Dolphins! Photo courtesy of Fury Fan Jennifer Smith.

by Shayne Benowitz

Lately on the blog, I’ve been telling you guys about the new trips we’ve added to our roster. So far we’ve covered the Island Adventure and the Double Dip Snorkel Trip. Today, let’s talk dolphins! It’s always been exciting catching an unexpected glimpse of these playful porpoises while sailing to and from the reef. Although not guaranteed, it’s also not uncommon to spot a pod of dolphins on any Fury Water Adventure. What’s really exciting is that we now have a trip dedicated especially to watching dolphins splash around in the wild in their native habitat- Fury’s new Key West Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Trip.

Photo courtesy of Fury Fan David M. Barry.

With our new Dolphin Watch & Snorkel Adventure aboard our new Dolphin Cat, we’ll cruise out through the Gulf of Mexico to the dolphin playground. Here, our expert captains know the best spot to catch sight of these majestic mammals. The blue-green waters of the Gulf are characterized by mangrove islands and shallow sand flats, which are ideal for dolphins nesting and feeding. If you’ve never seen a dolphin in the wild, it’s just something you have to experience for yourself! And if you have, well, you know what I mean! Dolphin sightings never fail to get our passengers on their feet oohing and ahhing as they watch these beautiful creatures.

Once you’ve gotten a good glimpse at dolphins at play, we’ll whisk you to the patch coral reef and sponge gardens of the Gulf of Mexico where you can cool off in the shallow waters and swim with wild abandon just like the dolphins you witnessed! Our crew will get you set up with snorkel equipment so you can discover even more marine animals underwater. Keep your eyes peeled for conch shells, sea urchins, and maybe even a stingray!

Photo Courtesy of Fury Fan April Bristol Walls.

If you’re a nature lover and want to learn more about the ocean’s ecosystem firsthand, this is absolutely the trip for you! At Fury, we’re very proud to offer this finally offer this unique experience. See you soon and don’t forget to send us pictures!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crew member and freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter @ShayneBenowitz.

Fury Girl in action at Blue Heaven.

By Shayne Benowitz

The email came in Thursday morning from Comcast’s Keys Information Station: “Are you available this weekend to be our host for the Key West Food & Wine Festival?” I had to think fast.

I decided to get my shifts covered, give it a go, and eat, drink, and be merry in front of the camera all weekend long. I have some performing/on-camera experience, and I’ve definitely tuned into channel 5 and wondered how I could get one of those gigs. I have to admit, it was kind of a dream job.

Bess & Harry Truman greeting attendees at the Little White House.

I arrived to the Truman Little White House Friday evening for the Grand Wine Tasting. It was absolute bacchanalia! Harry and Bess Truman directed us to their special double barrel bourbon whiskey (apparently that was Truman’s drink of choice). The front yard was lined with tables full of wine, bread and cheese, and canapés. I had a wonderful time interviewing winemakers and revelers alike, and of course sampling all there was to offer!

We moved on to Azur’s Spanish-themed street party next. They had amazing food on the grill such as giant prawns, sausages, and quail, as well as a delectable Mediterranean spread. The highlight was a giant wine cask to pour your drinks from!

Saturday afternoon was coconut bowling at Blue Heaven. The vibe was Key West laid back and cool for this quirky sport. There were coconut cocktails and a coconut cook-off to raise money for the Wesley House. Fantasy Fest royalty abounded, and I interviewed the reigning king and a former queen.

Coconut bowling at Blue Heaven.

I took a quick nap and then hit Duval Uncorked. We visited bars, inns, and galleries, all pouring wine and specialty cocktails. The Tropical Garden Inn featured a pastry chef with champagne infused cheesecake. It was absolutely decadent!

The grand finale was Sunday night at the Westin Resort & Marina for the premiere Master Chefs Classic, a fundraiser for the Marc House. It was nice to be in familiar Fury territory! We interviewed a few chefs, and then grabbed a wine glass and plate to dig in. I have to say, Latitudes at Sunset Key won the blue ribbon in my book. They had an amazing tuna amuse bouche, wagyu beef, and a guava pot de crème with blood orange caviar. The flavors and their presentation were superlative.

