We are off

Nice bright sunny morning although it is a bit chilly. 49 st 6am. After a bit of a concern when the internal navigation Wifi picked up the yacht club WiFi and got confused. Once that was sorted out we were on our way.

Gorgeous sunrise. Lots of mullet activity as large numbers are in the Melbourne harbor this time of year. Pelicans were having an easy morning just scooping up breakfast.

Off the dock shortly after 7.

Passing Johns Island. We visited Carolyn and John there. Lots of huge houses on the ICW side that we only saw from the road. Tried to identify Lolly’s house as we remember it being on the south west end off by itself.

Winston the parrot is named for Sir Winston Churchill who Mike greatly admires. There is considerable debate about Churchill’s parrot. Churchill may have owned one. It may have been gray or more colorful. It may have survived Churchill and died a few years ago. Our parrot was acquired as an accessory for Mike’s pirate attire for Hoyts’ Halloween party. Only fitting that Winston should accompany us on this adventure.

Auto came with the boat. This clever chap is invaluable especially on long overnight passages. He can hold a course to within a degree. He seems to have a quirky side. He occasionally alters course without warning under some bridges or when some tools are moved around in the cupboard near the compass. That is the likely explanation anyway.

13:30 in our way out the Ft Pierce inlet heading for Spanish Cay at the north east end of the Abacos. Reservation for Fri night. Expect late afternoon arrival. Main is reefed. Hope to sail will full or part jib as wind is from the north.