Wing on Wing

We left Ft. Myers twice this morning. First around 8, but the weather was looking a little iffy with storms to the east and we didn't want to stay inside on the intracoastal because of some tide issues in a particularly bad spot where the channel is narrow and current really strong. So we turned around and went back to the mooring ball for an hour or two. The rough weather to the east looked like it was dissipating, so we left for the second time on our originally planned route outside around Sanibel Island then north in to the Gulf right along the west coast. Our first couple hours the wind was right on our stern where we could not make good use of both sails, so Ken finally got to try going 'wing on wing'. This is where one sail is out to one side and the other sail out to the other side. It isn't something to do very often because it is only when the wind is right behind you and does not allow much room for steering error. If you turn one direction or the other a little too much, you can have an uncontrolled jibe. But we were able to sail like this for almost two hours and it sped us up considerably. We have now turned north and are running up the west side of Captiva Island. We will go back inside this afternoon through Boca Grande Pass.

We've been moving for past 3-4 days steady, working our way north and toward home. We left Marathon Sunday and anchored near Shark River, just west of the Everglades Sunday evening. Monday we sailed to Marco Island, had a great dinner at a little Tiki Hut with very nice folks who are full time live-a-boards. And Kaylee found some kids to play with.

Tuesday we sailed and motored while dodging rain and storms to Ft. Myers. We were going to eat dinner on the boat, but noticed a restaurant on the east bank that looked interesting. Pulling out the binoculars, we saw the name was Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grill. It just so happens Ken just finished and I am half way through a book by Randy Wayne White where Doc Ford is the main character and the story takes place on Sanibel Island. The author, a local who used to be a fishing guide in the area, has a series of Doc Ford novels and owns this restaurant. We couldn't pass it up, so we headed ashore. Glad we did. The place was very nice and great food.

As I finish writing this, we are pulling in the sails. The weather we saw this morning looks like it is finally going to catch us. So the motor is on and the sails are down. Since leaving Miami about a week ago we have had fantastic sailing weather though. We have only had to motor as weather approached and in and out of channels.

Tomorrow will be a mostly motor day up the ICW to Sarasota. Then to St. Pete, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs and home to Carrabelle. See everybody soon!