Overall, it was such a fun weekend with lots of wine, food, and conversations! The footage should be up and running on channel 5 within a few weeks, and will be running throughout the year from Key West to Key Largo, so next time you’re in town, tune in and look for me! Or, just swing by the Westin and find me on the docks before your next big water adventure with Fury!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories visit her at web.me.com/shaynebeth and follow her at twitter.com/ShayneBenowitz.

The Key West Fury being lifted out of the water.

By Shayne Benowitz

Fresh starts and new beginnings in the New Year… This can meet a lot of different things to a lot of people. At Fury, we’re sprucing up our fleet with a rotating schedule of yard work and Coast Guard inspections.

Inside Nicole’s office is a huge dry erase board with a grid featuring all ten of our boats. The chart keeps us on top of inspections, certifications, etc for all of our vessels.

The clock hardly struck midnight ushering in 2011 before Fly Girl came out of the water. The Key West parasail crew spent a week in the yard waxing, bottom painting, and performing routine maintenance on the old girl.

Marius in the yard with Fly Girl.

Next up was the Key West Fury. I’ve spent my fair share of time in the yard for both the catamarans and the parasail boats, and those massive 65’ catamarans are quite an undertaking. The boat has to be lifted out of the water using a giant crane. This time around, the mast also had to be removed for inspection.

Key West Fury.

In the yard, the more hands on deck the better. Captains Chuck and Steve have been laboring hard with their crew all the while Boss Man Bubba Marius has been keeping everyone on task. The deck is being repainted along with most of the interior, as well as the bottom and the hull. The crew has been waxing, sanding, scraping, priming, painting, acetoning, etc, etc.

Right now, we’re ahead of schedule, and the Key West Fury should be back in the Westin Marina by tomorrow afternoon. More haul outs and inspections are scheduled for the next month ensuring all our vessels are in tip top condition and at their sparkling finest for all of you to enjoy. Speaking of which, an afternoon Reef & Rita snorkel trip sounds pretty good right about now!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories visit her at web.me.com/shaynebeth and follow her at twitter.com/ShayneBenowitz.

Cory performing on the Commotion.

by Shayne Benowitz

Chad, our senior catamaran mate, said it best Monday night aboard the Commotion, Fury’s official Key West Sunset Sail with Live Music, “In Key West, we are spoiled when it comes to live music.” It’s true, so many bars and restaurants are filled with the sounds of musicians day and night. After a while, us locals start to take it for granted. When I first moved to Key West, live music was one of my favorite things about this island. Whether it was breakfast at Blue Heaven, lunch at Hog’s Breath, happy hour at the Conch Farm, or late night at Sloppy Joe’s, I loved to hear a band play.

My parents made a trip down for Fourth of July weekend, and everywhere we went, they were enchanted by the live music offerings. After a day trip to the Dry Tortugas, we headed to Bobalu’s for pizza. We almost sat inside until my dad heard the sounds of live music at the bar outside, so we grabbed a table there. A trio was performing a great set of eclectic covers ranging from the Rolling Stones to Tom Petty to Sublime. My parents were in heaven.

Fury Girl's dad outside the Green Parrot.

The Green Parrot is a bastion for great live music, and over Fourth of July the Spam All Stars performed. They’re just one of the bands that bring the locals out in droves to jam out to their fusion of latin, funk, groove, and hip-hop. We had a great time and my mom was a dancing queen!

This was the first year I’ve taken the Fourth of July off, and we enjoyed the fireworks from the Southernmost House where my parents were staying. Stephen showed up just in time with four pairs of 3D fireworks viewing glasses that we passed out on the boats that night. I have to admit, I was a little skeptical—after all, fireworks are already 3D, right?—but they were actually pretty cool!

Fireworks!

For my parents’ final night on the island, we rocked out the Commotion on the Ocean. Monday night, is a series of guest musicians and Cory and the band get a break. This was a trio with a female vocalist, and they performed some great covers by Johnny Cash, Sheryl Crow, and Etta James, to name a few. The evening was slightly overcast, but the sun peeked out at the last minute, a bright pink ball through the clouds, and it was absolutely beautiful.

Gorgeous sunset.

We grabbed a bite to eat at the Sunset Pier when the boat returned to the dock, and were greeted by more music. My parents got up and danced to the crooning of classic love songs performed by a solo artist with a soulful voice. It was a pleasure to have my parents in town and hear all of Key West’s great music with a pair of fresh ears.

