May 6 First Day Cruising

 May 6 - Hutchinson Island Marina to Eau Gallie Marina

Our first day cruising started with a nice early start at 7:15. Weather was forecast to be a bot breezy but that would be welcome as  it was also typically south Florida sunny,  hot and humid.   Engines started right up. I'm getting used to  the electronic throttles which require a very gentle hand but are extremely smooth functioning. We put in an 8 hour day and  traveled 71 miles.  Arrived at Eau Gallie with the wind still blowing and looking at a side tie dockage down a slipway too narrow  for us to spin.  So Martha prepped the lines and adjusted the fenders while we circled the small harbor before finally spinning the boat one last time, backing down the slipway and laying the boat ever so gently against the bulkhead. Those twin engines and  double propped bow thruster are making handling this boat a dream.  

Captain Martha takes a turn at the helm

Captain John always focused

The actual trip was pretty uneventful.  Just lots of watching for the next  markers to make sure we were staying in the dredged section of  the shallow waterway here called Indian River Lagoon.  We had multiple visits by groups of dolphins.   Interestingly, they seem to prefer  surfing along on the wave  at our side on this boat rather than on the bow wave they liked on our old boat.  On several occasions we didn't know they were alongside until we heard a loud "SPLASH" and would look over  the side and there they were. 

Dolphins swimming alongside

Eau Gallie is an interesting small marina.  Very good pricing and very friendly boaters.  Only room for a couple of transient boats but a nice snug harbor which we wanted as winds overnight and the following day were gusting to 30 kts. We stayed an extra day, walked the arts district as their old downtown is called, and relieved our thirst at Intercoastal Brewery by sampling their widely diverse selection.

A sampling of assorted grog at the Intercoastal Brewery

Voyage for May 6