Destinations/Experiences
Southwest Florida Coast - Everglades to Punta Gorda

Underway!

WL Anchored Chino Island — Anchored at Chino Island, just before sunset.

The autopilot works finally … the dock lines are stored … we sailed out the channel at the marina today … and God willing, next stop Key West FL … after a stop for the night at Chino Island – just to the east across the ICW from Captiva/Sanibel Islands. Tomorrow we’re hoping a bright moon will shine on an overnight passage to Key West … we’ll see. If the winds and seas are too much (forecast 20-25), we might duck into Marco Island.

Leaving Burnt Store Marina was a bit melancholy - after all we've spent the past 4 year here, cruising to the Exumas, Florida West Coast and the Keys... Now we're headed out.... — Leaving Burnt Store Marina was a bit melancholy – after all we’ve spent the past 4 years here, cruising to the Exumas, Florida West Coast and the Keys… Now we’re headed out….

Today was magical – dolphins accompanied us out of the marina and white pelicans soared above. The wind picked up as we crossed Charlotte Harbor and as we turned south, we were able to sail at 5 knots plus — at one point even 6.8 knots (in a 20 knot breeze). Gorgeous sail. Dolphins joined us several times, we chuckled at the kamikaze pelicans and enjoyed the sunny warm weather!