Wednesday, February 29th - Leap Day

[caption id="attachment_3114" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Fisher Island anchorage"][/caption]

Thursday's weather still looks promising for a crossing to the Bahamas.  Our patient wait has come to an end.  The time has come to bid farewell to Coconut Grove and position Cutter Loose for a quick getaway in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday morning.

It is akin to Christmas Eve aboard Cutter Loose.  We are at anchor south of the magnificent condo setting of Fisher Island.  With the Miami skyline as a backdrop, Cutter Loose is joined by five other Island Packets at anchor, including Catspaw, Island Spirit, Flatlander, Lark and Dragon's Toy.  Early tomorrow morning, it will be a short hop through Government Cut and into the Atlantic Ocean.  But this afternoon, it is time for final preparation, relaxation and early retirement in anticipation of our 4 AM start in the morning.

[caption id="attachment_3116" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="The Island Packet fleet, anchored near the giraffe-like cranes in Fisherman's Channel in Miami"][/caption]

Internet access is very limited in the Bahamas, which is in keeping with the purpose of our voyage...to experience the pristine nature of this special place.  This blog will be updated periodically when Cutter Loose is in range of WiFi hotspots.  In the meantime, please be sure to check this site frequently for updates of our winter cruise to the Bahamas.

[caption id="attachment_3115" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Freshly baked muffins for our early morning departure"][/caption]

Sunday, February 19th through Tuesday, February 28th

Cutter Loose remains on a mooring at Dinner Key Marina as we make final preparations for our departure to the Bahamas.  Weather is the critical factor in selecting a date for this passage.  We are patiently waiting for the approach of high pressure, bringing light winds from the south.  Preferably, there will be no cold fronts expected for several days after our departure.  At this time of year, it can sometimes take weeks for an acceptable weather window to arrive.  Several Island Packet buddy boats have congregated here in Coconut Grove with similar ambitions.  Our collective plan is to transit the Gulf Stream  together, but only when weather conditions are right.

[caption id="attachment_3068" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Plymouth Congregational Church"][/caption]

Coconut Grove is an attractive staging area for a crossing to the Bahamas.   Excellent grocery stores, restaurants, churches, West Marine and Home Depot are within an easy walk from the harbor.  During settled weather, a Dinner Key Marina launch provides shuttle service to and from the dinghy dock.  For ordering last minute supplies, overnight packages can be delivered to the marina office.  Prices are higher and the supply of goods and services is less abundant in the Bahamas.  Most cruising boats are fully loaded with fuel and provisions before casting off for Bahamian waters.  Cutter Loose is no exception.

[caption id="attachment_3099" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Delivery of our new AB dinghy in Coconut Grove"][/caption]

Our new dinghy is delivered to Dinner Key Marina on Tuesday, February 21st.  This is an important event in the life of a liveaboard cruiser.  A dinghy is to water as a vehicle is to land.  It is used every day to transport crew and their stuff.  This new AB 10 foot dinghy features larger tubes, an abundance of carrying space and a rigid bottom...qualities that improve stability and speed while keeping the crew dry.   

[caption id="attachment_3100" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Chuck and Jeanne aboard Cutter Loose in Boca Chita"][/caption]

During our stay at Dinner Key, Cutter Loose is visited by sailing friends Chuck and Jeanne from Pittsburgh.  I served as a crew member on Chuck and Jeanne's Island Packet 40 Relationship on two separate bluewater voyages from the Chesapeake Bay.  The first voyage was to Bermuda in June of 1995.  Then in November of 1995, we sailed together from Hampton, VA to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.  In subsequent years, Pat and I enjoyed several weeks aboard Relationship during her time in the Caribbean.  While we are away from home, Chuck is screening and storing our forwarded mail and helping to address correspondence-related issues. It is a joy to follow in the footsteps of Chuck and Jeanne and to share time together aboard Cutter Loose.  During their stay, we enjoy daysails on Biscayne Bay and an overnight in Boca Chita harbor, followed by a provisioning trip to the local Costco in the comfort of a car.  All systems are go for departure.

