Hingham to Sarasota: The Final Leg

Reader Note: We arrived at Marina Jack in Sarasota on Thursday, November 13.  I started this article on the way to Sarasota.  Today, as I finish it, it is Monday the 17th in the late afternoon.   Diana often jokes by saying "how did you ever find time for work.  Given the above I can say with all sincerity I do not have a clue.  Retirement is great fun.  I just need more time.

Guided Discovery at sunrise on November 13

Now to the journey.  At 5:00 AM I checked the weather and to no surprise it was perfect for our short 50 NM cruise to Sarasota. Below is the official NOAA forecast and the forecast map on Sirius Satellite Weather

TODAY  NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS...BECOMING NORTHWEST  AROUND 10 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND  INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.  

Notice the cold front crossing northern Florida

We departed South Seas at 7:15 AM.  As a general rule I don't speak to docking maneuvers but today is different.  Leaving South Seas required backing straight and pivoting the boat in a very narrow area - essentially backing out and taking a right turn to back the stern into a narrow fairway.  Fortunately the winds were very low.  This should have been an easy maneuver and it was until the starboard engine quit. Fortunately the engine restarted and the maneuver was completed successfully. Note: I had to run down to the pilothouse to restart the engine. I think the problem was related to a short warm up time. Going forward I will extend the warm-up period.

Guided Discovery at sunrise on the last day
The photo does not fully depict the close quarter
I had to back the stern around the stern of the sailboat

Excitement over, we exited South Seas and proceeded north to Redfish Pass where we met up with a 45 foot sloop named La Vie en Bleu (Life on Blue).  The owner, Guy, a member of Bird Key Yacht Club, had graciously offered to cruise north with me so that he could guide us into Big Sarasota Pass.

La Vie en Bleu running west of our position

Explanatory Note: Passes (aka inlets) seem to fall into two categories.  Ones that are well marked with deep water, which are often commercial inlets, and those that require local knowledge.  Big Sarasota Pass falls into the latter category.

At 8:48 AM we passed R2 off Boca Grande and turned northwest on a course of 344 degrees for Big Sarasota Pass.  Our speed was 7.4 knots, which allowed us to keep pace with Life on Blue. The winds were northeast at 12 knots and we were experiencing a lovely ride on a 2 foot head sea.  As we proceeded north the waves subsided just as forecasted.

Phil at the helm

At 2:05 PM we arrived at Big Sarasota Pass.  The photo below shows the pass.  The channel starts in the lower left hand corner and runs northeast into Sarasota Bay.  Notice the sandbar along the channel.  Compare the color of the water in the lower left-hand corner to the water in the channel. There is plenty of water in the channel.  The problem is the approach.  The locals tell me the approach keeps changing resulting in the "private buoys" being moved.

Big Sarasota Pass

I followed La Vie en Bleu through the approach as shown in the photo below.  Blow up the photo and look closely at our tracks (aka bread crumbs).   The private buoys dictated a course over what appears on the chart as an area with a 2 foot depth at mean low water.  I registered 4.0 feet as I passed over that "bar," which means I had 2 feet of water under the keel. (Note: Last April my friend Darrel and I determined that the transducer was 2 feet above the keel - somewhat scientifically using a lead line).

Following La Vie en Bleu on the approach to the pass

Shallow water to our left as we follow La Vie en Bleu

Siesta Key homes to our right

Once in the pass and in deep water I called Marina Jack to determine our slip assignment.  Still more excitement (OK, well not exactly.  How about just a touch of frustration).  I requested a 65 foot slip so that we could pull in bow first with a starboard tie, which is necessary if I want to board from the swim platform and launch the dingy.  Problem: Marina Jack has 60 foot slips.  The next size up is 85 feet and they will not put our "little" boat in an 85 foot slip (nor do I find fault with that). Solution: Back into a stern in starboard tie.  Problem: They only had a stern in port tie on a 60 foot slip.  After a bit of discussion I conceded that the 60 footer stern in port tie would do for the short term.

Our temporary slip is 3 in on the first pier on your lower right

Explanatory Note: The problem with the dockage arrangement was my fault.  We had told them we would arrive on December 1.  We were 17 days early.

So at 3:00 PM I backed her into the slip and brought a 9 day 1,450 nautical mile trip to a close.  My frustration with the docking arrangement took the edge off (slightly) to what would otherwise have been a very celebratory moment.

The crew poses for a final photo after 1,450 nautical miles
Dick, Les and Phil

Final Statistics - Hingham to Sarasota:

• Total Distance: 1,450 nautical miles (1,667 statute miles
• Time Enroute: 9 days
• Total Fuel Used: 1,619 gallons (includes approximately 45 hours of generator)
• Efficiency: .90 nautical gallons per mile (NGPH) (1.03 SGPH)
• Hingham to Stuart: 6 days, 5 nights
• Stuart to Captiva (Okeechobee Waterway): 2 days (no nights)
• Captive to Sarasota: 1 day (54.1 NM)
• Total Expense: $7,388 (fuel, dockage, food, travel reimbursement)

Written by Les