We departed the St Pete Municpal Marina at 8:10 and motor sailed down Tampa Bay and out under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It is just as impressive from below as above. Due to the amount of traffic, we went out in the Gulf and motor sailed to New Pass in Sarasota. We got there and the tide was low and the markers missing so when the depth got to 6 feet we retreated and went to Big Pass. With a help from Boat US Towboat, we were able to find the temporary markers and work our way in the pass. We motored up Sarasota Bay to near the Ringling Museum to anchor for the night.

Memorial Day was beautiful on Sarasota Bay. We motored over to the Sarasota Sailing Club mooring field and anchored at the edge of it and dinghied in to the Mote Marine tour boat dock. A little pleading and we were allowed to tie up and hit the aquarium. Very nice but not like some of the big ones around the country. Mote is focused on environmental improvement and species protection. After visiting you put more money in the pot and feel better for having gone. Also visited the SOS (Save our Seabirds) bird sanctuary where they treat and sustain injuried birds.

After that we had lunch and motored up Sarasota Bay to Little Sarasota Bay to spend the night. June 1st will probably see us motorsail down the GIWW to Venice and then slip out into the Gulf to reenter Charlotte Harbor at Boca Grande. We'll spend the last night of the trip at Cayo Costa, my normal cruising location before heading back up Charlotte Harbor and home.