by JIM ROBERSON, Fleet Captain
This is the first of a 3-part report . . .
The BPYC fleet departed for the Bahamas on April 21 to get ahead of an easterly moving weather system. Weather did not cooperate at all for the first part of our trip. The fleet included No Hurries-No Worries, (Commodore Carlton and Anji Stabler), Foxy Lady (P/C Tom and Donna McCoy), and Another Toy (P/C Jim and Linda Roberson). Slow Dancin’ (P/C Jeff and Tampa Brooks) departed later.
Everyone spent that first night in a slip in Apalachicola, except Foxy Lady and Another Toy. Dinner at the Owl and many cocktails helped calm nerves as we faced the longest open water crossing of our trip. Foxy Lady and Another Toy went on to anchor at Dog Island to get a head start on the “faster boats.”
Lines were dropped and anchors raised at 7 a.m., April 22, for the synchronized start to the 150-mile trip across the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The weather was not calm but compared to what we would face later in the trip, it was not rough. Seas were 2’ to 3’ with winds 5 to 10 mph. Foxy Lady and Another Toy arrived first (guess our head start worked) at Clearwater Pass after almost 8 hours traveling at 30kts. We never saw the other 3 boats until we arrived at the pass. So much for the synchronized start.
Since the weather caused us to move up our departure, reservations in Clearwater were cancelled. The fleet was split between 3 marinas and did not reunite until the Sarasota YC. The BIG 60 caught up with Commodore Stabler while in Clearwater, and a birthday celebration was held at the Marina Cantina.
Next stop Sarasota. Here we again split up. Foxy Lady went farther south and Carolina Girl went to visit the Davenports. While the crew of Carolina Girl had real beds and plentiful water, the rest of us enjoyed the luxurious Sarasota Yacht club and nearby shops. Did I say? St. Armand’s Circle is within a short walk and the girls wasted no time exploring the shops and finding a spa.
After 3 days of shopping, great food and a few cocktails, we all started our engines (except Carolina Girl), dropped our lines and headed south to again reunite. Carolina Girl’s crew returned to find dead batteries. After a 1-day delay and replacing all their batteries, Carolina Girl proceeded to Naples.
Meanwhile the remainder of the fleet went their separate ways toward Naples. Another Toy chose the inside route at trawler speed (8kts) otherwise known as Duggan speed.” Miss PD (David can’t go slow) and No Hurries-No worries went outside at cruising speed
(20kts).
Another Toy and Foxy Lady anchored at Useppa Island while Miss PD and No Hurries-No worries went to south Seas Plantation for dinner at the Bubble Room. It was beginning to be clear that David liked dining out. As the old saying goes, “a sailor has a girl in every port–David has a restaurant in every port.”
On April 27 the fleet headed to Naples. Another Toy and Foxy Lady made our way down Pine Island Sound (ICW) at trawler speed. Midmorning we were passed by No Hurries-No Worries and Miss PD who were traveling at 20kts with a considerable wake.
However, like the tortoise and the hare, Another Toy was first to Naples. Anji called the Naples YC to advise that No Hurries-No Worries was the first of 3 boats coming in only to discover that Another Toy was already entering the Marina. They all went the long way. Once again David knew about a gourmet restaurant in Naples and reservations were immediately made for all of us. That would be the last supper for the Corneliuses.
After much deliberation and consultation, and because a large yacht had reservations for our slip, we departed Naples YC into a 10-15 mph SE wind generating 2- 3’ waves. She was Foxy (smart) choosing not to go south in that weather.
All went well until Carolina Girl’s radar arch broke for the SECOND TIME (The Corneliuses are now looking for a Sea Ray.) We all stopped while it was determined that she could not continue against the wind and waves. Carolina Girl turned around and headed with a following sea to Marco Island, not to be seen again.
No Hurries-No Worries, Miss PD and Another Toy continued south without incident to Marathon Island in the Florida Keys. Once again David knew the best restaurant!
Part II begins with our arrival in the Bahamas.