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We are underway at 0730 after a pleasant evening. Despite the very strong current, “SUNSHINE” was well behaved in the anchorage, even though the wind picked up in the wee early morning hours.
The highlight of the day occurred at 0908 hours, when we observed four manatees working their way south in the ICW! Our on board gauge measured the water temperature at 67 degrees Fahrenheit, probably a bit cold for them. We hope they get south quickly!
We estimated their speed to be about three miles per hour. We radioed the boats behind us to keep a sharp eye out for them. We were doing about 6 mph and it was easy to see the manatees from about one-half mile out. All the cruisers we observed kept their distance and crept by at idle speed. One motor yacht wanted to know the manatees’ exact position and, after receiving the coordinates, realized he was three mile past them. I guess they're not so obvious when you’re cruising along at 15 knots. I can’t imagine how any gnats (our nickname for small speed boats) traveling at speeds in excess of 25 mph could see them. It’s no wonder manatees get prop scars!
We see dolphins regularly throughout the day. This morning, several graced us with a performance right out
of Marineland! They jumped clear out of the water on several occasions and spouted and snorted with impunity. It was quite a morning show. We dropped the hook in Daytona Beach for the evening. We relaxed with cocktails, enjoyed burgers straight off the barbie, and had a very relaxing evening. After sundown, the wind picked up as it has for the last week or so. I expect we’ll see a steady 15 to 20 knots before dawn.
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