MARCO ISLAND February 7, 2009

The Saturday dawned cloudy with a light wind. We were up by 7:30 and ready to fuel Catrina when the staff at Moss Marina arrived. We said good bye to our new friends Don and Kathy from Texas. They were going to sail with us but with a six foot draft on their 40 foot sailboat, they had to wait for the tide to rise. Catrina with 3 feet sailed right out into the Gulf.

Below is a picture of Flight, Kathy and Bob's Valiant 40.

In six hours we covered 35 miles to Marco Island. The sun came out and the wind varied from light to 19-20 mph. The wind direction changed from a broad reach to a tight reach (across the boat). In lay language, someone had to keep an eye on the wind and adjust the auto pilot or actually skipper Catrina.

However, the wind was in a great range for our spinnaker which we used frequently. But then the wind would get over 15 knots or the direction would change to a beat (toward the front) and the spinnaker would start wildly flapping. So we found ourselves continually putting up and taking down the spinnaker. If you were racing, this would be great practice and I am sure we needed practice but it was also work. We just wished to sit and look at our beautiful spinnaker!

We could see "Flight" in the distance behind us as we dropped sail and motored up Marco River. We dropped anchor farther up the River in a spot we had used last April where the River was wider and within dingy distance of a good restaurant! Flight anchored just behind us.

Tom was our chauffeur to Snook Inn for dinner. Our dingy fits two easily, is tight with three and underwater with four!

When we got to the Shook Inn, we hunted for steps but found none. Docks were built high above the water to accommodate boats. Finally we found some rocks that we could reach and climb up to the top! I guess guests did not usually arrive by dingy!

Conversation, drinks, fish sandwiches and salad bar were enjoyed by all. Tom escorted Kathy and Don to Flight by dingy and we all said good night. Hope to see you at Marathon - Boot Key!

FORT MYERS BEACH February 6, 2009

As we left Charlotte Bay, we passed a memorable home for two ospreys. One flew away!



The Charlotte Lighthouse on the point was closed in the late 60's and let run down. The locals decided to refurbish it to it's original design. Since it is such an unusual shape, Debbie just had to take a picture of it. When we passed it yesterday, we thought it was a residence!



Sailing south on a gentle sea and light winds, we saw a group of pelicans. In the background the Sanibelle Island Shoreline is covered with wall to wall condos and other rentals.



The pelicans took off and landed right next to a Crabber as he pulled up a trap!



Just south of Sanibelle Island is Fort Myers Beach. It took us a lot longer than we planned to go the 25 miles from Charlotte Bay to Fort Myers - 7 hours. A very Relaxed Day!



The picture below is of the Gulf side of Fort Myers Beach.




We motored into the bay and behind FMB. The north end of the Island is a white sand point and looked like a lovely place to enjoy nature. However, boats passed on all three sides and Highrises were on the fourth side!


Moss Marina is located a short distance south on the ICW just before the bridge from Fort Myers to FMB. We were given a slip right next to the Marina Office. The staff was very helpful in helping us tie up. While we were doing this, we looked up and there stood our friends Rose and Gary Oles. We first met them at Joliet, IL and crossed paths a few times on our way south to Crystal River.

While Tom was setting up our Satellite Disc, a Casino Transit Ship arrived at the end of our dock and unloaded more people than we could count!







After getting cleaned up (a warm Shower can be heaven), we went to their beautiful Carver named Rose's Pick.

Tom and Debbie went exploring around FMB near the Marina. It is good for Tom to walk some every day so we took advantage of this and had a very good dinner at Yucatan and then Raison Rum and Chocolate Sunday at the Yogurt Shoppe! A luxury our small Freezer can not hold.

After our stroll, Gary and Rose came to Catrina to visit. It was so good to get caught up. Boating people are a very good people. Thanks Rose and Gary for a fun evening

BOCA GRANDE February 5, 2009

Thursday was a 3 S day. The wind was reduced in power from yesterday and the sailing was smooth. We covered 53 miles in nine hours of some of the nicest sailing. Tom worked on little projects and Debbie washed salt off the forward windows. The autopilot did most of the steering and we got a nice afternoon nap. We did not see another boat until we passed one motoring out of Charlotte Harbor.


