Waiting and waiting

We arrived in Carrabelle two weeks ago. I scan three weather reports daily with no weather window in sight. Because we are making a jump of 140 miles I must check the 0 to 20 miles out, the 20 to 60 miles out forecasts and the Tarpon Springs 20 to 60 mile forecast. Coordinating 3 is enough, so I don't even bother with the Tarpon Springs 0 to 20 mile forecast since we feel we can stand anything for 20 miles.

I am looking for 2 days and 1 night of winds less than 20 knots and seas less than 6 feet. Additionally the wind must not be from the southeast because then we would have to tack. (Sidebar for our nautically-challenged friends: since a sailboat can't sail directly into the wind it must sail a zig-zag pattern upwind to make progress.) Tacking could add another 50-100 miles to the trip and add a second night out. We have been teased a few times with east winds, north winds, and even west winds, but the old familar southeast winds return after a day or less. There is an old nautical saying: Gentlemen don't sail upwind.

There are 5 other cruising boats, in just this marina, waiting for the same window. We watch the big 40 footer and 48 footer with experienced criusers aboard knowing that if they won't venture out there is no sense in us even considering it. It's been bad enough that the fishing boats have stayed in port. One of the cruuisers mentioned today (tongue-in-cheek) that he was considering buying property here. When we all do go it may look like the Spanish Armada in the Gulf.

All is not grim however, we have made more friends, Jim and Abby on a 33 Morgan (who may buddy-boat with us), Thursday night we won a Trival Pursuit contest at 2 Als resturant, last night was a cruisers pitch-in on the marina porch (cruising women sure do know how to drink!) and, of course, the beach is within walking distance.

De Anne and Abby walking the beach: