The mechanic fixed the outboard water pump and replaced the thermostat, they scraped and pressure-washed the bottom of the hull, and finally the batteries we had ordered arrived and I replace all three of our batteries (known as the "house batteries" as they provide our electricity and are charged by the solar panels). Then we MOTORED out of that marina, feeling like we were escaping from prison, and went back out to anchor in the harbor. It was a long day and the wallet was MUCH lighter!!
A week later we were itching to go sailing again so we decided to "go on vacation" and sail down to Longboat Key and Sarasota for a week off (never mind that we are on permanent vacation! GRIN). So we sailed down to our favorite anchorage at Longboat Key where the water is cleaner and clearer. We took our dinghy, "Little One", to the beach and scraped and scrubbed the marine life off her bottom. Back at the boat we went for a swim which is something we don't do as often as most of you probably think. That evening a thunderstorm came through and the entertainment was watching a large trawler (powerboat) drag its anchor and almost drag into a big sailboat at the restaurant dock!
The next day we sailed down to Sarasota to anchor in the bay right in the downtown area just off a nice park. Sarasota is a beautiful, clean, upscale city. At night the condos and other buildings are lit up. There are some that have Mediterranean architecture and one with a large lighted dome that we call the "Vatican". It is very beautiful and looks like you are anchored in Italy. The city is in the process of having mooring balls installed in the harbor to drive out the "bum boats" as there has been quite a community of poorly maintained and derelict boats anchored there for years with some very interesting characters living on them. The following week all of the boats in the area where the moorings were to be installed were being required to vacate the area. We stayed for several days and watched as the characters tried to get their anchors up (each had several anchors that were well embedded in the harbor bottom having been there for years!!). Many were unsuccessful in getting the anchors up and they just left them on the bottom.
Once they get the moorings installed it will no longer be possible to anchor there for free and you will have to pay for a mooring (permanently installed anchor) by the day or month as we do in the Keys. That is OK with us as it will clean up the harbor, drive out the bum boats and make it safer as boats won't be dragging anchors in a storm. We will probably use the moorings at times as we do like Sarasota and the use of the marina facilities (dinghy dock, laundromat, showers, cruisers' lounge, etc.) are included in the mooring fee.
When we left Sarasota we had a great sail back across Sarasota Bay to Longboat Key. On the way we saw a sailboat that was dismasted and then a large powerboat with a hole in the bow! Apparently the sailboat (this particular sailboat is really a powerboat with a mast that can actually pull a water skier!!!) had hit the powerboat at top speed. Some of the people on the sailboat were injured but not seriously. Later we saw both boats in the marina in Bradenton Beach where they were towed. The sailboat was crushed in the bow and the deck torn loose and there was a large hole in the bow of the powerboat just above the waterline. Below is a photo of the sailboat.
We anchored again for a night at Longboat Key and then the next day we returned to anchor in our "home anchorage" here at Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. We will stay here until we decide it is time to go on vacation again. :-)
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