Guest Blogger Bryce

Some of my favorite memories as a kid are of my dad and me going fishing together. Blake was

Sarasota, Florida

always invited to go but he didn’t always (or ever) want to get up early in the morning. Of course I would always want the little brother with us but it was also nice to get some alone time with Dad every once in a while. This seven day trip from Apalachicola to Sarasota, Florida reminded me of those times. Unfortunately, my portion of the cruise with the old man is coming to an end today. It was a trip that I will not forget for the rest of my life.  When I asked my Dad a year or so ago if he could use a hand on his journey to the Bahamas he enthusiastically said yes. I figured that he would say that because he always does. However, I honestly was a little bit surprised that he didn’t even have to think twice about it. To be one half of a two man crew crossing waters we have not seen before is quite the responsibility. Especially when you consider the fact that Pura Vida is going to be Dad and Ruth’s floating home for the next several months. Lucky for me he is a great teacher. I learned quite a bit such as knots, sailing terminology, and how to read the electronic charts and radar.

As everyone reading this certainly already knows, the gulf coast of Florida is absolutely beautiful. Wecut across part the Gulf of Mexico, cruised through several bays, and rode the ICW. I thought it was pretty cool passing through the dozen or so bascule bridges spanning from the mainland to the barrier islands as we headed south.. “S/V Pura Vida Southbound to Cortez Bridge requesting an opening” my dad would call out on channel 9. After some back and forth with the bridge tender the bridge would give a blow of the horn and the leaves of the bridge would raise vertically. We would always thank the tender after passing through.

The color of the water changed from one shade of blue to another with each passing mile. We spotted more dolphins coming to the surface than I can remember. It got to the point where we didn’t even call them out to each other, they were everywhere. Each evening we would find a protected anchorage and settle in. Before the sun set for the night we would drop the dinghy and I would head off for an hour or so of fishing. Anglers around here have it good. The fish are plentiful and the spots to cast a line are endless. Before dark I would cruise back to the mother ship for an early dinner and we would hit the hay pretty early. I’ve never slept better than I did this week tucked up in the V-berth cabin.

I have always seen my Dad as the most capable of men. It still made me a little nervous when he told

Captain Greg

me him and Ruth would be making this trip. However, over this past week his skills as a captain have surpassed the expectations I had even for him. I have now seen firsthand that when traveling through waters you have not been before preparation and experience is a must. My Dad has plenty of experience and is always as prepared as he can possibly be. He knows every inch of his vessel and has her in top notch condition. We should all rest easy knowing S/V Pura Vida and his first mate Ruth are in the best of hands with Captain Greg Lynd at the helm.

Cortez, Fl. to Sarasota, Fl.

Date: Dec 18, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  ET                               

Location:   Sarasota, Fl.

Weather:  Cold & windy early, cool & beautiful later     

Sea State:  choppy across Sarasota bay

Destination Tomorrow:  none

Engine Hours:  1364                                                                        

Crew:  Bryce      

Comments: 

Old Man Winter blew in last night with a vengeance.  I suppose he and Mother Nature were arguing.  Around 2030 the boat shifted from pointing dead south to east then dead north, within a few short moments.  As mentioned or implied I was very uncomfortable with our anchorage for several reasons.  First we were down wind of several permanently anchored boats that looked like they could break loose at any moment, in steady 20 knots of wind.  I also knew that during the night the winds would shift from the north and increase back to 20 knots.  I was wrong about the latter.  Around 2030 we swung as predicted but the wind blew up to 35 knots for about 30 minutes accompanied by hard blinding rain.  I guess the good news is we were now upwind of the other boats.  Holy Toledo Hawkeye, what a ride. 

There wasn’t much sleep last night and the rain continued into the morning.  After it slowed we

2 more today

pulled up anchor at 1050 and headed south toward Sarasota.  This would include an ICW trip then a run through the Sarasota Bay.  With the strong northerly winds came extremely low tides.  In fact, we grounded twice.  One time was in the middle of the ICW between the Green and Red markers in 5 feet of water.  Actually, we just plowed through the bottom.  The excitement of the day was Bryce landing  two more Spanish Mackerels trolling through Sarasota Bay.  We pulled into the Marina Jacks mooring field at 1330 where I plan to stay an undetermined period of time, due to weather and easy access for Bryce’s departure and Ruth, Chuck and Marilee’s arrival. 

PV, Sarasota, the Slayer and the Old Seadog

Bryce and I walked to PF Change in Sarasota and determined this city of about 57,000 is absolutely stunning.  Everything, including Marina Jacks is first class.  Sarasota is extremely clean and all buildings and streets look brand new.  Tomorrow we’ll do more touring in the city.  

Maximo Pt. to Cortez

Date: Dec 17, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  1300 ET                     

Location:  Cortez, Fl.

Weather: 77/59, windy, northerly blowing in tonight.             

