What started as a warm,stuffy night ended up as chilly, breezy, and rolling. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 woke me and it looked like sailing weather. Between the wind and 2 foot seas, I had to stop twice pulling the anchor. We motored out of the shallows and tuned south with the fresh SW winds. I left the motor running to charge the battery for an hour until the sun was high enough to energize the solar panel.

From 8:00 to 12:30 we sailed the turquoise Gulf under full main and the jib furled 20 percent averaging close to 5 knots. This was the sailing I love, comfortable weather, consistent winds, beautiful waters, and island music on the stereo. Listening to Jimmy Buffet, Michael McCloud, Jim Morris, the Island Time Band, and steel drum bands while reading a James Patterson book made a wonderful morning.

We arrived Little Shark River at 1:00 and looked for a place to anchor. Found a spot just at the River entrance behind a sailing cat and ahead of a power cat. 27 miles today. The next leg is 50 miles so it made sense to call it an early day after a perfect sail. Time to put up the mosquito/ no-see-um tent. Probably couldn't stay here tonight without it.

Fried up a yummy chicken cutlet to put over romaine lettuce salad with home grown tomatoes and finished the Patterson book.