Crossed!

Today found us at anchorage off Anclote Key waiting to go into Tarpon Springs after a very long day and night crossing the Gulf. It was not intended that we be here until tomorrow, but as we moved along from White City, the forecasted winds sea state for the Gulf began to show that Friday was potentially a better day to cross the Gulf than Saturday. The only problem was that it was 4 PM before we even got into the Gulf. Since the winds were also going to make the planned anchorage at Cedar Key a bit iffy, we all elected to make the dreaded night crossing direct to this place.


We all quickly made last minute preparations like removing the dinghy cover and placing emergency water and flares in it so it could be used as a life raft. Red-lens flashlights were all placed in strategic locations, and lights and radar tested.

As soon as we got in the Gulf it was apparent that the prediction for 1-2 foot seas was accurate, which was good. What was not so good was the fact that they were coming at us on the beam making for about 10 hours of short, snappy rolling. It was much more comfortable than our 2009 crossing but still not so much fun.

The crews of both boats swapped off several hours at a time on watch, and all went well, except that another boat reported one of the dreaded crab pots, which proliferate hereabouts at 5 AM while it was still quite dark. For the next couple of hours all hands were on deck as the ladies steered and navigated at the lower stations, while Jim and I went topside to the upper stations to watch for crab pot buoys with spotlights.

Everybody pooped out for awhile after we anchored, and then it was decided that we will go into Tarpon Springs for a couple of days followed by a couple of days at Caladesi State Park just a couple of hours south. We hope to make it to our friends’ pier in Treasure Island by Wednesday.