Sea State:  Choppy

Destination Tomorrow:  South

Engine Hours:  1361                                                                        

Crew:  Bryce      

Comments:   

We awoke early knowing a northern front would arrive tonight, with intentions of an early and protected anchorage.  We ate breakfast at 645 and pulled up anchor around 715.  We skirted under the Dick Misener Bridge into the Tampa Bay against a mild current.  Today being Tuesday meant my weekly call to Granny Rea (Mom).  I had Bryce call giving Mom a special surprise.  After their phone visit, Bryce asked if I needed to tell mom anything.  Mom didn’t need me after talking to her favorite.  By the time we reached the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, the current had turned in our favor.  We were greeted by two large Coast Guard cutters crossing near the bridge.  They were very formal over the radio.  They might have waved at us.  After our final change of course in Tampa Bay, near mile 95, Bryce hooked a Spanish Mackerel.  By the way, I’ve been asked a couple times, in fear of us spending time behind bars, if we have a fishing license.  Bryce has a fishing license and he fishes one line only.  In Florida you can purchase the license online, for segments of days, which he did.  I figure if I bought one, Bryce would be pulling all the fish in anyway, so I’ll buy one when he goes home.  By the way Bryce is out in the dinghy fishing as I type.  Anyway, after the event of landing the fish and regaining our course I noticed the wind had increase to about 24 knots, gusting to 28, from the south and in our face, giving the PAYC burgee and Old Glory a work out.  The next two bascule bridges had timed openings of :15 and :45 after the hour, so we slowed down and tried to time their openings.  The bridge tenders at the Anna Maria Island and Cortez bridges were extremely professional and opened on time.  We anchored at the SE Cortez bridge anchorage, just yards from the bridge.  The Cortez Bridge anchorage is very sketchy.  There are many boats in a tight anchorage including several abandoned boats that have probably been here for years.  With the strong winds our concern is obviously that they break loose.  After anchoring, we dinghied ashore to the nearest restaurant/bar and indulged in seafood.  We hiked a short distance then returned to the dinghy for a cruise through a small mangrove canal looking for Manatee’s.  No such luck as the Manatees have gone south.  Tomorrow’s course is yet undetermined. 

Clearwater to Maximo Pt.

Date: Dec 16, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  1325 ET                     

Location:  Maximo Pt., Fl.

Weather:  77/65, Clear  

Sea State:  ICW calm

Destination Tomorrow:  South                

Engine Hours:  1556                                                                        

Crew:  Bryce      

Comments: 

After 180 nautical miles of trolling across bays and the Gulf, Bryce jumped into the dinghy at Clearwater Harbor and five minutes later had a beautiful redfish.  We’ll have to keep him around to feed us.  By the way, as I write this he is out in the dinghy working on dinner. 

What a beautiful day!  I finally listened to what Ruth has been telling me all alone, “slow down and enjoy yourself.”  We left Clearwater Harbor at 1000.  That’s right Art, 1000.  I explained to Bryce that by 1000 Art and I usually had 25 miles behind us.  My sincere apologies Art, but what are big brothers for.  We intentionally kept our speed to about 4 knots all day winding south down the ICW, amazed at the beauty.  The entire 22 nautical miles covered today were elegant houses, 1^st class marinas, restaurants, bars, dolphins, mangroves and just pure beauty.  We went through 4 bascule bridges in which the bridge tenders were first class.  We hardly had to slow down.  They know how to do it right.  We anchored around 1525, between Maximo Point and Indian Key, near ICW mile 135 and took the dinghy to a nearby marina for diesel and water.  Tomorrow, Tampa Bay, then southbound to a secure anchorage as a northerly will arrive tomorrow night. 

Apalachicola to Clearwater Offshore

Date: Dec 15, 2019                                          

Arrival Time:  1330 ET                     

Location:  Clearwater, Fl.

Weather:  70, Clear        

Sea State:  Overnight rough, calmed Sunday afternoon

Destination Tomorrow:  South

Engine Hours:  1350                                                                        

Crew:  Bryce      

Bryce enjoying the sunset

Comments:  We said our final goodbyes to Art and Annette and shoved off the Apalachicola city dock, Saturday, at precisely at 800.  We rode the outgoing tide down the Apalachicola River, under the John Gorrie Memorial Bridge, into the Apalachicola Bay and turned east into the St. George Sound.  Bryce was fishing by this time.  He eventually pulled out the big weapons and fished all the way to the Clearwater Channel.  We hoped to make it to the East Pass, 25 nautical miles from Apalachicola, by noon.  A 1200 departure from the pass would give us an estimated noon arrival at Tarpon Springs leaving us room for error and the opportunity to go further if daylight permitted.  At 1125, we cleared the last buoy and pulled out the sails.  I set 3 waypoints from Tarpon Springs to Clearwater, hoping to reach the latter which is the most southerly.  We sailed for about an hour with flogging sails in light winds.  Finally, we furled the sails and started the iron mule.  I was concerned about the sea state because we had been under a small craft warning the previous 4 days.  But we needed to take advantage of this window.  We saw seas of about 6 feet most of the night and into the morning.  They were uncomfortable because they were southwesterly and we were heading SE.  So we rocked side to side all night.  It was nice to see a beautiful ocean sunset.  More amazing was the moon that followed at 2015.  I actually did a double take when I saw the huge orange glow over my shoulder.  The sun didn’t rise until around 700, I guess because we are on the west side of the Eastern time zone.  Sometime in the late morning we decided to change course and head for Clearwater.  I was extremely surprised at the number of crab traps offshore, as far as 40 miles out, in 50 feet of water.  We dodged them all morning.  It made me feel at home in Sabine lake.  From Apalachicola to our anchorage in Clearwater Harbor we covered 180 n. miles.  Early to bed tonight; southbound tomorrow.