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

Fireworks out at sea.

by Shayne Benowitz

This summer has certainly chugged along at a quick speed. It’s hard to believe that this weekend is the Fourth of July! At Fury, we’re definitely gearing up for a busy and festive weekend.

As usual, our docks will be humming with parasailing every hour, snorkel trips, the Ultimate Adventure, and sunset sails. But Sunday night, we’ve got one additional trip in the lineup. What better place to view a spectacular firework display than on the water?

Directly after our sunset trips return to the docks at 8:30pm, we’ll be loading up to view the fireworks at sea. All four of our catamarans, the Caribbean, Key West, Pacific, and Atlantic, will be put to use, so there’s plenty of spots available, but they will sell out fast. Book now!

The trip will include all you can drink beer, wine, champagne, sodas, and water, as usual. We’ll also have a great snack and appetizer spread. Come party with Fury on the Fourth. I can’t think of a better way to spend Independence Day!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

Ryan and Ashleigh and their first dance.

by Shayne Benowitz

It was a decidedly balmy evening as former Fury check-in dude Ryan Schmedeman wed Ashleigh Cline (parasail mate Justin’s sister) at the idyllic Southernmost House. The intimate ceremony was conducted with the placid waters of the Atlantic as the backdrop. Parasail mate Stephen was amongst the groomsmen in handsome tan suits and the bridesmaids looked pretty in mint green confections.

The wedding party smiles on.

Of course, no one was as lovely as the blushing bride in her gorgeous, frothy gown, and Mr. Schmedeman was positively beaming. I sat with Scotty, Meredith, and Andrew during the ceremony, and everyone was thrilled for the couple!

Next, it was cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres along the pool. The food was great and the mood was very festive as friends and family mingled.

We moved to the dinner tables along the ocean’s edge where the father of the bride and the best man gave their toasts. Ryan thanked everyone for coming and then we feasted! It wasn’t long before the party moved to the dance floor and everyone cut loose. The bride tossed her bouquet. The groom threw the garter. And before we knew it, the after party was in full swing at the Green Parrot.

It was wonderful to see Ryan and Ashleigh so happy. We only wish we could see them more often now that they live up the road in Hollywood. Today, they chose a Fury charter to celebrate their post-wedding brunch. And the honeymoon destination? A little gallivanting around Europe! Perfect. Congratulations Ryan and Ashleigh!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

by Shayne Benowitz

In Key West we are famous for our spectacular Key West sunsets, but a full moon is something to howl at and tonight is the night! Fishermen are excited to reel in a prime catch and parties are popping up all over Duval Street. Of course, Fury’s got you covered with a rocking good party at sea. When the Commotion on the Ocean returns to the dock tonight at the Ocean Key House, our crew will be ready for a quick turnaround. If you’re up for a sizzling Full Moon Party be there at 8:30pm to snag a spot.

It should be a clear night with nothing but the light of the moon and the twinkling stars shining down on the dark ocean. It promises to be a great party with music spinning and tasty drinks flowing! A full moon only happens once a month, so you’ve got to celebrate.

Local’s Tip: When the boat gets back to the dock, head up Duval Street to Bagatelle where they’ll be partying late into the night on the back deck!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

A pristine day on the water.

by Shayne Benowitz

Memorial Day Weekend marks the official start of summer, and in Key West we’re gearing up for a thriving season. The weather has been absolutely stunning over the last week and the forecast through the weekend looks bright and beautiful with highs projected in the mid- to upper-80s.

Our captains’ reef reports have come back boasting 80 feet of visibility and flat, calm conditions. The reef is absolutely thriving with colorful parrotfish, yellowtail snapper, and schools of blue tangs, just to name a few. The water temperature is also at refreshing perfection. Nothing beats a cool dip in the ocean on a hot, steamy day.

A school of yellowtail greet you at the reef.

Over at Adventure Island on the gulf side, the sandy seafloor with beds of seagrass is easily visible from the deck of our parasail boats creating breathtaking colors in shades of electric blue, aquamarine, and deep green. Needless to say, the views from 300 feet up in a parachute are unparalleled. Over the last week we’ve spotted sea turtles surfacing, dolphins frolicking, and even stingrays leaping in the shallow flats.

Parasailing!

