Back home

An eventful day. Just after we left the dock we found that we do indeed have an engine problem. Started, but when I added throttle it didn't respond, and clanked. I shut it down. But there was a fresh breeze from the east, as forecast, so we felt we could sail home. We sailed through the last bridge on the south side of Tampa Bay easily, and crossed the bay in one Hou at hull speed. To avoid trying to sail in Pass a Grille against the wind, we opted for the official ICW route by the Skyway Bridge. By the time we reached the Pinellas side of the bay the wind was dying. We ghosted the length of the long channel paralleling the Skyway, but when we turned toward the Bayway it died entirely. No big surprise. The prevailing easterly wind here calms down at midday when the land heats up, and a seabreeze comes up from the west a couple hours later. That wasn't forecast today, but it happened anyway. While we were waiting for the afternoon wind I experimented with pulling the boat with the dinghy, rowing. See pic. It works, but we didn't go more that maybe 1/2 knot. A couple of passing powerboats kindly offered help, but we explained we were just killing time until the wind came up. After an hour, it did, but it gave us a one-mile beat to windward in a wide channel. We sailed through the Bayway "10 ct." bridge with apprehension but not much difficulty, and bore away for a nice reach through Boca Ciega Bay. When we reached the Corey Bridge, the wind was directly against us. Anywhere else we'd have just anchored and waited for a favorable wind, but we were only a half mile from home, so we gave it a go. We pulled our way through by hand along the bridge's fender. That was harder than I expected. Many of the boards on the fender were loose, and there was a bit of a current against us. But we worked together and finally pulled through, literally. Docking under sail was tricky but we got it done without tears or damage. And we were home.

Until today, our easiest cruise: fair winds mostly, fair skies every day, and enjoyable stops, some familiar, some new. Of course, it's today's adventures that we'll remember and talk about.

4-24 Cortez, again

We were up early and rode the bike 4 miles up Siesta Key to Mass. Good ride: cool, calm, good road with a bike lane. At the church was a plaque honoring the pastor in 1998, Fr. Claude Brubaker, whom I remember as the first principal of my high school, Christopher Columbus in Miami. That was the school's first year, 1958-59. I remember Fr. Brubaker well, and favorably. Miami was growing very fast in those days. I attended four different newly - opened schools, including Columbus.

Anyway, after church we rode back to the boat where S fixed a fine big breakfast: fruit, juice, eggs, pancakes and coffee, finally getting underway at about 11 for a 21-mile run up the waterway. Again today, the contrary wind direction dictated a powering day rather than sailing. I customarily cruise at about 2500 rpm but found yesterday that the engine runs smoother at a faster rate of 2800 to 2900. This afternoon, after steadily running at  that speed for four hours, we needed to slow down suddenly (got out of the channel). The engine coughed and clunked when I slowed it down, then didn't want to rev back up when I applied power. I shut it down, checked the oil and  transmission fluid and the fuel supply- everything normal. We let it cool off for 10-15 minutes and it ran normally when I restarted it. Finished the day's run at slow speed. No idea what the problem was unless it was overheated and there was no alarm or sign of that.

We are back at the Sesfood Shack dock at Cortez. Probably home tomorrow. Wind forecast east at 10. Will be good sailing if true.

4-23 to Siesta Key

Free coffee and doughnuts at Palm Island Marina this morning, then moved to their fuel dock and filled up: we burned 3 gallons of diesel in 9 days of cruising: boat gets better mileage under power than either of our cars.

No sailing today- wind NW at abt 10 kts, so we powered all day into the wind. 28 miles in 7.5 hrs.  Didn't mind the powering since we've been so lucky otherwise, and there is always something to see on the ICW.   

Wanted to get N of Venice to make tomorrow a shorter day, and the channel is so narrow that anchoring is difficult. But we found a little marina, Bayside Boat Works, at the right place, S end of Siesta Key. Barely deep enough approach for us to get in. Place has new owner since last fall, and a lot of construction going on. No facilities yet, not even restrooms, but it is appropriately inexpensive and gives us protection from the NW wind.

Saw a sad sight today, a pretty steel schooner sunken in shallow water beside the channel. See picture. Don't think it has been there long.

