Beautiful Day of Sailing with Billy & Chrissy

We finally got to take Billy Kerstetter and his girlfriend, Chrissy, sailing today. It was 83 degrees and sunny and the water was a beautiful blue. Winds were 10-14 knots and seas were 1-2 ft. with an occasional 3 ft. wave. We left our mooring around 10:30 a.m. and they had to be back for an appointment at 3 p.m., so we hooked back on the mooring around 2:30 p.m.
We saw a turtle swimming in Hawks Channel. No dolphins today.

It was so strange going out and seeing green water, then there was like a line in the water and it turned this beautiful blue. I've never seen anything like it! (see photo)

We started the day with a phone call for an emergency pumpout. The head was full and we didn't want to go sailing until it was pumped out. They couldn't guarantee that the pumpout boat would be here in time, so Chuck went out and found Sean the pumpout guy and gave him a $10 tip and asked him to come right over.

Only 7 gallons would pumpout, so we need to go get some vinegar to help break it up. (See Maryann, it's not all fub stuff!) We have a 13 gal. holding tank. That's part of the problem being on a mooring ball. No pressured hose to pump fresh water in to help clean it out. I pumped some in through the head, but it needs more than that.

Anyway, while we were out sailing Jazzy got seasick. That's only happened once before when it was rough. Poor thing! I put her life jacket on and held her outside to get air in her face and she came around.

Billy took the helm for most of the day. Chrissy even took the helm for a little while. It was good to see them again. They are going to try to catch up with us on Sunday and bring us some fish! Yum.

We took them in the dinghy back to the marina and while we were on our way, Patti text me to come to Noble House a 36 ft. Gozzard, where they were visiting with Dennis and Barbara. They are the couple that we went to Fiesta Key campground with a few weeks ago. Nice couple. They have a golden retriever, Abby, who is 10 and a sweetheart.

So we said our goodbyes and headed over to Noble House for wine and munchies. Their boat is beautiful. I fell in love immediately. They have a 12 ft. beam and you could dance in the center of their boat. It is all open and beautiful wood. And it's for sale! It has a 5 ft. draft. No air conditioning. New motor and lots of new equipment. It's really a beauty. If only...

Patti is cooking dinner tonight. We're heading over there at 7 p.m. I believe we're going to provision the boat for our crossing to the Bahamas tomorrow. We'll walk to KMart, then Publix. I'll have to lure Chuck into going with us and taking the KMart goods back to the boat while we shop at Publix!

We'll be heading out of here in a few days to John Pennycamp State Park to snorkel for a day or two, then head to the Miami area to wait for a weather window to cross.