Talking About Adventure In Small Boats
They arrived at the Fort Desoto campground Thursday afternoon. Friday, what else ... last minutes everythings
, getting ready for tomorrow's launch. Sure hope somebody is able to post a video of their launch, cuz' I'd sure like to see it... Good luck, guys!
Mrs. Etch
P.S. -- Pretend you hear me --- "Love You, Bob!"
We arrived at 6:30pm at CP1 to meet Etchemin and NiteNavigator, and expected them around 7:00. They arrived at 7:59. Nerve-wracking! [Now NiteSong knows how Etch & Mrs. Etch feel every year watching her and NiteNavigator…] They had “fun” at Stump Pass, but we’ll let them tell you about it later. They said going out into the Gulf was definitely treacherous. They plan to stay in the ICW when they leave CP1, and might stop for a few hours of zzzz’s somewhere. CP2, here they come!
NiteSong & Mrs. Etch
After the wind-beating NiteNavigator & Etchemin took on Saturday, they decided to anchor at 10:30pm for some rest about half-way between CP1 and the Boca Grande Causeway. The boat was too wet to use their sleeping bags, so they stayed in their wet clothes. They didn’t get a lot of sleep, but they caught enough zzzz’s to pull anchor at 7:20am Sunday. Unfortunately, when they raised the sail, they discovered that instead of 3 pop-rivets on the boom, only 1 was holding. A tool-kit repair was necessary. At 10:15am, they are approaching the mouth to Charlotte Harbor. They have decided to stay in the ICW and let the sun work on drying everything out.
Mrs. Etch & NiteSong
Sunday 3:38pm, Etch & NiteNavigator were just south of the Sanibel Causeway, at 26.477510 ‑82.011810. They plan to go about 5 miles more to Lover’s Key. They will have to repair a broken tiller-tamer. Plan to put up the boat cabin, get out of their wet clothes, and into their sleeping bags. Temperature there projected to be in the low 40’s until moving upwards at 7am Monday morning. (Stan said he can’t wait to tell everyone he spent the night with Bob on Lover’s Key….
)
Mrs. Etch & NiteSong
On Monday at 9:22am, NiteNavigator & Etchemin are in NE winds going 7.2 knots. Both are doing well. The only paddling done on Sunday was into Lover’s Key; all else was sailing. The tiller tamer has been tied off to a cleat, so it’s working fine. They are coming up on Doctor’s Pass. They need a high tide to head into CP2, so might have to tie off at Indian Key & wait.
NiteSong & Mrs. Etch
Etchemin called Monday at 2:30pm while they were sailing past Caxambus Pass on the south side of Marco Island. They have decided to go around the shoals and instead sail for Cape Romano. Their immediate goal is White Horse Key, but if conditions are favorable, they will keep going. They hope to catch the tide at Indian Key. If not, they will tuck in & wait for the incoming tide.
Mrs. Etch
NiteNavigator called to advise that they stopped for the day at 7:23pm, about half a mile past Indian Key (25.82378, -81.44907). The tide is now out, and will not start back in until after 2:30am. They plan to sleep and pull anchor Tuesday at 4:00am. Hope to make CP2 by 8:00am and relax there a bit. The tide is scheduled to be outgoing at 9:30am, and that’s when they want to head out of Choko.
NiteSong & Mrs. Etch
Etchemin & NiteNavigator pulled anchor Tuesday morning at 4:33am, arriving at CP2 at 7:26am. They were chowing down about 8:00 when NiteSong, I, and two mini-dachshunds pulled up beside their SeaPearl. Neat to see the surprise on their faces! 
We greeted and meandered a little, trying not to get in the way. When the tide was right at 9:10am, they turned the SeaPearl around and NiteNavigator grabbed the oars. They paddled off around the bend. By the time we arrived at home in Port Charlotte, they were heading SE in the Gulf at 4.15 knots.
Mrs. Etch || Tuesday, 12:45pm
Great news, forecast tomorrow is a west wind. Looks promising for a sail all the way to Key Largo.
SPOTs look like NiteNavigator & Etchemin were pulling up anchor on Wednesday shortly before 4am. They’ve sailed 21 miles and are in the last eastwardly stretch into CP3. Winds look favorable for them to possibly even try for the finish today. NiteSong & I wouldn’t put it past them. We’ll see….
Mrs. Etch
NiteNavigator called when they finally got cell reception, about half-way between East Cape and Flamingo, going about 5.5 knots. He had quite the story. Last night, he and Etchemin were trying to run 180° down the coast, but they were tacking in & out so much that they decided to drop anchor 2 to 3 miles out. They put up the tent & slept. They woke shortly before 4am to banging & clanking. Winds! Up & at ‘em!! Sailed past Shark River Island & NWCape, going about 6 mph. Then suddenly, between NWCape & MiddleCape, the port side aka broke. Talk about excitement!! Stan quickly took over the helm & Bob tied everything off. Now they only have the one ama on the starboard side; none on the port side. They are currently going between 5 & 5.5 knots and hope to make Flamingo by noon. They’ll make repairs in Flamingo by tying the aka/ama off close to the boat; making a permanent repair requires a weld. They’d like to be out of Flamingo by 2pm. If the winds get too strong for just one ama, they will pull behind a key & drop anchor. Their goal is to make the Finish by midnight. But if the wind changes, or further equipment problems occur, it could be noon Thursday.
Mrs. Etch
Tyro, I'm not sure Stan & Bob would agree with them being old guys.... hehehe ... In any case, before arriving at CP3, NiteNavigator was able to lean over whatever to make the repairs they needed. As a result, they didn't have to wait to take off. They arrived at CP3 at 11:35am and were on their way again at 12:15pm. Off to the Finish! Go You Old Guys!!! 
Oops, my bad... Go Etchemin & NiteNavigator!!! 
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Etchemin & NiteNavigator have reached the Finish on Wednesday at 7:26pm! Way to go! 
Woohoo!
