The Big Water

On June 16^th I launched the Flying Fish at the Sanibel Causeway and proceeded to experience my first time out in warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  I was very excited; I had been Fort Myers for about six weeks and had been chomping at the bit to get out on the water. 

Fort Myers Area Near Boat Ramp

            No sooner than I was motoring out into the channel that I grounded the boat for the first of many such occurrences that that weekend.  The water was murky unlike the pristine clear waters of Lake Superior of which I was use to.  I quickly pulled up my rudder, which had just lowered and I’m sure uttered some explanative.

            I quickly learned to motor out into the main channel before lowering the rudder and keel.  That didn’t save me though.  Within minutes I was grounded again on the other side of the channel and wondering where it would be safe.  I actually looked down and saw the bottom was about a foot under the boat and I could see grass; sea grass that is.  There was also a sign close by indicating as much with a picture of a manatee on it.  That was new and different.

            Once I had motored my way to freedom I surveyed my options.  They were few.  I could either go up river in the channel or out to sea.  I chose the later.  I was careful to stay within the markers not wanting to ground out again.  It worked for awhile and I was able to get all the sails up and start enjoying my outing. 

            About and hour later I ran aground on a sand bar a mile or so off of Sanibel Island.  Fortunately, it was sand and not rocks.  Wow, I had tied my record the previous year in one afternoon.  I was doing pretty good; at this rate I would have the boat sunk by the end of June. 

            I sailed the next two days and managed to get the Flying Fish stuck each day, usually right by the boat ramp.  I hit rocks or coral on the third day and the boat made an eerie grinding noise as it moved over the shallow spot.  No worries, it only scraped the keel and rudder.  Both will need some paint.  I have to admit, I probably should have known something was amiss when I saw a bird standing in the water about a 100 yards from my location. 

            After my first adventure out at sea I came to one conclusion.  I needed decent charts for my GPS!  I couldn’t keep running into things, which would eventually be a bad thing.  Like, sink the boat bad.  Not good. 

            On Monday I went to a local Bass Pro Shop and inquired if they had the proper data chip with the charts I wanted.  They did.  I whipped out my credit card and bought the pinky sized chip with the entire US coastal water way data on it. 

           

            Two weeks later on July 1^st I went out again.  This time accompanied by my family.  It was a great sail, very relaxing.  I got the worst sunburn I’ve had in awhile, but am no worse for wear.

            The good news; I hit not a single rock or sand bar the entire day.  My purchase did as promised and guided my safely over the calm waters of San Carlos Bay.