We're focusing on April 10th, 2024.
If all goes well, we're bound to arrive Safe Cove Marina on that day.
We've got about three intensive days of commissioning before launch. (I'll share the list, don't worry.)
Then we'll need to spend a some time at their dock, where the potable water is available, cleaning and topping off the tanks.
Then. We can go cruise around for a few weeks. Not long. We have other things to do this summer.
Departure Plan
Tides at the South Gulf Cove Boat Lock (really El Jobean) are complicated. See El Jobean to see that high tide is really late in the day.
See Marine Advisory from Charlotte Harbor Boat Storage. The lock is manned 7AM to 7PM.
The departure depends on when we're ready. We have choices:
- They put us in Friday. Sat, Apr 13 H is 18:21. We leave after lunch and spend 3-4 hours in the afternoon, rising tide.
- They put us us in Moday or Tuesday. Tue, Apr 16, H is 22:02. We leave around 2 in the afternoon. Rising tide as we leave the lock. Sunset is 19:00. Plenty of daylight. If we leave by 15:00 we should be able to make the last manned locking out time at 19:00, and have the benefit of a rising tide until quite late. Canal water levels will be low when we start.
- Splash on Tuesday or even Wednesday. Wed, Apr 17, a new H starts about 15:20. From this date, we leave before 11:00 AM to get out around 15:00 on the last of the rising tide.
Sailing Around Plan
We don't really have one. It's less than three weeks between put-in and haul-out. (Hardly more than 2 weeks.)
| Anchorage | Lat Lon |
|---|---|
| Punta Gorda | 26°56.209N 082°03.842W |
| Matlacha Pass | 26°40.652N 082°05.848W |
| Matlacha | 26°38.220N 082°03.953W |
| Jug Creek | 26°42.372N 082°08.994W |
| Useppa Island E | 26°40.020N 082°12.512W |
| Cabbage Key | 26°39.346N 082°12.973W |
| Punta Blanca | 26°41.523N 082°41.156W |
| Jack Point | 26°45.840N 082°15.136W |
None of these are more than a few hours away from each other. This is barely a "cruise". It's more of a series of nearby anchorages.
We can motor (and/or sail) around for a few weeks. Spend a day or two at each site. Maybe try the ICW up to Placida. That's the extent of our ambition, right now.
Return and Haul-Out
We'd like to get hauled May 3.
May 2 H is at 13:51. So we can transit the lock mid-morning (i.e. 9:51) to ride the rising tide.
if they don't get us out Friday. We can wait around until Monday or Tuesday. We don't want to push it. We have places to go.
We have to clean up and do hurricane prep. We won't be back until November or December.