Plan for tomorrow is ride the bike 4 mi. to Mass, so I put the bike together- takes only 8-9 minutes- to have it ready. There is a popular waterside restaurant next door, and we got a good dinner there.

4-22 Starting up the Intracoastal Waterway

Up anchor at 8:30 and out of Pelican Harbor with a strong SW wind. Yes, that's right, now that we are heading north the wind came around to push us along. Nothing like perfect wind and perfect skies to make a good cruise. It did rain a few drops last evening but we slept well with all the ports and hatches open.   We scooted across Charlotte  Harbor and Gasparilla Sound, and continued up the narrower waterway, still under sail and making such good time that we reached our destination, Palm Island Marina, by lunchtime. The afternoon was spent in their pool and jacuzzi, and doing laundry, and kicking back. The forecast is for lighter and possibly contrary winds, so we may have to power all or part of the time tomorrow, but still no rain expected.

4-21 to Pelican Harbor

Leaving Burnt Store at 9:30, we had a nearly straight shot 12 miles SW on a broad reach. One more day of strong fair winds. Our destination was an anchorage on the east side of Cayo Costa. We've been by it but never stopped. The entrance to Pelican Bay is unmarked and narrow, with about six feet of depth, but once inside we had another couple of feet of water and we are completely protracted from winds or seas from any direction. It's a popular anchorage; as I write in the evening there are 28 boats here, but the harbor is 1/4 x 3/4 miles, so there is plenty of room. We were anchored by 12:30, and after lunch we took the dinghy ashore at the Cayo Costa State Park dock. Spooked a manatee by the dock. Didn't see it but it kicked up a huge swirl of water. We took the park's tram the one mile across the island to the Gulf side, a fine beach at Johnson Shoals. I took a swim- water surprisingly chilly for April. We walked the beach for a while, then back to the boat for reading, puzzling, and naps. At sundown all the boats sounded their horns. I was incorrect yesterday when I mentioned a full moon. It really is full tonight, rising just after sundown.

4-20-16 to Burnt Store, Punta Gorda

Slept well at our quiet anchorage and woke at 6:45 to the conversation of nearby fishermen. Dead calm, but by the time we finished breakfast  a breeze began from the east. There was plenty of water where we were, but when we raised the anchor we were aground within 50 yards. Got off easily. Once in Charlotte Harbor, we had about ten knots of wind on our beam and a gorgeous sail north. We sailed past Burnt Store Marina, on the eastern shore of Charlotte Harbor, but didn't stop because we were enjoying the sail so much to stop. The wind eventually became shifty and lighter, so we headed in to one of the largest marinas in Florida. Never been here before. A large development of fairly expensive homes, with a golf course and the usual other stuff, but centered on the marina. It was early in the day so we dressed out and put the bike together for a ride. Rode around the area for an hour at an easy pace; good for us to get off the boat and stretch our legs. After a cocktail hour aboard, had an excellent dinner at the adjacent restaurant.

Got to mention the weather. We had a few drops of rain a week ago, but the temperature each day on this cruise haspoises been around 80 for a high, with nights in the 60's. And we have had five consecutive days now of fair winds. Just about perfect weather. A spectacular sky today- see picture. Big full moon this evening- no pic, you know what the moon looks like.

Lots of porpoises around here; even more than at home.

We are having just the greatest time.

4-19 Matlacha Pass

Our dock was fully exposed to the NE wind, so it made for a noisy night. My fault; I knew better and should have insisted on a spot on the downwind side. We slept well, though, not getting up until nearly 8 o'clock. After breakfast we made our way out to the ICW, among about a dozen identical 28-foot boats from the sailing school at Captiva. They had a good sailing day and so did we, heading south on a beam reach. We turned east toward Ft Myers and then once clear of the south end of Pine Island headed north up through Matlacha Pass. We'd never been that way before and few boats go there except people fishing. The channel goes through a National Wildlife Refuge and feels wild and remote, but navigating is a challenging slalom and south of the Pine Island bridge there are spots with only 3-4 feet of water even at high tide. We made it through without hitting bottom. We found a good anchorage south of where it opens up into Charlotte Harbor, outside the channel and in the lee of a mangrove island. A fun day with many contrasts.

