Still lots to see of Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor, but the winter cold fronts are coming through fast and furious. Which means that tourism has to yield to the exigencies of finding safe anchoring ahead of severe weather. SUPPORT HOW TO SAIL OCEANS ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/user?u=12372934 HOW...

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I finally enter Charlotte Harbor, four days out of Panama City, FL, owing perhaps more to the flooding current than whatever wind there was. But an afternoon sea breeze works up to propel me to the anchorage off of Boca Grande Marina. Boca Grande is certainly scenic, although the nearest Publix supermarket...

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I'm off to a glorious start from Panama City, bound for Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor, romping down the Gulf with fair northerly winds. But in total defiance of the weather maps, the winds just south of Port St. Joe shift southeast--dead on the nose--so I find myself tacking and barely making any...

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I find my way ashore to St. Andrews State Park, where I can land the dinghy, dump trash, take on water, and ride my bicycle to the Publix. So that's a win, even though it cost me $4 to get back into the park. Anyway, there's a window to head back south to Fort Meyers, and I'm going to take it as the...

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After provisioning and exploring Watson Bayou, I make my way to the highly recommended Shell Island anchorage. It does not disappoint. However, the weekly frontal passages bring not only brisk northerlies, as they do everywhere in Florida during the winter, but bitter cold with overnight temperatures...

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I slowly approach the Gulf Coast. Light winds prevail. Even with the white sandy beaches and tall buildings in sight, I see almost no signs of life other than a few small powerboats. Nothing on AIS. Can't see any sailboat masts. Did some apocalypse just occur? Once inside St. Andrews Bay the winds...

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I depart the buzzing and booming city of Key West, northbound for Panama City, Florida. After a mild frontal passage, which puts me through the usual sail drills, conditions quickly moderate. Wind and seas diminish over the next few days, making for slow but comfortable sailing. SUPPORT HOW TO SAIL...

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After a period of active weather, the weather maps are clear for the next week. Fair winds for northbound passaging are indicated, so I decide to push off for Panama City, FL. Besides my visit to Galveston, TX, in 2002, I have yet to cruise the Gulf Coast. SUPPORT HOW TO SAIL OCEANS ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/user?u=12372934 HOW...

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I arrive in the Florida Keys. Warm waters, sunshine, carefree ... um, no, not carefree, not in the winter. Cold fronts come sweeping across the Keys typically once a week during the winter months. The low islands offer little wind protection, and the holding is not always great. So one has to keep...

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I arrive in Biscayne Bay in the middle of the night (naturally), nearly fourteen days out of Poquoson, Virginia. After re-provisioning and making some repairs, I am promptly off to the Florida Keys. SUPPORT HOW TO SAIL OCEANS ON PATREON: https://patreon.com/user?u=12372934 HOW TO SAIL OCEANS ON RUMBLE:...

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Following that screaming gale I spend a week inching along toward Biscayne Bay in little or no wind. Entering into the Bahamas the seas become flat as a lake, and the sunsets are spectacular. Still I wish I was progressing a little faster, especially when the fresh food runs out. SUPPORT HOW TO SAIL...

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After a screaming gale I get light airs. Not complaining, although the slow progress does get frustrating after a while. An old Gordon Lightfoot song brings back memories of when I lived in a tiny apartment in Evanston, IL, worked at Arthur Andersen in Chicago, and constantly dreamed of blue water...

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