Day's log for Saturday, August 18th, 2001 - Sanibel Island, FL

I rose very early. I wasn't 100% sure that transients were welcome here. There was no others present. At about 0650 marina workers showed up and I paid for my dockage. They were really nice about it too. I moved the boat to the next dock as I had been tied up to a fuel dock.

Then, I went to the Bean again, and the grocery store.

I rode back and got ready to depart.

0950 - I left the dock. I followed a course to the south east, then south, then west, then gradually easing to the north in order to take the outside route. I wanted this in order to get some experience with this type of sailing. It feels much like the Chesapeake Bay.

1100 position N 26 deg 25'08.0" W 081 deg 59' 59"

1140 raised main & jib, kept motor on to expedite my progress

1200 position N 26 deg 24' 40.6" W 082 deg 05' 0.9"

1304 position N 26 deg 27' 02.4" W 082 deg 11' 02.0" 5.4 kts

I had thunderstorm clouds like this one to worry about.

1400 position N 26 deg 31' 30.8" W 082 deg 13' 53.5" 5.7 kts

1453 reduced motor to idle, speed under sail 2.5 knots

1454 engine back to 1740 RPM and speed 6.3 kts

1500 position N 26 deg 37' 11.7" W 082 deg 15' 40.2" 6.3 kts

1603 position N 26 deg 42' 16.7" W 082 deg 19' 5.2" 5.8 kts

1700 position N 26 deg 48' 03.8" W 082 deg 20' 14.4" 6.2 kts

1730 Thunderstorm approaching

1732 Shutdown motor

1755 note that boat self steers about 6-7 points off the wind

1800 position N 26 deg 50' 52.6" W 082 deg 24' 47.9" 5 kts

1814 position N 26 deg 53' 37.3" W 082 deg 25' 53.0" 4.8 kts

1900 position N 26 deg 54' 52.8" W 082 deg 2 6' 15.5"

1910 seas much more calm

2000 position N 27 deg 0' 17.4" W 082 deg 27' 33.7"

2003 watched sun set. I saw a pinch of green as the sun popped below the horizon.

2030 dropped sails

2100 position N 27 deg 5' 23.2" W 82 deg 28' 56.8"

2138 docked boat at the Crows Nest Marina in Venice, FL. As the host led me to my table for dinner I asked about docking my boat. He gave me a form to fill out and took an imprint of my credit card.

Noted that when engine is running and the nav lights are on the alternator output is 1.5A and instrument input is 5A. This means that 3.5A is coming from the battery.