If you look at the map that shows where we are and where we’ve been, you’ll see that today’s new position is back north of where we were at the Fort Meyers Beach mooring field. We’ve turned back. We got some bad financial news. That on top of the bad weather, the many small repairs we’ve had to do, my dislike of blue water (read night) sailing and being too far away from family, has finally tipped the scales. Earendil is on the market and we’re going back now to get her ready to sell.

We had a beautiful day getting here, but again, we had to motor sail. It seems the only wind we’ve gotten is with strong fronts or in the wrong direction. It started out promising, building to 10 knots and just as we were thinking about putting the jib out (the main was up) the wind went forward and died. We sailed the rest of the day with under five knots of wind. The water was smooth and turquoise and it almost looked like the Bahamas. We sailed along the outside of the islands we’d passed with Pat and I got to see the bridge between Sanibel and Captiva islands.

I told my brother I might end the blogs when we got back to Regatta Pointe in Palmetto, but he thought I should continue until the boat was sold. I might, as someone out there might like to hear what it’s like to prep and sell a boat like this. Writing is getting more difficult, and sometimes painful. Selling her will be difficult and sometimes painful, but we are looking forward to the next phase of our lives, so that’s a positive. I don’t think either of us has any doubts about the decision now.