The weather, however, is not cooperating.  On Saturday and Sunday, the 25th and 26th, a moderate cold front passes over the Miami area bringing brisk winds from the north and east.  Conditions are so windy on Sunday that shuttle services to and from the dinghy dock are suspended for the entire day.  We spend this time aboard re-commissioning the ship's watermaker, carefully stowing recently acquired provisions and studying the Bahamas charts and cruising guides.   It never ceases to amaze us how time passes so quickly aboard Cutter Loose when focused on a list of boat chores.

By Tuesday, winds have subsided to 12 knots as a dome of high pressure inches its way into the Miami area.  Forecasted conditions for Thursday, March 1st appear near-perfect for our departure to the Bahamas.  The level of excitement aboard Cutter Loose is elevated with the knowledge that in 48 hours, the next phase of our winter cruise will be underway.

Saturday, February 18th

In flat calm water, Cutter Loose leaves the relative tranquility of Boca Chita and is en route north in Biscayne Bay to Dinner Key in the City of Miami.  Upon our arrival, the village of Coconut Grove is bustling with activity.  President's Day weekend is the date for the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival.  The entry fee is $10 per person and cyclone fencing surrounds a major portion of the waterfront and downtown to prevent unauthorized admission to the show.  In addition to works of art, musical performances take place on the main stage throughout the day and well into the evening.  An impromptu rendezvous with friends Stephani and Robin adds to the enjoyment of this hot (86 degrees) and sunny winter afternoon.

[caption id="attachment_3067" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Robin, Stephani and friend Diane at CG Arts Festival"][/caption]

In the days ahead, Dinner Key will serve as the staging area for our passage across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas.  This passage must be timed during a period of settled weather... preferably a 2 to 3 day window of light to moderate winds from the south.  While waiting for this window to materialize, there is a long list of chores and provisioning to be accomplished in Coconut Grove.   Since groceries and supplies in the Bahamas are limited and quite expensive, Cutter Loose must be provisioned with several months of stores.  While watching and waiting for a weather opening, we will attack the ship's to-do list within the backdrop of this delightful community.

Friday, February 17th - lay day at Boca Chita

Today is a day for relaxation and appreciation of this unique setting.  This small island was purchased and developed as a vacation retreat by Mark Honeywell of Honeywell Industries in 1937.  The Honeywells ferried themselves and friends from the Miami area to the harbor at Boca Chita via their fleet of three yachts.  Reportedly, Mr. Honeywell fired the cannon near the lighthouse when a yacht shuttling guests arrived in the harbor.  Following the death of his wife Olive in 1940, Mark Honeywell lost interest in the property.  Boca Chita is a National Register Historic District, now owned and operated by the National Park Service.  The dockage fee is $20 per night, collected on the honor system.

Dock space and campsites are at a premium since today is the beginning of the long President's Day weekend.  Our group of intreped Island Packet sailors gather near the lighthouse to witness yet another crimson sunset.

Thursday, February 16th

It is a relaxed sunny morning aboard Cutter Loose at our Rodriquez Key anchorage.  Our 11 AM departure coincides with mid tide rising at Angelfish Creek, 20 miles to the north of Rodriquez Key.  Angelfish Creek is the inlet of choice for leaving Hawk Channel and entering Card Sound.  But the channel at Angelfish is notoriously thin and must be negotiated at or near high tide. 

[caption id="attachment_3051" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Under sail in Hawk Channel en route to Angelfish Creek"][/caption]

The wind today is from the southeast.  Cutter Loose is sailing smartly in Hawk Channel with 13 knots of wind on her beam.  At 2 PM, the sails are furled prior to entering Anglefish Creek.  Water depth in the channel is more than adeqate to accommodate Cutter Loose.  As a bonus, the rising tide in the Creek pushes us east towards Card Sound.  Once in the Sound, we enter the marked channel of the Intracoastal Waterway and turn north into Biscayne Bay. 

