Sound, just beyond Jupiter.

The ICW is connected to the Atlantic periodically by "cuts," which are navigable openings between them. Some of these are river outlets, but some have been cut through purposefully by the government to allow ships easier access into ports. In either case, most require periodic dredging to keep the required depth. As we passed the Jupiter Inlet, we saw the lighthouse that is maintained here to assist vessels in navigation to the port. Because this inlet is narrow, it is subject to very high currents during tide reversals, and small craft boaters are warned to be very cautious when using it.

Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse

One thing I noticed right away was that for the first time since we entered the Atlantic ICW in the Keys, the shores here were quite a bit higher than the water level. As a result, the homes enjoy some protection from hurricane flooding and a better view of the bay.

The high ground around Hobe Sound

We pulled into our anchorage, Sand Bar, just before sunset and found good depth and a good sand bottom for anchoring. The sand bar just off the point was giving some protection from currents. As always when anchoring, there are uncertainties and we were encouraged that Great Laker would hold in these winds.

Sand Bar Anchorage