4-18 to Captiva

Even though the wind blew strongly overnight, by the time we set out it had died down to about 8 - 10 knots and we shook out yesterday's reef and had a relaxing sail south in Pine Island Sound. We docked at Tween Waters on Captiva Island, which we had visited one time before. The entrance channel is very shallow and narrow, but we managed to get in without running aground. After lunch we assembled the tandem bike and set out on a ride which was shortened by mechanical problems. Whatever was causing the strange jerky resistance in the cranks, the symptom suddenly went away, so we still don't know what the problem was. We picked up our backpacks and rode to a nearby small store for a few grocery items, and returned to the boat for cocktails and dinner aboard.

4-17 to Cabbage Key

We were up early to row ashore and walk to Boca Grande's tiny but beautiful church for Mass. Some robber baron tarpon fisherman must have been a generous donor. Back aboard, we had a leisurely pancake breakfast before heading out the bayou into Charlotte Harbor. In the channel we immediately fazed a strong wind and confused chop. But once set the sails and bore away on the course across the bay, it was a fast and fun sail with a reefed main and working jib. We were docked at Cabbage Key by 4 o'clock. Walked their nature trail and climbed the old water tower. They still have several large gopher tortoises we'd remembered from previous visits. We had an excellent dinner ashore and slept well despite the boat slip putting us stern to a strong wind for most of the night.

Our eldest son is 50 today!

4-16 to Boca Grande

Woke to a moderate northeast breeze but we were well sheltered inside so I assumed it would be stronger outside in the Gulf. We retraced the last mile of yesterday's route and after powering out Venice Inlet we raised sails and headed south in the Gulf, staying a half mile or so offshore. Started with main and genoa but were soon overpowered and put a reef in the main. After that we had a gorgeous sail, 26 nautical miles in 5 hours to Boca Grande pass. In a boat that mathematically shouldn't go over 5 kts
Sandy got bounced around below pretty badly trying to fix lunch but otherwise it was a magnificent sailing day, a constant beam reach in 10 to 20 knots of wind. Carina is heavy and slow, but when the wind kicks up she is a joy. Cloudy and in the high 70s. Once we threaded the needle into the deep water of Boca Grande Pass we faced about the worst chop I have ever seen. I am glad we opted to drop the sails before we reach to the narrow spot rounding the tip of Gasparilla Island. One more hour under power took us into the harbor of Boca Grande and nestled into a well-protected anchorage. The photo is the Boca Grande Lighthouse. The matching building housed the lighthouse keeper and his family until about thirty years ago.

4-15 to Venice

Not much adventure today; Intracoastal Waterway to Venice. 7 hrs, 90 pct under power. Wind forecast was E but here on the water it was S: on our nose. Front coming thru: forecast is NE 10-15 tomorrow so we may go outside and reach for Boca Grande. Docked at a marina we've visited before but which was out of bus. for a while. Venice is a good inlet and nice harbor but few facilities and too shallow outside the channel to anchor, so we feel lucky to have a spot. Excellent spaghetti dinner at Chez Sandy. Rain forecast today but fewer drops than fingers on my hand. Why do we rely on weather forecasts?

4-14 to Cortez

10:30 cast off, contrary wind until middle of Boca Ciega Bay, then a nice sail to Pass a Grille, where the wind took its afternoon siesta. Powered until westerly sea breeze came up off Egmont Key. Beautiful sail across Bay. Mostly sunny, not too hot. Docked at Seafood Shack by Cortez bridge, where we got a well protected inside slip. Cocktails aboard , and then an excellent dinner at the restaurant. First night usually hard sleeping but we slept well. A light rain during the night. Cool, cloudy Friday a.m. S says not enough wind to spit at. Poor choice of words, I think.

4-11-16 Ready to Cruise again

We plan to leave Thursday for a leisurely cruise south, probably no further than Sanibel Island. Carina is nice and clean (even the bottom) and the brightwork is oiled and presentable. Weather forecast is iffy for the first couple of days; when isn't it? We'll probably be back home in less than two weeks. Here'S a picture before we get her dirty again.