I have to say, there is no prettier time of day in Key West than at sunset no matter where you are on the island. My advice is not to miss a single sunset during your stay. I’ve marveled at it during evening runs along the beach or walking my dog along the harbor. Catch the spectacle at Mallory Square at least once. And definitely join us aboard a Fury catamaran on one of our Key West sunset cruises. From the rockin’ party of the Commotion to the Key West snorkeling sunset combo of the Rum & Reggae, there’s definitely a trip for you.

A beautiful sunset at sea.

We are eager to enjoy a spectacular summer season perfect for water activities, so throw your bathing suit on, slather on the SPF, and hit the water with us! See you soon!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

Marius, Nicole, and Westy compete.

by Shayne Benowitz

This weekend marked the 13^th Annual Key West Paddleboard Classic, and the second year that Fury’s own Captain Westy has headed the event. Over 150 paddlers descended for the 12 mile race around the island, nearly doubling the turnout from the previous year.

Westy makes his way to the start line.

This was also the first time a couple of other Fury paddling enthusiasts threw their boards into the race: our cruise ship liaison extraordinaire, Nicole, and the boss-man-bubba himself, Marius. Saturday morning, the winds were unseasonably high creating challenging conditions for the race start at Smathers Beach and along the stretch from Fleming Key through Sigsby. However, Fury’s finest made it look easy. Becky and I followed the paddlers around the island, and at every checkpoint they were smiling and looking strong!

A few other Fury folk helped with the race logistics. Rob, Andrew, and Mr. Scott Saunders positioned themselves as support boats ensuring that the race ran smoothly.

Maruis finished strong in his stand-up paddle stock division placing 14^th with a time of 2:59:32 and Nicole finished ninth in ladies stand-up paddle stock at 3:49:16. Westy raced in the men’s 14’ stand-up paddle division and finished second place at 2:51:03.

Marius looking strong at Cow Key Channel.

Fury represented as a title sponsor and hosted two pros, EJ Johnson and Byron Kurt from Dana Point, California who led a paddling workshop the day after the race. There were also a couple of remarkable paddleboarders who used the race in Key West to kickstart some very long sojourns. Cynthia Aguilar will cross from Cuba to Key West on her paddleboard, a journey of 100 miles, to raise money for Make a Wish Foundation. In order to raise awareness of a plastic free ocean, as well as the sport of paddleboarding, Tom Jones set out from Key West the day after the race with his final destination New York City, a trek of nearly 1200 miles.

It was a fun weekend with pre-registration and the awards ceremony held at everyone’s favorite honky tonk saloon, Cowboy Bill’s. Westy did a great job organizing the race. He is very enthusiastic about the future of this fast-growing sport and the 12-mile classic in Key West. Hey, next year, maybe Fury Girl will give it a whirl!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.

Fury Girl testing out the new inflatable.

by Shayne Benowitz

If you’re one of our loyal customers who simply must rock the Ultimate Adventure every time you come to town, you’ll notice a few new elements on your next trip. Most notably, we’ve got a brand new inflatable toy that’s all the rage. Of course, the classic iceberg rock-climbing wall and water trampoline are still there. This new inflatable is part slide, part jungle gym, and a whole lot of fun!

Swim to one side of the toy and you’ve got bouncy stairs with straps to climb to the peak. Once you’ve reached the summit, it’s time to slip and slide back into the refreshing Gulf of Mexico. At the center of the toy, you can climb inside a giant triangle-shaped float and swing around like a monkey or just relax in the shade. In the week that it’s been floating around Adventure Island, it’s definitely been a hit amongst our customers and the crew.

Monkeying around!

You might also notice that the location of Adventure Island has shifted about a quarter mile northeast. This new spot repositions and expands the jet ski zone. You’ve also got a brand new sand flat to explore on our new ocean kayaks. As always, the parasail boats will be zooming around to send you sky high! And of course, the Ultimate Adventure wouldn’t be complete without a trip seven miles south to the stunning coral reef. The water is warming up, and soon those wetsuit rentals will be obsolete!

The conditions this week have been spectacular with a warm sea breeze and lots of sunshine. It’s definitely time for a trip to Key West. And don’t forget, the Ultimate Adventure includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all you can drink! See you soon!

Shayne Benowitz is a Fury crewmember and freelance writer. For more travel stories and a daily dose of what’s cool around the globe visit her Wanderlust Website at http://web.me.com/shaynebeth.