Our destination for today is Boca Chita Key, about 15 miles south of Miami.  Boca Chita is  part of Biscayne National Park and is maintained by the National Park Service.  Other than picnic tables and primitive campsites, there are no facilities on the Island.  Cutter Loose is docked in the harbor alongside an oval-shaped seawall.  Our foursome of buddy boats are reunited once again in this unique setting.  We will relax here for a few days before sailing north to the Miami area.

[caption id="attachment_3053" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Cutter Loose at Boca Chita, Key Biscayne National Park"][/caption]

Wednesday, February 15th

[caption id="attachment_3030" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Cutter Loose departs from HCC"][/caption]

At 8 AM, a gathering of supportive slipholders at Harbour Cay Club assist with our departure.  Cutter Loose passes between the Fanny Keys and turns northeast into the Intracoastal Waterway of Florida Bay.  The wind today is out of the east at 8 to 10 knots.  It is a day for motorsailing, as the wind angle is just slightly too tight to sail directly to Rodriquez Key without tacking.

[caption id="attachment_3031" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Channel Five Bridge"][/caption]

Florida Bay is a shallow body of water.  In certain areas, depths at low tide are around five feet...too thin to accommodate the five foot draft of Cutter Loose.  At noon, we pass under the Channel Five Bridge and enter the deeper water of Hawk Channel.  The 138 foot lighthouse at Alligator Reef on the Atlantic Ocean side of Hawk Channel is clearly visible as we turn northeast from Channel Five towards our destination. 

At 5 PM, the anchor is down at Rodriquez Key, a distance of 51 miles from Marathon.  Cutter Loose is amongst a handful of other boats at this convenient stopover just off of Hawk Channel.  Although our anchorage is exposed to the east, settled conditions ensure a peaceful night on the hook.

Saturday, February 11th to Tuesday, February 14th - lay days in Marathon

By 2 AM on Saturday, the wind is up out of the northwest.  Distant thunder is a precursor to rain showers.  The cold front is on our doorstep here in Marathon.

Throughout the early morning hours, wind speed intensifies.  Cutter Loose becomes agitated in her slip.  The downside to our location at HCC is that our slip is exposed to the northwest, north and northeast.  At this time of year, less powerful cold fronts become stationary before reaching the Keys.  This front, however, is robust.  We are about to experience the power of an intense cold air mass that is displacing warmer air to the south.

The frontal boundary passes over Marathon just before daybreak.  In hindsight, our decision to leave Naples on Wednesday has already begun to pay dividends.  Being in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico in these conditions on Saturday would have been a mistake.

By mid-afternoon on Saturday, the wind is out of the north at 25 knots.  Cutter Loose is behaving like a caged bull in her slip.  By evening, wind speeds reach 30 knots.  The motion below in the cabin defies sleep.   Every hour throughout the night, we monitor wind speed and direction in the hope that the winds will clock rapidly to the east.  At daybreak, we resign ourselves to the reality that it will take several days for weather conditions to return to normal.  Temperatures are now in the mid-fifties with 30 knot winds.  Shorts and t shirts give way to fleece sweaters and jackets.  

At 8 AM on Sunday, we enter the Marathon Community United Methodist Church in a state of sleep deprivation.  Despite our low energy level, we bundle up for an afternoon bike ride to the grocery store.  Ever so gradually, the wind clocks to the northeast and reduces in intensity.  By evening, sleep comes easily despite bouncy conditions on the dock.

[caption id="attachment_3025" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Buddy boat breakfast at the Stuffed Pig in Marathon"][/caption]

Monday brings clear skies and warmer temperatures.  Conditions are returning to normal.  We gather together for breakfast with buddy boaters at the Stuffed Pig.  Afterwards, a bicycle ride to Grassy Key is the perfect way to celebrate our return to shorts and t shirts.   Everyone on the dock seems energized by improved weather conditions.

