FRIDAY 11/9/2012 SEBASTIAN TO SUNSET BAY MARINA IN STUART

50 NM

Leaving Sebastian was quite a process this morning.  The wind was blowing and there was no room for Dan to spin Quest to head out forward.  So, I took the tender out into the main channel and Dan backed the Quest, and backed the Quest, and  backed the Quest until he was far enough into the cut to spin her around and head on into the main channel.  Whew!!!   Reunited, we all sailed on.

SEBASTIAN RIVER MARINA

QUEST PREPARING TO BACK OUT THE CUT

We all tried to enjoy our last day sailing.  Richard and Charlene basked in the intermittent sunshine while watching for visiting dolphin.  Dan kicked back in his “driving” position while taking in the ever changing sights along shore.   Quest sailed past Winter Beach, Vero Beach, St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and Jensen before heading up the St. Lucie River to our destination in Stuart.  In Fort Pierce we passed this Patrol Boat loaded down with decked-out personnel.  We weren’t sure what they were up to but were totally prepared to be boarded.  Didn’t happen!

RICHARD AND CHARLENE BASKING IN THE SUN

CAVORTING DOLPHIN

REALLY, THIS IS HOW DAN DRIVES MUCH OF THE TIME

THE LOADED PATROL BOAT

 

In the afternoon we began to see (and HEAR!) jets screaming all around us.  We saw one go straight up, stall out, drop then quickly recover and zoom off.  There were big ones, little ones, fast ones and faster ones all around us.  It just took your breath away to watch.  Later we found out that they are preparing for an airshow this weekend and we will have a grand view from the marina.

ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM

 

Our arrival at the Sunset Bay Marina was heralded by some gusty blows.  Off in the tender I went while Dan and crew headed into the marina, spun Quest, backed into the slip, tied up and prepared a place for the con-Quest to reside.  How nice it has been having Richard and Charlene’s able assistance during our journey south. 

WELCOME TO STUART

 

Garth and Cathy on Algonquin greeted us at the dock.  These are the folks we met in Ft. Lauderdale on the New River while Dan was attending his Captain’s Class.  They have a 53’ Yachtfish Hatteras and we were going to travel to the Bahamas with them last winter.  Hurricane Irene put the kibosh on that idea when she shut down the Erie Canal Locks with Algonquin in Toronto.  Being the resourceful couple they are, they “made lemonade” and continued on to do the “Loop”.  We were so glad to meet back up and Dan has left them in charge of keeping me amused while he is back in Vermont.