July 20, 2012—Vero Beach to Lake Worth Inlet, West Palm Beach

                                                   

Imagine setting your car on cruise control, taking your hands off the wheel, sitting back, relaxing and let it take you where you want to go.  Maybe cars of the future, but with auto pilot on the boat that’s exactly what you can do.  Someone does need to be watching for other boats, obstructions, and shallow spots, but basically the boat drives itself until you’re ready to take the wheel back again.  It’s especially useful when out on the open ocean for long stretches as we were today or on overnight passages.   

Given predicted good weather, SE 5-10 mph winds, and shallowness for this leg on the ICW, we headed off shore.  In fact yesterday was probably the last we’ll see of the ICW for this trip.  Winds this morning were light and not favorable, but eventually increased becoming more easterly and we were able to motor sail for several hours.  It’s nice to have company, albeit mostly fishermen along the coast.  We stayed within a couple of miles from shore thinking maybe the current there would be more favorable. It took about 9.5 hours to make the 62 miles.

Once the boat was docked at New Port Cove Marine Center, fuel tank filled, shore power attached and Fritz kenneled, Dennis and I walked the few blocks to Publix to provision one last time.  It didn’t take long as we’re trying to use up what we have left in the pantry and not lug it back into the house from the boat once home.

If skies are fair, even without much wind, we’re hoping to average 6 knots per hour on these last three days to the Keys.  With favorable winds, the travel time should be shorter.  So we’re off in the morning to No Name Harbor in Miami, Sunday to Rodriguez Key, then be in Marathon by Monday evening providing the weather cooperates.  There should be places we can post along the way.  Thanks for following along!