Tom, Catrina's Favorite Navigator, found a route into Charlotte Harbor that saved us at least 2 miles. Debbie held her breath as we hugged the shore and watched the depth finder creep up. The shore waves chased us downwind. If we got to 3 feet the chances of us turning around in the narrow channel and heading back into the waves successfully was very small. The depth reached 5 feet which gave us a couple feet for our hulls to go up and down over the waves. Whew!


We moved up the north shore of Charlotte Harbor and into a small inlet. On the east bank was a golf course while large homes with large boats lined the west bank. About 500 feet up a narrow, curvy stream, the river widen and we found the Pink Elephant Pier on left side and many sailboats backed into the right bank. Up river was a very low bridge. We found a spot where we could fit between two boats and dropped our bow anchor, backed into the the bank, dropped our stern anchor and tightened up.



We jumped (just kidding) into our dingy and Tom paddled across the river to the Pink Elephant (a restaurant) Pier. On our hike around Boca Grande we found the town lived up to its name--a second golf course, large residences and hotels, beautiful parks and landscaping.


The grocery was three blocks from the dock and the gulf was five. To reach it, Tom passed through a hedge!



There were a number of real estate offices with the smallest house running over 700,000 and the largest we could find for 5 1/2 Million! Now you know why there were so many real estate businesses. Our favorite is below.


That's a Tarpon. They are very large fish!



We checked out a number of restaurants and decided they were looking for a more exclusive client. We returned to the Cream Colored Catamaran for tacos and tv.

CALADESI TO SANTA MARIA February 4, 2009

What a good night's sleep! Finally at 10 am we left our hideaway for the Inland Waterway. The wind was still howling but the sun was bright and the water was choppy with 14-16 mph winds. A Great Day!

At Clearwater we ventured out into the Gulf. I wasn't sure we would make it out because the waves were coming right at us and they were big! We turned south and enjoyed the waves, wind and speed. Here is a picture out our stern.

Since this is also a fishing trip, Tom made a fishing cleaning station which he attached to the stern railing.

Nobody was out on the water today. We did not see a single boat until almost 1 pm when Debbie sporatically saw four stacks above the waves. She called Tom out to look. It was decided it was the top of a freighter and it did not seem to be moving. As we approached the Tampa Shipping Channel a boat did emerge above the waves through our front window.

The drops on the glass are from waves but it is defiinitely a freighter.

As we drew closer, Debbie took a picture through the side window. Sorry, I bet you did not want to see our screened window!

The freighter was at anchor just outside the shippng channel. Because it was so big we could see it for miles as we rode up and down over the waves.

It is a lot of work putting sails up and down and adjusting lines in 15-24 mph winds. Whenever possible, we did it from inside. If we had to go outside, a life preserver was standard attire. The autopilot worked well until the waves go to four or five feet in height. At that point we stopped monitoring and took the wheel. Tonight we are saying "good job" with a shoulder/back massage for the other person. It is amazing how many muscles get used just staying upright much less steering on a very toss-ee-turv-ee boat!

At the northside of Santa Maria Island a black hulled sailboat appeared near shore. Tom was at the helm and he decided the other boat was racing us. As they moved farther off shore and we worked our way toward Longboat Key Bridge (Passage to ICW), we upheld the honor of the catamarans by passing in front of them. Poor Monohull!

About 50 miles and 7 hours later we called the bridgemaster at Longboat Key. He said he has been watching us as we headed into the wind and dropped sail. Tom had to start both motors to keep Catrina into the wind so Debbie could quickly go up on deck and lower the main. As promised, the bridgemaster raised the bridge just in time for us to pass through. It is not easy to stay in the narrow channel and zigzag waiting for a bridge to be raised. We gave him a big wave of "thank you"!

In route Debbie had called cousin Wally for Pete and Nancy's phone number. Wally and Helene were in a museum in New Orleans but came up with the number without being kicked out off the tour! Pete and Nancy couldn't join us for dinner but did give us a suggestion of a good spot to drop anchor and that is where we are tonight. Out our windows are sparkling house lights along the ICW and the water is gently rocking Catrina as the wind continues to whistle around us. We turned on our water heater and Oh Boy! did that shower feel good on our sore muscles!

pic 82

EARLY, WINDY & COLD February 3, 2009

After days of preparing, we finally removed our mooring lines and left our canal at 6 a.m. Perhaps starting before first light on a cold windy time is not a good omen. We managed to find all the markers and not go aground in the Crystal River. By the time we reached Shell Island at the Gulf Coast, we could see the trees and read our wind meter - 24 knots. Wow! Here we go!





