S/V Barefoot: Winter Cruise Begins

November 3, 2012

On November 1 we left Twin Dolphin Marina and made the short trip down the Manatee River and across Tampa Bay to Egmont Key where we anchored for the night. Egmont, while not an ideal anchorage, allows us to get a easy early start the next day. George and Jane from Happy Hours (IP44) joined us in the anchorage for a lunch hook.

Up at dark-30 (3:45AM) the next day to prepare for departure down the coast to Boca Grande channel and Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa. Going outside down the coast takes us 12-13 hours so it requires an early start to get into the anchorage at Pelican Bay before dark. The alternative is to take the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) with its umpteen bridges, which takes 2-3 days - we much prefer the outside route. Incidently, right now one of those bridges (Siesta Key) is stuck in the down position until repair which effectively closes the inside route anyway.

We got underway around 5:30 AM and transited out of Tampa Bay via the SW Channel on an outgoing tide. The wind was forecast to be light from the NE and swinging to the NW in the afternoon - not a good wind to make it to Boca Grande under sail or mototsailing by dark. Fortunately we had light winds from the E all morning; not enough to sail alone, but giving us a delightlful motorsail.

We transited into Charlotte Harbor through the Boca Grande Channel on an incoming tide; favorable currents in our departure and arrival channels - wow! We anchored in Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa Island around 5:30 PM.

Pelican Bay is a favorite anchorage that we have been in many times before. Plan is to now 'chill' for a while after all the frantic activity of selling our house in Fayetteville and getting the boat ready for departure.

Tom
Pelican Bay
Cayo Costa Island
Map 2012-2013 Cruise

PS Some great pictures of our depature from Twin Dolphin Marina thanks to friends Eric & Gail of M/V Viking's Dream. You can't get pictures like these yourself. Thanks Eric & Gail!