Pensacola FL Sailing Blog - sailingnightwatch

 9:00 A.M. we are off across Apalachicola Bay and through St George Cut into the Gulf.  This is one of the areas in which the ICW leads you into open water.  The wind was less than 10 knots out of the east.  It was also hazy.  The wind was suppose to move through the southeast and on to the west and increase to 15 knots.  Perfect as long as it did not stay to the SE to long.  John reminds me that gentlemen do no go to weather. 

 Our goal was to make Clearwater between 24 and 30 hours.  The favorable breeze lasted about an hour, and began to die.  During that time we motored at reduced RPM but soon we were back to cruising RPM.  We pulled the main in tight and the staysail after rolling up the Yankee.  We stood 3 on, 3 off watches.  By the time my 2-5 A.M. watch rolled around, the Gulf was as flat as I had ever seen it.  For those of you who have never sailed the waters in the Big Bend area, the area is shallow and the seas are always lumpy.  3-4 foot seas with 4 second periods seem to be the norm.   The winds are generally light.

Clearwater has a new claim to fame.  From about Tarpon Springs south past Clearwater, the gulf is full of Crab Traps.  One of the individuals we met at the Clearwater Yacht Club said they are thick out past 10 miles. 

 The ICW in this part of Florida runs through old rivers and is a nature lover’s paradise.  There is no development for miles.  We were surprised by the lack of birds.  I did see a Buzzard and that was not until we got close to the coast and the return of the sea birds.  The area is something to behold.  On the negative side, we did see dead heads floating in Lake Wimico.  Both were in the main channel and the tops were pointed with us.  A power boat with speed could very easily have their hull punctured.  Care should be exercised when transiting the area.  

We have a winter front coming and I am in favor of making a break for Clearwater in the morning or we will be stuck here till Tuesday.  John is trying to get the short wave tuned to weather.  The weather on the VHF has been very consistent, but does not match the isobar forecasts.  In truth, it does not sound like we are going tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  We did, our family was together for 5 days, a first since they were freshmen in college.  I am back today, will post the final for Vets weekend and tomorrow I start moving my dock mates Krogan 38 to S FL.  Will be writing on the day to day movement and post when we find hot spots and have time.  Looking at taking 10 days. 

Speaking of tedious jobs. There is a 6’ passageway between the saloon and aft stateroom. It has 3 louvered doors, a cabinet door and a large removable section that exposes the port side of the engine. It also has the electrical panels in the space. I was able to sand off the large flat areas in no time. They are almost non-existent. There seemed to be more molding and tight corners to sand than anything. Well my beloved finished the insulation and got to fill a weekend hand sanding in small areas. She would do anything to keep from sanding louvered doors. That means I got to start on the louvered doors. The best method was wrapping a butter knife in 80 grit and sliding it between the louvers and giving it your best. There are 12 louvers top and bottom of each door and a louver took 10 to 15 minutes per side. Getting into the edges was the worst. For someone looking to build up the strength in there hands and wrists, this work will do it.