Gone Sailing / Abigail Grace
08 March 2018
• Ft. Myers - Placida
by Sunny, Windy
Almost Counts
"Almost" doesn't count EXCEPT in hand grenades, horseshoes, nuclear war, and apparently us. Leaving Ft. Myers in our wake, we were up early and on our way. A beautiful day. Warm and sunny with a lot of boats, of all types and sizes, about. A bit windy and a little choppy but we were on the gulf side of Florida and "almost there". Besides, it wasn't snowing. The water went from a dark greenish color to turquoise and dolphins were everywhere. They played with sv Abigail Grace along the way darting across her bow and at times so close to her hull we could have touched them. The wind and currents picked up throughout the day making our journey longer then anticipated. When we make plans, we also look at other options and have a "back-up" plan, just in-case. Our back-up plan was to anchor near Cabbage Key leaving us approx 13 miles short of our planned anchorage for the night. But, once there the area was exposed to the wind and seas (approx. 4 ft seas at the time). So, we came up with a 3rd option to continue to Boca Grande taking a slip at the Boca Grande Marina for the night. We could get there before dark and would be protected from the wind and seas. This would put us approximately 10 miles away from our final destination of Aquamarina Palm Harbour - GREAT. As we continued toward Boca Grande Marina with anticipation and excitement of our accomplishments we were all smiles, we were "almost there". That is, until we heard a loud and unfamiliar noise. Initially, Greg thought it came from down below as we had been simultaneously rocked by a large motor boat passing close. But, everything below was fine. After hearing the noise a second time Greg dropped the anchor (right in the channel) and went below to investigate the noise. Nothing seemed to be awry. And "NOTHING" is exactly what happened when Greg put sv Abigail Grace in gear. She "didn't go" "didn't move". Well, didn't go forward that is. She went backwards fine. That's right, "hello BoatUS it's sv Abigail Grace our transmission went and we need your assistance" - again. We cancelled our slip at Boca Grande Marina and waited for BoatUS. When BoatUS arrived the rough seas made it difficult for Greg to untie the anchor "snubber line" (a line attached to the anchor when deployed to keep the stress of the "electric anchor windless" (pulls up the anchor)). So, Greg cut the line at the chain. But, then, somehow, the remote for the electric anchor windless got pinched between the anchor chain (rode) and anchor windless pinching and cutting the wires to the remote. Thank goodness we had a second remote below, just in-case. After several phone calls to marinas in the area that provided service, accommodated deep draft vessels, and had slips available, we were on our way - towed that is. Greg sat back and cracked open a few cold ones, talked on his phone, witnessed another amazing sunset, and enjoyed the ride (tow). We were towed approx 12 miles to Gasparilla Marina in Placida - "thank you" BoatUS We were in a slip and tied off just as darkness settled - 4 miles from our final destination of Aquamarina Palm Harbour. Almost!
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