Wahoo!!
We spent the first night anchored in a horrible anchorage, Shell point. There was a few feet of crushed shell ground over shale. I couldn’t get the hook to set and only slept an hour and a half with north winds of 15 – 20, dragging me across the anchorage.
We arrived in Fort Myers beach this morning and after running aground a few times I’m hooked into the anchorage in some decent holding. I just figured out where to find some wifi, don’t know who’s it is but I’m happy to have a connection. Splendid’s motor (Perkins 4108) ran like a top. I like it soooo much better than Namaste’s Volvo MD11-C.
Anyway, I’ll report more in a few days.
I can’t wait to get a good nights sleep.
Peace everyone.
– Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
Where is shell point and where in Ft. Myers beach is the anchorage. I was looking on “spot” but there have been no updates. I can imagain in an area of such dense population there are few “free” good spots to actually anchor.
Eric
Hows the homemade wine comming?
I’ll light off a spot today so everyone can see my new location. We didn’t start the wine yet but will in a few days. We had problems starting with the cold fronts, wine wants to start with a minimum of 65 F.
Cheers
Congrats on the move. Every move you make puts you that much closer to your destination. We need a new video too!!!
We will be in Ft. Myers soon on our boat as we make our annual pilgrimage to the Keys. We will look for you.
Ross
Interesting name for a shell covered bottom…
The currents through there can be fairly brisk for FL, and that is the fastest growing barnacle area in the northern hemisphere, and where companies test their bottom paint, so don’t be surprised if your prop needs a cleaning in a quick period of time. If storms are coming, you can head up to Charlotte Harbor where there are many protected areas including Pelican Bay and right in the town of Boca Grande. Dingy into Bonita Bill’s and meet the harbor crowd. Splendid spent 3 years at Semmer’s Dock. You’ll see lots of dolphins coming and going out the pass, so Guin will be in heaven – so hang onto her! It’s nice to hear the Splendid’s back.
Tammy
i would get out of there alex . There is too many barnacles in that area, you will have to beach splendid like you did with namaste in panama. Plus with all the strong currents. you wont get a decents nites sleep.
curtis
Agree with Tammy.
Pelican Bay is sweet atmosphere off Cayo Costa Isl.
Take the state park tram ride across .9 mile barrier island and check out the cool beach and day hike.
Good to see the anchor adrift.
If you get down to the keys just a word of caution….The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and its marine law enforcement partners — the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Coast Guard and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office – are gearing up for Operation Liveaboard. From Key Largo to Key West, officers will check these vessels’ occupants for compliance with Coast Guard-required safety equipment, state registration requirements, nighttime anchor lighting and marine toilet specifications.
Alex, Curtis and Tammy are correct with the barnacle situation, take it from me I spent 5 1/2 years there on the hook from 1999 to 2004 and the currents and the growth are unreal…I left just when they put the moorings in when Salty Sams Marina was the harbormaster and when he wanted to charge $245.00 per month just to park my car….that was on top of the $200.00 per month for the mooring..since then Matanzas Inn handles the moorings and I’ve been told things are a lot better…good luck..too bad you left Ft.Myers anchorage before Sam and Guin got to see the Pirate stuff I have aboard “Morning Star”. Maybe we’ll meet up someday, somewhere. Take care.
Alex
good to see the progress please keep up the filming need more of it
Wow, lots of good advise and input. It’s not so bad here and I’m getting some work done, and right now that is all I care about. I’m chipping the starboard side of the decks and Darrin is finishing up glassing the port side of Splendid. We may head up to Caya costa (spelling) in a week or so. It is supposed to be really nice. The currents are just as bad as Fort Myers (in the river), and as far as the bottom goes, I have a hookah setup (Sea breath) and do my own cleaning. It is a long run in the dinghy to shore though but it is what it is.
When you get up to Caya Costa, ask about the tunnel of love. It’s a clearing through the mangrove that takes you through the island, and you come out at the beach. As you go through this total canopy you expect a gator to bite or a snake to drop down, and it’s a real sense of what Florida might have been like. Come and go at higher tides. There are books aboard that tell you how to get into Pelican Bay, but things may have shifted since Charlie, so ask around for up to date knowledge. You may bump a big until you find your way, but it’s well worth it. There’s also a cove off this cove that often has manatees. It’s a very peaceful anchorage, and you can sail up and down the harbor for your shake down trials. Do not anchor across from Cabbage Key, as the big power boats set up so much wake they’ll knock masts into each other! You can also go south of Useppa and then anchor to it’s east. There’s usually no one else there, and the fishing is good.