After our return from the Bahamas, we spent a couple of nights anchored next to Finish Grade in Fort Pierce where both crews sat still to get their respective game plans together. On Thursday the 18th, Terry and Lynn raised anchor, …
So, what was the gameplan for us? No doubt about it, first up, REPLACE THE AUTOPILOT! After a couple of months hand steering, the salty first mate had had enough.
We headed to the Fort Pierce City Marina, where, over the course of a week, we gave the SALTYMare a well-deserved and thorough bath, did some reprovisioning, had the fire suppression system inspected and certified, and, most importantly, spent a couple of days with technicians aboard to install the new autopilot. Naturally, the installation involved the emptying of cabinets, removal of ceiling panels, etc. Susie didn’t have the heart to take yet more photos of the interior in a shambles.
Speaking of pictures, however, we also now have a replacement camera. Back in business!
Yesterday morning, we began the sea trial for the new autopilot in the turning basin near the city marina.
First, we went round and round, calibrating the electronic compass, or was the captain still hand driving?!
Then, we used the long inlet stretch and its turn onto the ICW to test and test and test again. And guess what?
IT WORKED!!!
So, we wrapped it up, dropped the technicians off back at the marina, and immediately headed north!
It was good to be moving again, especially when the boat can hold a track. Yes, this new system refers to a “route” as a “track” instead. Hence, we will be learning new parlance.
Transiting the ICW, we always enjoy the natural beauty, and the mighty ospreys (Todd’s favorite) tend to catch our eyes.
We began under sunny skies before spending half a day cruising through squalls with sustained winds in the upper 20’s and gusts to 34 knots. It was a pleasant surprise to have the rain clear just in time for us to anchor. It was no surprise though to have the day end with a cloud-strewn sunset.
With the cool, stormy breeze, we spent a peaceful night anchored where we’d wiggled in between the crab pots. This morning we discovered that the anchor had indeed held very well. It was holding so well in fact that it was a bit of a struggle to raise it. When it cleared the surface, we saw why. The anchor came up carrying a large mass of dark mud and small stones stubbornly clinging to it, rather like wet, sticky Quikrete. Yuck!
Our Travels 