The Final Leg

The long run from Little Palm Island to Naples was the most mixed potpourri of sea conditions and weather we have seen during our entire trip. With 15 knot winds coming from the SE and seas running 3-4 foot in the Hawk Channel, we stayed "outside" only a short distance before cutting through the Bahia Honda Channel. As we dodged the sea grasses and shallow waters (as little as 5 feet) the seas became eerily calm, almost like we weren't even moving. Then,as we broke out into the Gulf of Mexico, the water became increasingly choppy, to rough, to 3-5 foot head seas, with water crashing over the bow and pouring rain. About 50 miles offshore, the seas altered course and shifted to following seas with 4-6 foot swells lifting the back of the boat up and down into the next wave. By the time we reached the entrance to the Gordon River, things had calmed down again, the sun came out and the winds subsided. A very strange day on the water.

We enjoyed a great dinner at Barbatella, strolled around town and a had restful night at the Naples Yacht Club. The next morning we headed to Captiva Island and our last stop at the South Seas Yacht Harbor. Our dear friends, Bill & Kim were vacationing on nearby Sanibel Island, so we got together at their place for a quick visit and then back to South Seas for cocktails and dinner.

This morning, we left South Seas around 8 am and after cutting through Red Fish Pass into the Gulf started working our way toward our final designation in Sarasota. About an hour into the trip, the seas once again became pretty rough, so we cut through a small (and not particularly well marked inlet) at Lemon Bay. Following what I thought was the "channel", I mistakingly zigged when I should have zagged and ended up running aground in 3 feet of water! Fortunately, we were going pretty slow so I was able to back down off the shoal and reroute ourselves into the "proper" channel before continuing inside the ICW. We finally (and safely) reached Sarasota Yacht Club a few hours later.

Margaritas and Martinis to celebrate the end of our Bahama journey

We have had an amazing and fun-filled trip with incredible waters, sunsets, beaches, bars, diving, fishing and most importantly, good friends along the way. For me, this has been a dream come true and I am so thankful that the Admiral and I were able to share this time together. Just the same, it is good to be "home" and we are both looking forward to re-acclimating to our land lubbers life in Orlando.