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.