Catrina flew along at 9-12 mph for a few hours as we dodged crab trap buoys. Crabbers were busy removing the traps as the Blue Crab season is over. We dodged them also. Before we reached Tarpon Springs the wind had dropped, waves were up to 2 feet, the wind was abeam (we rolled alot on the waves) and we had hooked two crab traps. Tom removed both, one with our boat hook and the other with a fish knife. No one fell off the boat. It was great to be sailing with both sails up and no motor!


About 1 p.m. we approached Tarpon Springs and headed for Caladesi Island State Park, located 4 miles north of Clearwater. Loopers Ted and Sarah aboard Manatee stayed there a few days ago and we decided to take their recommendation. Occasionally, waves were 3 feet high which really rolled our boat. We left the Gulf for the Inland Waterway ICW and more gentle seas. The Dunedin Causeway Bridge saw us 3 miles away and acknowleged that when the Catamaran got to the bridge it would be up! That's about when the Port Jack got wrapped around the side stay and the battons in the main got stuck on the stay. We passed under the raised bridge with the main half up or down depending on which side you were on. Debbie was hiding behind the sail!

Never put the sail down even if the Captain tells you to when you are NOT headed into the wind!





After reading the directions of how to find the secluded Island Park at least a mile off the ICW in three different sources, we ventured into the heart of the Island along narrow, shallow, winding channels. Our depth finder read 4 feet most of the time. It was high tide. That means it was beeping continuously. After a few questionnable turns, we found the Marina. We became the fourth boat in residence tonight. A larger sailboat than Catrina caught our lines and pointed out the features of this State Park: 108-slip marina, kayaking on the 3 mile mangrove trail, sunbathing, swimming and collecting shells on the pristine white sandy gulf beach, hiking on the nature trail (watch out for rattlesnakes), fishing, birding, as well as a picnic area, children's playground and Cafe Caladesi (not open). As Florida Senior Citizens it cost us $10! That's one third of our previous lowest overnight rate!


After 11 hours (65 miles) in Catrina, we decided to explore the island before a well earned dinner of beef stew, salad and Jimmy and Sue's oranges for dessert. The wind howled outside our water home as we caught up on e-mails, watched TV and snuggled in for a cold night in our secluded island hideway. We promised each other to bring our kayaks next time and explore the mangroves!

Bimini Re-sewn January 20, 2009

Sunday the Bimini (Cockpit Cover) was returned with all new stitching and four new windows. The Zipper around the stern door slides up and down easily. When we look out our four new windows, we wonder why we did not do all of them. They are so clear that we can see quite a contrast with the fourteen year old ones. Looks like we have a project for another year. A nice feature of this cover is that it comes in sections. That makes it very easy to repair, to remove or roll up for full air circulation on hot days. Unfotunately, it has been in the 30's to 50's most days for the last two weeks. This morning there was a layer of ice on the Bimini! Where is WARM and Sunny Florida?

We have been asked where we dock the boat. We live on a 45 house canal half way up a Gulf River. Catrina is located about 30 feet off our back porch. We can look out from the living room or master suite and check on her at any time. We have solar lights along the dock and hook ups. She is almost as tall as the Cupola and can give us extra guest accommodations or a way to explore the river or gulf.

SAILING SCHEDULE January 11, 2009

Catrina along with Tom and Debbie are in canal-dock in Crystal River for December and January 2009. We have been busy washing the Mississippi Mud off Catrina and applying a coat of polish. She is white again with a new black salt water paint bottom and starboard rudder courtesy of Old Tarpon Marina in Tarpon Springs. In the next week or so we will get the starboard motor back from the yamaha repair shop and the bimini from steamstress. Tom has changed the electric intake to the front of the boat, added outlets, surge protectors, lights and storage areas. He also changed the location of the GPS and Compass and built a storage shelf under the captain's feet. He is a very creative, good workman.

Fresh Water Bottom

February and March we plan to sail south to the Keys, enjoy the warm sunshine, beautiful blue waters, snorkel and fish. Friends are welcome to join us and can contact us by e-mail or cell phone. We hope to cross paths with our looper friends.

Salt Water Bottom