[caption id="attachment_3029" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Cycling to Pigeon Key on the historic Seven Mile Bridge"][/caption]

Tuesday is our final day in Marathon.  As such, provisioning, laundry and boat chores consume the day.  A short afternoon bike ride to Pigeon Key via the historic Seven Mile Bridge is a fitting reward for having completed our chores.

A special Valentine's Day dinner has been planned in the outdoor dining room at Harbour Cay Club.  All of the slipholders bring a dish.  The women are presented with bouquets of red roses.  Heart-shaped flan is served for dessert.  Social events such as this are the  trademark of Harbour Cay Club.  Everyone on the docks is made to feel welcome and appreciated.  We use this gathering as an opportunity to bid farewell to our friends at HCC.  Tomorrow morning, Cutter Loose will begin her return to Biscayne Bay.

[caption id="attachment_3028" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Dinner is served!"][/caption]

Friday, February 10th

The anchor is up before sunrise in the Little Shark River.  Our destination is Marathon Key, 38 miles to the south, where we will rendezvous once again with buddy boats Island Spirit, Catspaw and CAVU.  Light winds out of the east dictate a motorsail to Marathon.  Although the weather today is benign, we are racing against time to reach Marathon before the arrival of an intense cold front that is rapidly approaching from the northwest. 

By 8:30 AM, Cutter Loose is rounding Cape Sable to the east.  Cape Sable is not one, but a series of protrusions into Gulf waters including Northwest Cape, Middle Cape and East Cape located about 8 miles west of the Everglades National Park Ranger Station and Visitors Center at Flamingo.

[caption id="attachment_2972" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Diving to remove a snagged crab pot from the rudderpost of Cutter Loose"][/caption]

Our mid-morning progress towards Marathon is delayed as a result of snagging a crab pot.  Pots are everywhere in these shallow waters.  The styrofoam float on a line extending to the pot becomes wrapped in the rudder post.  As a result, Cutter Loose is dragging the cage astern just below the surface of the water which adversely affects boat speed and poses the risk of wrapping the line around the propeller shaft.  Since the weather is calm, a swim is in order to investigate, and, if possible, remove the tangled line.  While diagnosing the problem is easy, removing the tangle is problematic.  We settle for a partial fix...cutting the line with ample length and cleating the loose end of the line to the stern cleat in order to prevent it from wrapping around the prop.  

What began as a simple six hour journey becomes even more complicated in early afternoon as yet another pot is snagged.  During our cruise to Maine, we managed to sail the entire summer without snagging a single pot.  Snagging two pots in a single day adds insult to injury.  Now behind schedule, we use the same technique as an interim fix in order to make progress towards Marathon.  This time, the VHF comes alive with a transmission from a nearby sailboat, offering to be of assistance with scuba gear. 

[caption id="attachment_2973" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Under thickening clouds, Good Samaritans assist in freeing Cutter Loose of snagged crab pots"][/caption]

We graciously accept the offer.  The 28 foot sailboat comes alongside Cutter Loose with its crew of two young parents and three very polite small children.  They are liveaboards.  Their vessel is of questionable seaworthiness.  The Captain explains that he lost his job on the Gulf coast several years ago and that he and his family are living the dream.  Within minutes, the underwater dive is complete and the crab pot episode is history.  We offer thanks and make a financial contribution to their cruising kitty, watching in awe as they sail off to paradise.  Was this chance encounter coincidence or providence?

Finally at 3:30 PM, we are assisted into our slip at the Harbour Cay Club in Marathon by an army of volunteers.  First in priority is a bath for Cutter Loose followed by careful positioning of fenders and double dock lines in anticipation of the forecasted blow.   Afterwards, we enjoy a relaxing evening with friends at Porky's, a funky BBQ joint featuring live entertainment and located within a short walk from HCC.  The winds are light and the temperature and company are warm.  It is a delightful evening to be outdoors, enjoying the calm before the storm.

