Sunday, Jan 23- our last day in Sarasota and yes! we got off the boat for a reminiscing stroll around St Armands Circle. St Armands Key is very small and would be nothing more than a blip as one drove over the Ringling Causeway Bridge from Sarasota to Longboat Key and north toward Bradenton; except for the Circle.

St. Armand's circle - oodles of shops in multi rings around the center

With easily over 100 shops and eateries it’s a shoppers’ delight with something for everyone and any budget.  Our special fondness goes back many years to the visits we made to Russ’s parents’ who retired to a cozy house with an in-law apt on Longboat Key. We loved the area so much that we chose to be married on a chartered Krogen trawler in Sarasota Bay. We like to think that during our day out on the Bay with Capt Tracey, our path came near the one taken by Viking on May 5 1990.
Saturday, with the wind increasing every hour and us having no desire to entertain the entire Bay sending waves our way- broadside yet- we moved a couple miles to a very protected but small spot between Otter Key (a spoil island with mangroves & pines) and St. Armands Key.  We were rewarded with a good night’s sleep and a great spot to view all kinds of birds hanging out on Otter Key. Egrets, herons and a cute family of Ibis: mom, dad and junior. Good thing we didn’t develop an aversion to mangroves (gosh that was almost a month ago) as they are everywhere- at least it seems that way when one is anchoring out all the time.
In addition to our charts and various ICW and Waterway Guides, we also participate with Active Captain, a cruisers’ interactive online cruising guide; the best thing since chartplotters. We use it to get most of our info on the good places to anchor, where to land the dinghy and where to shop, get water, etc.  An app on my iPhone, it is easy to access and the GPS in the phone allows Active Captain to know where we are. We can see a chart view of any area, with tons of markers that with a touch give you current info about whatever you’ve selected along with reviews by cruisers who add their experiences.
This was how we learned of Otter Key and that a short dinghy ride would take us to within 1/2 block of St Armands Circle. We tied up to a cement “bridge” and while it was not skirt-friendly, it wasn’t too much of a step up from the dinghy. Saturday night was cold- 33 degrees and the temp today was forecast to be 60, but the wind was down and dressed in a sweater and light jacket I was very comfortable. We even ate lunch outside on the sunny, wind-less side of the street and remembered to ask our waiter to snap a picture of us. Windy, foggy days behind us and barely giving a thought to the frigid temps in Essex, we enjoyed a beautiful day off the boat, happy that we’d stayed.

Friday, Jan 14 we once again headed out from South Beach, bound for Sarasota. We planned to make it a four day trip; weather was looking good- maybe a few days would be “sailable” and we were itchin’ to get our sailing lesson. Isn’t that how you would do it? Travel 3,000 miles, then get the lesson?? Captain Tracey Dell owns Tracey Sailing School and operates Maine Cat 41s in his business as well as owning one in charter.
So we decided to move along and just get it done. The fact that Sarasota is a bit north and the temps would barely reach low 70s ( ok, we want more) kept us thinking that unless there was a heat wave, we’d get there fast and take our time coming back down the west coast. We’d ultimately land in Boot Key once again for an extended visit and chill time.
The forecasts, as much we curse them, have been very accurate lately and that has enabled us to plan our travel days so that we sail (saving fuel $) as much as possible. The ride is almost always smoother when the white Pentex triangles are showing off. Friday was such a day; we sailed 48 of 55 miles, getting past that awful grass bottomed Tarpon Basin and anchoring in Buttonwood Sound in the lee of Key Largo.  The engines ran an hour in the morning, making hot water, so I had a nice underway shower. Later on I was able to relax with a good e-book and enjoy the pleasant weather as we made our way toward Buttonwood- now familiar territory.
Saturday afternoon brought us officially into the Gulf of Mexico. The morning was a tough ride; the water was shallow and the pots were everywhere. Of course we’d set out at near low tide; thank goodness we only draw 3 feet. As we left the Keys behind and crossed Florida Bay toward the west coast, the wind picked up, the water deepened and pot quantity dropped dramatically- phew- we could relax. Minutes before sunset, we arrived at (not sure where exactly) but just south of the mouth of the Shark River on Florida’s southern west coast.
Sunday was filled with variety but very little sailing time- about 7 miles out of the 67 we traveled. Port tack, starboard tack, two sails, three sails, one engine, you name it; every combo but dead still.  Oh and our first Gulf dolphin sighting – was able to get a semi-decent picture of one pair.  We anchored in Marco Island’s Factory Bay; a very small anchorage that maybe could hold 7 boats.  No time to poke around here now; perhaps on our trip back down.
Departed Marco Island early, all sails up by 8:30 and were tacking toward Cayo Costa, just north of Captiva Island. Slowed to allow a T-storm to pass ahead of us. Were lucky that day as areas to the south and north of us had nasty lightning and thunder. Had rain, and not much wind after noon time, but better that than too much wind. Lucky too that sunset is around 6pm, with “mariners’ sunset” a bit later; we anchored as the sun was setting. A bit too close for my comfort zone!
We will definitely spend time in this area on our trip back down. Buffet fans may know the significance of Cabbage Key; if not- stay tuned.
Fog delayed our trip to Sarasota, but as soon as we could see 1/2 mile off we went by 10:30. Hit fog on and off up thru Venice and motor-sailing was the best we could manage and still arrive before sunset.
From the Gulf, Sarasota has two entrances, one worse than the other, but we obtained local updated knowledge and made it in OK. Fuel and a pump out at Marina Jack, then anchored in the anchorage nearby (just past the fountain in this picture).

Looking toward anchorage from Marina Jack's

Wed- guess what? more fog- is this a theme or what? This day it mattered not; we had a slip at the marina- got in by 11- nice and easy and set about accomplishing our long list chores. In addition to the basics like laundry, we washed the boat inside and out and scrubbed the mildew off the Sunbrella  and corners of cockpit roof. Took the marina shuttle to Publix and a nearby gas station for propane refills. Filled up the water tanks- so nice to not be lugging water jugs and THEN we had a lovely dinner at the marina restaurant overlooking the dock and our boat.
Thurs was a huge success- and yes, we had early morning fog. A 10 minute walk to the nicest Whole Foods, then we began our sailing lesson day. Got all kinds of tips, plus Capt Tracey checked the sails, rigging and lines and gave us a thumbs up that all was good. Advised that we have the rigging checked by a rigger familiar with multihulls as one side seems a little loose. We now better understand how and when to use the daggerboards and that if they are ALL the way down, we draw 7 feet. Won’t do that in shallow water.
Russ got to try out his new wet suit purchased in Key West. After leaving the fuel dock on Tues we felt an awful vibration, which got better but not entirely. Russ managed to dislodge whatever it was from the hinge in the prop; seems to be acting fine now.  The water was not very clear – so not a lovely swim.
Friday Jan 21: ANOTHER foggy day and it lasted most of the day, having been preceded by rain early in the morning. A perfect day to be boat bound and catch up on internet stuff.  Good wi-fi was available for $5/ 2 days so we took advantage of that. Strong winds forecasted for the next  36 hours; if it blows too much we plan to move, otherwise half of Sarasota Bay comes rolling into us from the north. Not pleasant.