From Florida to the Chesapeake and Back: Rogue ICW Day 1

Yesterday was a busy day getting many last minute items taken care of before we “set sail”. It was also a day of mixed emotions. Anticipation to travel north in “Rogue” but also some angst leaving several people that we have come to know in our time spent in St. Petersburg. The people there have been wonderful to us, keeping an eye on Rogue while we were a thousand miles away for months at a time. People we have met at the marina and people who have helped us get Rogue ship shape for the journey. Freddie who helped repair several items stopped by with his wife to offer a toast to our adventure, and Gayle, who has been busy keeping Rogue looking great, also stopped to offer a couple of toasts to our adventure.

Last night my crew arrived around 9:30 just in time to unpack, relax a little and hit the sack. We were up and started right away finalizing what needed to be done. Filling the water tank, shedding all the power and water lines, finally casting off and moving her 30 yard to get the holding tanks pumped out. To you non sailors, that is where all your personal “business” goes temporarily. Freddie knows all about them right Fred? Then it was another 10 yards to the filling station to take on fuel. 250 gallons give or take. OUCH!

Finally we shed all attachments to land and cruised off into the morning sun, across Boca Ciega bay and out into the Gulf of Mexico for an outside run. The sun was bright, the air temperature delightful. The waters were a clear blue green. There was a bit of a breeze blowing and some two foot swells out of the north. We were headed south so we rode the swells like a surfer. It was a little rolly, but not unbearable. The wind continued to build throughout the day and by midafternoon there were whitecaps everywhere and the swells were coming faster making it a little more challenging. Finally we made to Venice inlet and jumped inside where it was much calmer. We motored for several hours and finally stopped at an anchorage in Lemon Bay. 70 plus miles the first day. Not bad. We anchored using all the chain rode we had, 100 feet or so because the wind was quite strong and needed plenty of scope so we hopefully won’t drag anchor during the night. It’s 9p.m. and the wind I think may be lessening somewhat, however, it is still quite gusty. Needless to say Rick and I are a little beat, being out in the sun all day. We should sleep well tonight.