Thursday, February 9th

[caption id="attachment_2969" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Exhilirating door-to-door sail from Marco Island to Little Shark River under reefed main and genoa in 20 knots of true wind"][/caption]

Today is the ultimate day for the sailing purist.  Winds are out of the northeast at 18 to 22 knots.  Our destination is to the southeast.  These are the ingredients for an exhilirating 53 mile sail from Marco Island to the Little Shark River in the Everglades National Park.

Skies are overcast as Cutter Loose enters the Gulf of Mexico through Capri Pass.  Our course takes us south on a broad reach in 3 to 4 foot waves as the highrise condos of Marco Island disappear astern.  The only vessel visible to us for the next 30 hours is the high speed ferry bound for Key West, passing to starboard at 8:30 AM. 

[caption id="attachment_2968" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Little Shark River anchorage, Everglades NP"][/caption]

Once beyond the shoals of Cape Romano at 10:30 AM, a course adjustment places Cutter Loose on a beam reach towards our anchorage at the Little Shark River.   Around noon, the sun makes its initial appearance of the day.  Winds subside to 14-16 knots upon entering the lee of the 10,000 Islands.  We are out of sight of land. There is no cell phone coverage.  The VHF radio is strangely silent.  This is remote territory.

[caption id="attachment_2970" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Anchored in the Little Shark River at the Everglades National Park"][/caption]

At 4:15 PM, Cutter Loose is at anchor in the protection of the Little Shark River.  We are the only boat here tonight, but we are not alone.  Egret and heron are busy working the shallows while pelicans and osprey provide aerial reconaissance.  The eerie sound of crackles and pops in the cabin signal that snapping shrimp are busy cleaning the underside of the hull.

With the completion of today's journey, we eclipse the 2,000 mile mark of our winter voyage.  It has been a particularly satisfying day of sailing and relaxation at anchor, made even more enjoyable by the thought of many more yet to come.

Wednesday, February 8th

It is a difficult decision to leave Naples.  This town warrants additional exploration.  But the weather picture for the coming weekend involves a cold front that is expected to pass through southern Florida, strong enough in intensity to extend all the way to the Keys.  We must either make southerly progress over the next few days, or remain in Naples for the better part of a week.

After a morning stroll through Old Naples, we bid farewell to this lovely town with a vow to return at some point in the future.  The wind is out of the northwest at 15 knots today, perfect for a delightful afternoon downwind sail to nearby Marco Island. 

Cutter Loose is at anchor in Factory Bay, a place we visited on January 19th en route north to Fort Myers Beach and Pine Island Sound.  Exploring the southwest coast of Florida has been an outstanding experience...one that we have enjoyed immensely.  We have enjoyed good sailing, good friends and interesting destimations during this segment of our winter cruise. 

Tomorrow, we will retrace our steps to the Little Shark River in the Everglades National Park.  Then on to Marathon on Friday in advance of the weekend cold front.

Monday, February 6th and Tuesday, February 7th

[caption id="attachment_2950" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Slipholder's clubhouse at Naples Boat Club"][/caption]

On Monday morning, Cutter Loose is assisted into her slip by the courteous staff at Naples Boat Club.  NBC's floating docks are within easy walking distance of attractions in Old Naples.  NBC's facilities are top-notch, which is consistent with the $2.50 per foot cost of overnight dockage. 

[caption id="attachment_2951" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Naples Boat Club"][/caption]

Task #1 is to give Cutter Loose a much-needed bath to remove the accumulation of salt and cruising grime.  By mid-afternoon, she gives the appearance of fitting in at this lovely marina.  She is the sole sailing vessel docked at NBC.  Most of the boats here are huge motor vessels and virtually all of them are maintained not by the owners, but by paid detailers.  A workman explains that the Neopolitan lifestyle demands spacious and powerful motor vessels that are ready to go in a moment's notice.  These boats are shiny and impressive, but they rarely leave the dock.  In fact, the only people we encounter on the docks are NBC staff and private maintenance contractors.

