Home Sweet Home!

Thanks to a great deal of luck with tides we made record time around the inland side of Marco and Goodland. We cleared Coon Key and re-entered the Ten Thousand Island around 14:30.  Our winds had veered more westerly so we were able to motor sail along the outside of keys. We turned in Indian Key Pass around 16:00 and rode a flooding tide into Sunset Island.

Two weeks and four hours after our departure from Beaufort NC we had C'est la Vie tied into her dock and a cool beer in our hands.

Thanks to Bud for his willingness to take his time to assist as crew and share the adventure.

Closing in on Marco Island.

As yesterday aged into twilight, the NOAA forecast became less favorable for sailing offshore through the night.  We elected to call it a day and anchor for the night.  We passed Punta Rassa, entered San Carlos Bay, and dropped the hook as the last light drained from the sky.


We greeted the dawn light today while riding an outgoing tide from the bay into the Gulf of Mexico.  Since entering the Gulf we have been motor sailing close hauled under the main.  

We have put astern 30NM and are currently 5NM out from Marco Island.  If the day continues to go as planned, then we should make it home to Sunset Island this evening.

Back to salt water!

Despite a foggy start we have cleared two locks and 5 draw bridges today.  We are now back in salt water just north of Ft. Myers, FL.

Our next stop will be for fuel at the Ft. Myers City Marina.  After that we remain undecided... Push on through the night tonight and hopefully arrive E'city torrow or anchor here tonight.  We are looking over weather predictions and tide charts to aid in our decision.

Dinner Guests

Ten hours of motoring delivered us to the River House Docks in Moorehaven, FL.   We arrived midafternoon.  The early arrival gave us time to clean house and shower prior to the appearance of dinner guests. 

First to arrive were Bart Blankenship, fellow Outward Bound Instructor and sailor.  He was assisting is brother with a sailboat delivery to the east coast of FL.  We realized via Facebook that our paths would likely cross.

Quick on Bart's heels, Anne arrived.  She drove up from Everglades City to visit and deliver a few groceries.

We found Joey's Pizza in town and shared a dinner at the picnic area beside the docks.

Lunch guest.

The forecast predicted fine winds for sailing across Lake Okeechobee on Monday.  So we awoke early and motored away from St Lucie Lock well before dawn.  We cleared Port Mayaca Lock mid morning and found the lake a windless mirrorstretching out to the horizon. 

We have now transited Lake Okeechobee many times aboard C'est la Vie, but have yet to sail across.  This day proved no different.  We set the auto pilot and let the motor hum along.


We did have a guest for lunch while moving northward in the rim canal.  A monarch butterfly landed on Bud's sandwich.

West bound in fresh water

After a morning of motorsailing close hauled under  the genny, we turned west and entered the St. Lucie River at Stuart, FL.  Our plan is to spend the next three days crossing from the eastern, Atlantic coast of FL, to the western, Gulf of Mexico, coast via the Okeechobee Waterway. 

Fifteen miles westward in the river we reached the St. Lucie Lock.  The lock lifted C'est la Vie approx 13 feet and into fresh water.  Immediately following the lock is a state park that offers 8 boat slips on a first come first serve basis.  We were fortunate to arrive early and claim slip #2.

Tomorrow we plan to run upstream in the St. Lucie River, cross Lake Okeechobee, lock down into the Calusahatchee River, and tie up for the night at the Moorehaven town dock.  
Early to bed... Early to rise....

Good day for sailing in Indian River.

After passing the Canaveral Barge Canal and accompanying bridges the winds picked up off our port bow.  The ICW transits the Indian River in this area.  The River maintains a depth and width that allowed us to enjoy some sailing close hauled southward. We were able to shut off the motor and make around 6 knots for over three hours.

 The time under sail proved valuable as we came motoring into Vero Beach Marina on fumes.  We fueled up and grabbed a mooring ball for the evening.

This morning we got another dark thirty start and are current approaching Ft. Perice.