Thanksgiving Boat Trip Day 7 - The Long Ride Home

 

Clearwater Sunrise

    This is the part of the trip I probably don't need to post each time we go, so this post will be short (but the ride was long). There were a few eventful or noteworthy things that happened, and none had to do with catching trap lines or the inner bowels of the boat.

    We rolled out of the berth early knowing a very long ride lay ahead. We had decided that we absolutely had to be moving by 7 am. and we made that timeline with a couple minutes to spare.  We quickly did our pre trip checks & duties, untied the lines and cruised out of Clearwater Beach Marina. We got to see a nice sunrise this time.

Weather Forecast

    I had been keeping an eye on the weather and the forecast remained perfect all week so we knew that at least wind & wave wise it would be an easy trip. We have yet to be caught in nasty conditions in this boat. We have certainly been there before in other boats and though I would like to know the capabilities of the boat I don't want to experience it unless I have to.  There are so many cool apps for weather planning. I use PredictWind which has animated wind & wave maps which show future predictions showing direction & intensity.  Very useful & pretty darn accurate.

Wave Prediction Map

Wind Prediction Map

    One thing about going slow & having an auto pilot...eating breakfast & sipping coffee is easier!  The galley crew did an excellent job on this cruise!

                                  There were still neat sights on the way.

Always a Blue Sky Somewhere

Anclote Key Lighthouse

   

Galley Crew - Communications Officer - Mate - Deck Hand - Watch Leader - Bosun's Mate

    About half way through our passage, we came upon a trawler going slower than us (if that's possible). We tried to raise them on the VHF assuming that based on their position, they were going into Crystal River & I just wanted to chat. We got no response. About 20 minutes later a Sea Ray (I think) cruised up next to them & they ran side by side for about 10 minutes. I figured they knew each other.  When the Sea Ray took off & passed us I hailed him on the radio & we chatted. He was heading to Crystal River/Pete's Pier and the boat behind us was indeed a traveling companion of theirs.  The Captain informed me that his buddy was having trouble with his main radio & was on a handheld on channel 72 & asked if we could just stay in contact with him. We hailed the other trawler, chatted a bit & said we would monitor 72 & if they needed anything we would be standing by.  We made some new Crystal River cruising friends! Neat.  I'll stop by Pete's Pier soon & look them up.

We had a long time to study the horizon

    After 9 hours & 34 minutes & 82.3 miles later, we pulled up to our home dock with daylight to spare.  We traveled 186.25 miles / 24.6 hours. I started with a full tank of fuel & added 10 gallons from 2 cans I had in the boat & retrieved diesel from a gas station.  I can't be 100% sure but I think we finished up with about 24 gallons left....that's still about 8 hours at trolling speed left but not every gallon is usable & who knows what's at the bottom of those tanks.

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