[caption id="attachment_2948" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Visiting with neighbors Jim and Marnie in Naples"][/caption]

Cutter Loose is visited today by friends Jim and Marnie who are wintering here in Naples.  Over dinner, we enjoy catching up on news from the home front.  Later, we are treated to a tour of Old Naples and a visit to their lovely condo overlooking Moorings Bay.  We are grateful to Jim and Marnie for staying in touch and helping to provision Cutter Loose.

[caption id="attachment_2953" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Third Avenue shopping district streetscape"][/caption]

Old Naples is visually perfect.  Every blade of grass is perfectly manicured.  While most of the buildings are older, every one of them is in near-perfect condition.  The maximum height of buildings in Old Naples is three stories.  Downtown streets are wide and adorned with interesting automobiles.  Sidewalk cafes and coffee shops are filled with tanned, well-dressed patrons.  City parks and public landscaping is well-designed and dramatically illuminated at night.   

[caption id="attachment_2947" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Interesting machinery on the streets of Naples"][/caption]

Obviously, Naples is blessed with a considerable amount of wealth to support all of the higher end retail establishments and dozens of interesting restaurants.  Being here is akin to visiting a movie set.  If only for a few days, it feels good to be a part of this gorgeous setting.

Sunday, February 5th

Our destination today is the City of Naples, 37 miles to the south of our anchorage near St. James City.  Our course takes us through the "Miserable Mile", an east-west dredged channel in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway that runs perpendicular to prevailing wind and current.  Living up to its reputation, a 2 knot current sets Cutter Loose to the north, requiring constant course correction to remain in the channel. 

The eastern end of the Miserable Mile is an important nautical junction.  Here, the Intracoastal Waterway continues east into the Caloosahatchee River and on to Fort Myers and Lake Okeechobee, a shortcut to the east coast of Florida.  To the north lies Matlacha Pass and the ultra-thin waters of the Matlacha National Wildlife Refuge.  Our course today, however, takes us south under the Sanibel Causeway Bridge and into San Carlos Bay.

Once under the bridge, Matanzas Pass, the entrance to Fort Myers Beach, is clearly visible to the east.   Somewhere in there, boat buddies aboard Catspaw and CAVU are on a mooring ball in the harbor, dreaming of a Patriot victory in Super Bowl XLVI.  It would be fun to see them again and watch the game together.  But the attraction of a new harbor 20 miles to the south exerts a magnetic pull on Cutter Loose.

[caption id="attachment_2938" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Gordon Pass mega-homes"][/caption]

We enter Gordon Pass, the entrance channel to Naples harbor, in calm water.  To our delight, the channel is deep and well-buoyed.  The elegant homes fronting on Gordon Pass compete with one another for our attention.  Just beyond daymark 21, we follow a residential canal to the west into an attractive anchorage.  Cutter Loose is surrounded by multi-million dollar waterfront properties, each of which give the appearance of a photo shoot for the cover of a Frontgate catalog.  We gaze at our surroundings until sunset, then retire to the salon where we enjoy a quiet dinner and watch the Patriots fall to the Giants.  We extend our condolences to the Patriot fans aboard Catspaw and CAVU.

[caption id="attachment_2937" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Setting the hook on Super Bowl Sunday in Naples"][/caption]

From this attractive setting, we rest comfortably with the knowledge that we are within two miles of Naples Boat Club where we have reserved a slip for Monday and Tuesday.

Saturday, February 4th

After morning farewells to friends Glen and Nancy in Punta Gorda, the bow of Cutter Loose is pointed south in the now familiar waters of Charlotte Harbor.  Easterly winds at 15 knots quickly build to 20 knots on the beam.  Cutter Loose powers through the late morning chop, showering the foredeck with seawater. 

