Foiled!

From: Sarasota Bay Abchorage MM 78.4

To:         Lemon Bay Anchorage MM 44.5

Odometer: 46.5

Latt:         27 56 88 N

Long: 82 21 66 W

Weather: Partly sunny; high 80 low 67; E@15 knots, diminishing to 10 knots in the evening

Comment: An early start (haul the anchor and be underway at 0630) was part of today’s plan. Unfortunately, Mr. Murphy (Murphy’s Law) decided to rear his ugly head. The anchor chain jammed in the windlass; it wouldn’t retrieve or pay out the chain. Prodding with the screw driver and a few hacks with the hammer didn’t help. Removing the motor brought quick success. We were underway by 0645!

The next part of the plan was to motor sail out Big Sarasota Pass (the Sarasota Inlet) and sail to Boca Grande Pass (50 miles) and then motor the rest of the way to Cayo Costa. 

Big Sarasota Pass frequently shoals. The channel marks are uncharted. They are spread out far enough that finding them was a challenge. We did make it to the Gulf and had one more sand bar to cross. Before trying to find the final set of marks, we noticed that the wind was blowing at about 15 knots out of the SE, just the direction we were heading. If we have to motor, we might as well do it on the inside. So, we motored sailed back to the bay... more time wasted!

We missed the opening for the first bridge by seconds. Our luck was not to change for the entire day!

The day was unusual in other ways too. A power boat, throwing a large wake, passed us with all hands vigorously waving hello. We don’t wave back at boaters who throw  huge wakes. Anna Marie made a motion suggesting that the skipper slow his craft. Apparently he was insulted as he flipped the bird at us! To date, no west coast boater had offered a courteous “slow pass.” Is courtesy on the water and “east coast” thing?

  

By 1530, we had the hook down in Lemon Bay. We covered 44.5 miles in 8 3/4 hours.