Day 3 - In the Gulf!

Thursday, January 29, 2015 Day 3 - In the Gulf!

We raised the anchor at 0715 to give us time to motor over to the other side of the inlet where everyone else was anchored. Our planned 0730 departure got off a few minutes early since everyone was ready to go.

Once out in the Gulf, we found northeast winds of about 15 knots. The sea could best be described as confused. The wind and wave action demanded a firm hand on the wheel and each skipper had to anticipate each movement of the boat and counteract it with an opposite movement of the wheel. It was impossible to steer a straight course.

We found the going a bit easier closer to shore and things got even better when the wind backed to the north. Our stern was no longer being bashed around. It took about two hours for conditions to be somewhat tolerable. We certainly wouldn't want to travel for eight or ten hours in those conditions.

By 1030, we made it to Gordon Pass. Our timing was perfect. It was slack before ebb and the inlet was easily passable. It was great to be inside and in calm water. We traveled at 2900 rpm's doing 7+ mph. By 1230 hours, four Nomads were tied up in Rose Marina on Marco Island.

Eagle kept on course to make Port of Islands by late afternoon. Nimble 20, with our hosts Dick and Hope, bid farewell as we were pulling up our anchors this morning, leaving the five Nomads to brave the Gulf. That's two members of the fleet who have departed.

After we tied up, Barney asked how I rated the days travel on a scale of one to ten with ten being great. I gave it a five. Barney gave it a three. At dinner later in the day, the others rated it a five or six.

During lunch at the Tiki Bar adjacent to Rose Marina, Barney and Pat discussed their disappointment in the handling of the boat. They decided that tomorrow, they would rent a car, return to Fort Meyers to retrieve their truck and trailer, and upon return to Rose Marina, they would have Arthur Dent put on the trailer for their return to Fort Meyers, where they would put the boat up for sale. Barney suggested that he'd get a bigger boat to live aboard. He has no desire to go anywhere in it. 

We were all saddened by this turn of events. In just three days, our fleet of six Nimble's is down to just three. Each day, one boat has dropped out. We certainly wish Pat and Barney well.

Our plan to stop in Everglades City hit a snag as there are no available spots to tie up. We have decided to head for the Little Shark River, 58 miles distant, in the hopes of reaching Bahia Honda on Sunday. We are hoping for calm seas for sure.

Anna Marie still hasn't found a marina in Marathon that has space to accommodate us. We may just bounce around the Keys for the month!

Anchor Down and Rafter in the Little Shark River

The sun sets over the Little Shark River