In the interest of a more relaxed sail, we depower the rig by reefing the furling mainsail while on the run.  In the process, the top section of the sail doubles up and becomes jammed in the furling mechanism.  The sail will neither furl or unfurl.  The solution is to release the mainsail halyard and lower the sail, which successfully releases the jam.  The deck is now covered with mainsail.  Singlehandedly feeding the luff into the mast track to raise the sail proves next to impossible in 20 knots of wind.  As an interim measure, it seems prudent to flake the sail over the boom and deal with this issue later in the afternoon when, presumably, wind speeds will subside. 

Our course takes us south through the dredged channel of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway through Pine Island Sound.  Minutes before sundown, we drop the hook just south of St. James City.  We take advantage of a calm anchorage and subdued lighting to raise the mainsail in its track.  Everything is now back in working order.  A quiet dinner in the comfort of the cockpit is a fitting ending to yet another interesting day on the water.

January 29th to February 3rd

A high pressure center in Georgia brings windy conditions to Punta Gorda.  Cutter Loose is anchored south of the Tamiami Trail Bridge in the Peace River.  Winds from the northeast at 20 knots makes for a soggy ride ashore in the dinghy.

[caption id="attachment_2918" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Fisherman's Village Marina in Punta Gorda"][/caption]

Punta Gorda is a community in recovery.  In August, 2004, a Category 4 hurricane named Charley made landfall just south of here at nearby Cayo Costa.  With wind speeds of 150 MPH, Charley devastated entire blocks of Punta Gorda's downtown.  To its credit, the City has redeveloped portions of its waterfront, including parks, a convention center and several new hotels.  But large tracts of land fronting on the Tamiami Trail (Route 41) remain undeveloped.  Nevertheless, Punta Gorda's downtown historic district has much to offer, including a variety of pubs and restaurants.

On Sunday, we hike to First Pres and Publix in the suburbs, then return to the harbor via Fishermans Village, an urban mall.  In the evening, we enjoy snacks in the cockpit of Cutter Loose with friends Hayden and Radeen to commemorate an anniversary of sorts.  Today marks the 100th day of cruising since leaving Rock Hall together on October 22nd.  Hayden and Radeen will sail on to Key West in the morning while we remain in Punta Gorda for a few more days.

On Monday, we focus on boat chores in the morning while waiting in vain for an opportunity to dinghy ashore in calmer conditions.  In the afternoon, we take advantage of the City's free bicycle loaners to tour the community.  The wind has clocked to the east, which places Cutter Loose in the lee of the downtown waterfront.

[caption id="attachment_2914" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Sandy and her husband Chris visit Cutter Loose"][/caption]

On Tuesday morning, we take a slip in the marina at nearby Fishermans Village.  Cutter Loose is visited today by Sandy and her husband, Chris who live 30 miles to the north in Englewood.  Pat and Sandy have some catching up to do.  They have not been in one another's company since their high school reunion in 1983.  Over lunch, the 1968 yearbook from Bishop Carroll High School makes a surprise appearance.  We are grateful to Sandy and Chris for taking the time to visit with us today.

Pittsburgh friends Glen and Nancy arrive at Fisherman's Village on Wednesday afternoon as part of their winter tour of the east coast.  They bear gifts from the north, including a fresh supply of white pomegranate tea from Prestogeorge for Patricia.  We enjoy their company for several days, setting sail to Cabbage Key and anchoring overnight in Pelican Bay.  A stationary front has settled into southwest Florida, bringing cloudy skies and brisk winds from the east.  Glen and Nancy are treated to an exhilirating daysail with 15 knot winds in Charlotte Harbor.

[caption id="attachment_2917" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pittsburgh friends Glen and Nancy pay a visit to Cutter Loose"][/caption]

The southwest coast of Florida has much to offer the cruising sailor.  Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor offer daysailing opportunities in the relative protection of inland waters.  Within a day's travel from here are several interesting towns and remote anchorages.  It was well worth the effort to explore this area.  Tomorrow, we will sail south with the goal of returning to Marathon in a week's time.

[caption id="attachment_2915" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cutter Loose makes its mark at the Dollar Bar, Cabbage Key"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2916" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="View from atop the water tower at Cabbage Key"][/caption]