The tide came up faster than anticipated and we left Burnt Store Marina a bit before 10 AM. You can see the marina fading into the horizon. Meanwhile, "Bo" our Monitor Windvane is happy happy happy. And the trolling pole has been summoned into action.
I'm proud of us -- we had a fabulous sail across Charlotte Harbor, but the minute we turned south, the wind went south (forecast was for east). :( Our new mantra is we're going where the wind blows us. Wind on the nose is acceptable only if it's really light. But the knot or two of current against us made us decide to drop the anchor at Useppa Island - only 12 miles from when we started.
BUT, we had front row seats for the afternoon dolphin show -- several dolphins played all around us for a couple of hours. Feeding frenzy -- tossing fish into the air. The birds were going NUTS trying to intercept or crash dive for the dolphins fish. Unfortunately, it's one of those cruising experiences that just doesn't lend itself to great photos.
BUT, we had front row seats for the afternoon dolphin show -- several dolphins played all around us for a couple of hours. Feeding frenzy -- tossing fish into the air. The birds were going NUTS trying to intercept or crash dive for the dolphins fish. Unfortunately, it's one of those cruising experiences that just doesn't lend itself to great photos.
A cormorant takes flight after missing the dolphin's fish yet again...
It's going to be cool tonight so I baked an Easy Veggie Pie -- well, ours was a casserole because I don't have a pie pan aboard Winterlude. The oven heated up the cabin nicely and the meal was delicious.
Unfortunately, while dinner was baking, a boat came in behind us to anchor. To be kind, we'll refrain from mentioning the boat's real name, but you can call it "Mayhem Like Me" -- you know, the commercial where the guy is a disaster? They came in and threw out maybe 20 feet of chain in 12 feet of water. It wouldn't have been so bad except this boat is a powerboat and has about 10 feet of freeboard. Naturally, the anchor didn't set and they kept dragging back to the mangroves. So they pulled up the anchor and kept coming closer and closer to our stern, dropping the anchor again. They never did get the main anchor to hold, and their snubber line fell off, so they decided to do what any seasoned boater would do and rather than feed out more scope, they motored sideways and tossed over a tiny tiny danforth type anchor on line. I guess this is called a Bahamian anchor? YIKES! But they were incredibly immaculate -- during the hour plus anchor drill, they shop vac'd up whatever mess was on the bow twice.
Oh dear, all I can say is I'm glad the wind is forecast to go NORTH with a stalling cold front and be very light. They'll be beside us & hopefully the wind will stay light as forecast so no more mayhem develops! YIKES! David told me to write down the name of the boat so we will avoid them at ALL costs going south!
I know that's not very nice, and they might not be inclined to buy my cookbook, but ... mayhem is mayhem! :)
Keep your fingers crossed for the forecast winds from the North at 11 to hold tomorrow -- should be a great sail!
Unfortunately, while dinner was baking, a boat came in behind us to anchor. To be kind, we'll refrain from mentioning the boat's real name, but you can call it "Mayhem Like Me" -- you know, the commercial where the guy is a disaster? They came in and threw out maybe 20 feet of chain in 12 feet of water. It wouldn't have been so bad except this boat is a powerboat and has about 10 feet of freeboard. Naturally, the anchor didn't set and they kept dragging back to the mangroves. So they pulled up the anchor and kept coming closer and closer to our stern, dropping the anchor again. They never did get the main anchor to hold, and their snubber line fell off, so they decided to do what any seasoned boater would do and rather than feed out more scope, they motored sideways and tossed over a tiny tiny danforth type anchor on line. I guess this is called a Bahamian anchor? YIKES! But they were incredibly immaculate -- during the hour plus anchor drill, they shop vac'd up whatever mess was on the bow twice.
Oh dear, all I can say is I'm glad the wind is forecast to go NORTH with a stalling cold front and be very light. They'll be beside us & hopefully the wind will stay light as forecast so no more mayhem develops! YIKES! David told me to write down the name of the boat so we will avoid them at ALL costs going south!
I know that's not very nice, and they might not be inclined to buy my cookbook, but ... mayhem is mayhem! :)
Keep your fingers crossed for the forecast winds from the North at 11 to hold tomorrow -- should be a great sail!
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