Heading North - Venice to Cortez

I woke up early and was able to depart Venice by 7:30am. The winds were calm, but from the north east. What was especially nice about today; no schedule! It should be a 6 hour sail and I had plenty of time to do that.

Leaving Venice

I quickly raised the mainsail and then the jib. I was sailing at 5.5 knots with a gentle breeze. The wind was at a great angle, so I raised the staysail. The water was calm. I had all the sails up. The motor was not running. I was doing over 6 knots. It doesn't get any better than this!

Of course, I have never been a lucky man. So, a couple hours of bliss was followed by decreasing winds. I wasn't going to let that get me down. I just didn't want to continue sailing at 4 knots.

 A few days ago, I flew the drifter and, although it is small for this boat, it worked very well. I dropped the jib and the staysail. Then I raised the drifter and... Bam!... back over 6 knots!

Distant Horizon was ghosting along as we passed Sarasota.

Sarasota in the distance

Eventually, the wind became so slight, even the drifter could not help. I dropped the drifter and the mainsail then turned the motor on... I count this as a sailing day, though. I was just 3 miles from the Longboat Pass where I leave the gulf. The motor would have been started in 2 miles anyway.

There was just one bridge to be opened for me to get through. Then I traversed a small channel to get to the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). I headed north for a mile or two and then... I was told the entry to the marina was tricky. It wasn't so tricky as it was narrow. I swear the channel was just 20 feet wide. A pontoon boat and Distant Horizon could not both fit in the channel... I wasn't moving.

It is even scarier than that. To get to the marina, the chart says there is a wreck partially submerged. Yup, saw that. I actually had to steer straight for it. I turned to port (left) just before I got there. Then the channel markers were layed out a bit better. I made note that if you go out of this channel... there will be no mercy on you, as I passed a rock pile so close I could spit on it.

I had to use the binoculars to look ahead for the sign for the marina... and found it quickly. As I arrived, a group of people gathered on the end of the dock. One of them called out, "What's your draft?" I raised 6 fingers. Then a little conversation ensued. I called back and asked if there was an open slip. Two of them pointed and walked over to it.

I followed. They were nice and grabbed my bow lines and helped tie the boat off. Once I stepped off, they quietly told me... the conversation about my draft, was because that big motor yacht just tried to depart. He returned after running aground. He drafts 4 feet, but said the moon was getting more full, so it was an extra low tide. I ruined his excuse.He ruined his day... two bent props and one bent prop shaft!

It was just 2:30 in the afternoon. I had a wonderful sail of almost 5 hours; out of today's 5 hour 43 minute trip. The boat is now resting comfortably in a slip, awaiting the scheduled repairs. The journey north is over. This trip, that started in November 2014, has now ended on March 1, 2015.

Sunset at Cortez Cove looking of the stern of Distant Horizon

As the sun sets on this journey, I am already looking forward to the next chapter on the Distant Horizon. I will return in late May or early June to start once again. In the mean time, I have a few Bicycle tours to ride and friends to catch up with... maybe even a little skiing before this tan wears off.

Don't give up on the blog. I will be posting more information and pictures as things happen. Over the next few days, I'll post pictures in and around Cortez Cove Marina. I will be returning to Florida to take things of the boat in a few weeks. At that time, I'm taking a tour of the Teak Decking Systems factory. I heard it is quite impressive.