Daytona Beach to Lake Worth

1.27.11 Thursday 1.28.11 Friday 

Still 50 degrees but it’s early yet and I get the dinghy back aboard and tied down.  Start stowing gear for a little sailing (hopefully) offshore and down the Florida coast.  Breeze is light from the Northwest as I head out at just after 9.  Had to swing by the fuel dock and toss the key on the dock as no one responded on the VHF.  They normally have someone with a long net to retrieve the key as you drive by, nice system as the fuel dock is a long walk all the way around the marina.  By 10 it’s up to 60 degrees and by 11 I make the turn towards Ponce de Leon inlet.  I’ve cleared the breakwater by 11:15 and clip in to get the sail cover and ties off, shackle in the halyard and hoist the main.  Breeze is still light so I power up and sheet the main hard to slow down the roll.  By 6 o’clock I’m at “The Bull”, # 8 bouy off shore and the breeze is now WSW at 10-12 so the jib goes out, centerboard down and the engine is shut off, nice and quiet for my close reach down the coast.  By 9 pm the wind has increased to 15 plus and gone a bit more west so I’m now sailing at 7 knots, really sweet.  I keep working up closer to the coast to shorten the distance and by 5 am I’m rocking right past Fort Pierce Inlet, one of my choices to cut back in, nah.  At 6 am I pass inside the St. Lucie shoal and I’m headed right to Lake Worth inlet.  The breeze has dropped down to about 10 knots as the sun rises lighting the sky with a series of pink back lighted clouds on the horizon, welcome to south Florida.  Speed is way down in the dieing breeze so it’s engine on at 11 and the jib gets rolled up.  You have to love roller furling, makes the foredeck uninhabited for the most part which is a very good thing at night offshore.  At a little after noon I’ve cleared the inlet where a huge dredge is working the south side of the channel.  Into the Rivera Marina where I tie up to stage for the crossing to the Bahamas.  Only thing I forget is the centerboard which I discover is fully down and won’t let me turn in front of the marina, whoops.  No damage done but do carve a little trail in the bottom visible easily in the clear water, hope I didn’t bonk a manatee.  Here I am at the end of a long intercoastal voyage. MM1018

I’m here and the Tiki Bar is calling but much to do to prepare for the next phase of my cruise to the Bahamas.  The aft locker and lazzerette are totally emptied and the hose comes out to do a total douche of everything to desalt.  The boat is piled with gear, hard to believe all this stuff fits with room to spare.  Not only the lines and bumpers but 2 more anchors and rode (I carry 4 setups), brushes and boat hooks, BBQ, more line, paddles, spare hoses, cushions, battens, etc., etc.; you get the idea.  My friend Joe is in Florida for a job and contacts me, he’s to arrive the following day; oh goodie, more help with a project or two.  OK now it’s time for the Tiki Bar and a shower, bar first while my mess dries out.  After a bucket of rum punch, I forgo the shower and head back to crash, after all I’ve been up for over 36 hrs; lookin’ good Billy Ray.