Naples to Shark River

On Monday in Naples the rain stopped around 8:00 (a new rainfall total record was set for January 27 in the Naples area). The wind laid down in the afternoon and things were looking up for my departure tomorrow. I was able to get out and explore Naples a little more on Monday. Quite an interesting city, I think it is on the other end of the spectrum of where I am heading, Key West.

Since I delayed my trip for another day, I had a chance to do some research on the best route from Everglades City to Key West. It seems most people on the AGLCA forum go down to Marathon and go down to the Hawk Channel and come across. I thought I could save a day if I could cut straight across from Shark River or Alligator River (both in Everglades National Park). In my research, I read where one person stated that if you are in a sailboat, watch for the low power lines going into Everglades City (my planned next stop). Things that make you go Hmmmmm. I emailed the folks at Everglades Isle Marina about this. He emailed back that he didn’t know. So, I got out my Coast Pilot book and found the section on Everglades City. Sure enough for the Indian Key Pass (Barron River) it states “Overhead power cables with clearances of 65’ and 49’ cross the river about 0.5 and 0.7 mile above the mouth”. The top of Lesson Plan’s antenna atop the mast is probably about 48’.  One-foot clearance, that is a little close (the Col. Regs state you should clear a power line by a minimum of 15’ to prevent arcing). I emailed the marina and told them I would have to pass. I was disappointed. A couple of loopers told me that it was a really nice place, with great rates. Perhaps another time, in a different boat, or by land.

I pulled out of Naples and headed toward the Shark River (on the north side of Everglades National Park). The wind was light, about 8 knts, all day long.  Fortunately, I was able to sail close hauled on a starboard tack, in other words the wind was coming from my left side at about 45 degrees off the bow of the boat. It is one of the fastest points of sail. To bad it is only blowing at 8. It was a nice ride to Shark River, and after setting the anchor, I was treated to a beautiful sunset.

I made my world-famous spaghetti for dinner (spaghetti noodles, butter and parmesan cheese). Ok maybe it only world-famous in Lesson Plan’s world.  I set the alarm for 6:15 so I could be ready to depart at first light, 6:45.

After the decision that I had to skip Everglades City, I charted a course to go straight across from Shark River to Key West.  The first leg of this trip would be 65 miles in a straight line on the open water.  I would be 22 miles off shore in depths of no more that 35 feet. For most of the trip depths would be less than 20 feet. It is amazing that at times you can be 15 miles off shore in 12’ of water. Tomorrow will tell the tale.

Lesson Learned: I was disappointed about not getting to visit Everglades City, but I was rewarded with a fantastic sunset.  Sometimes you have to give up something to be rewarded in other ways.