Exiting the ICW at Boca Grande into Charlotte Harbor south of Marker 3 , we turned off the engine and sailed on a beam reach with a single reefed main and genoa under a clear blue sky with a warm southern breeze and blue green water under the keel. Sailing on the water was wonderful, about as perfect as one dare hope to experience. We sailed home to end our four day mini cruise with Tom and Maureen on their Catalina 36, CantAgree. They had graciously invited us to accompany them for a short cruise to a few of their favorite local anchorages.
Monday, January 25, daybreak – We slipped out of Punta Gorda Iles on a falling tide. Cant Agree left a little later and ran aground on the way out. Down Charlotte Harbor into a light southerly wind we motored and then turned west to reach the ICW. For the first time in ten years of following the same course Tom ran aground on spoil bank just before reaching the ICW. Responding to his radio call we altered our course to port and motoring dead slow we approached the ICW without plowing a furrow. We anchored at the Englewood Beach anchorage a little after noon, ate lunch and then cruised down to Stump Pass in our dinghies. Light southerly wind with temperature in the seventies.
Tuesday January 26, evening - I let the dinghy slip away while I was putting the dinghy motor back on Eagle’s Wings. So I went for a cold swim to retrieve the dinghy. Water temperature, 76 F.
Wednesday, January 27, daybreak - The current in the anchorage reverses with the tide. Eagle’s Wings had swung around with the current change the last two days without issue. This morning as the wind filled in from the south opposing the current, Eagle’s Wings lay with her stern to the wind and the anchor chain running back under the keel. I tried hoisting an anchor sail to get her to come around which didn’t work. Then I tried adding a kellet to the chain. Eventually as the wind increased, she swung around and then started swinging on the anchor as usual. After breakfast, I looked up to find that we were slowly dragging. I will use more scope next time. We reset the anchor just in time to hoist it for trip back down the ICW to the Cape Haze anchorage.
Wednesday, January 27, noon - We packed a lunch for dinghy trip across the ICW to Don Pedro State Park . Leading off the ICW, a narrow passage through the mangroves leads to the park, only accessible by water. We met David & Patty at the park; their Catalina 36, Two If By Sea, was also anchored at Cape Haze. We looked out over the beautiful blue green Gulf water as we ate our lunch. Tom explained that the dead trees we saw were non-native Australian Pines purposely killed by environmentalists. Following the killing of the trees on one barrier island, dense cacti growth made the island impenetrable; another barrier island completely washed away after the trees were killed. I guess even environmentalists make big mistakes.
Wednesday, January 27, evening - We followed a meandering residential canal back to the anchorage in the afternoon. to end the day we enjoyed cocktails on Two If By Sea. Patty blew her conch shell when the sun went down. I set the anchor alarm on a portable GPS that I slept with – the boat didn’t move an inch all night.
Thursday, January 28 - We motored back down the ICW and then sailed home over Charlotte Harbor . It s now time to fix the head; during the trip I had to pump the waste out by hand into a bucket and transfer it through the deck fitting to the holding tank – not a fun job!
Friendly people abound in Punta Gorda; Tom & Maureen are certainly at the top of the list. Many thanks to them for showing us a part of the waterway. We had a great time.
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