Posted on March 3, 2022
Southbound Cruise 2021-2022 Phase III – We reach our southern terminus
Elena returned to SOPHIA on February 4th, flying into Orlando and getting a lift to Daytona Beach with her friend, Yelena (aka The Deuce, to differentiate her from Elena). After a few days of recuperating from jet lag and getting her shopping in, we were ready to continue on, delaying our departure to have a Valentine’s Day dinner in town. The flowers did not find us in the marina and were given to our marina neighbors who, earlier, had graciously provided me a meatloaf dinner just after my arrival.
On February 15th, we were finally underway after nearly three weeks in Daytona Beach’s Halifax Harbor Marina. We made our way to an anchorage on the south side of New Smyrna Beach. The anchorage is home for a number of boats, some abandoned, some with liveaboards—all of which had seen better days. We had decided to spend two days at this anchorage due to the forecast for strong southerly winds.
On the morning of the 16th, I poked my head out of the cabin for a quick look-see. Ashore there were some paramedics and an ambulance. A short time later a Coast Guard patrol boat picked up the paramedics and brought them to the boat just to the south of us. A sheriff’s boat showed up and hung around astern of the boat. Obviously, something was going on. A few hours later, a fellow from the north of us came by in a skiff, indicating that he was more permanent than a cruiser. I asked him if he knew what the ruckus was. He said the man living on the boat had died during the night, leaving a widow. They had been living on that boat for 6 years, probably anchored at that spot. I offered any assistance that might be needed, but there was not much to be done but express my condolences.
We were underway the next morning, in winds from the south at 15 to 20 knots, gusting frequently to 25 knots. Slugging our way south in this headwind, we arrived at Titusville at about 3pm. Not willing to go into an unfamiliar marina and a possibly tight berth, we decided to take a mooring ball. We are normally really good at catching a mooring ball on the first try. But with the wind and the current and the particular mooring ball arrangement that Titusville has, the mooring took us four tries to get moored.
The next day the winds had calmed. The marina offered us a convenient dock to moor to. We threw off the mooring ball’s pendant and tied up to a dock. In the afternoon, we made a quick tour to Titusville during which we discovered a cute little New Orleans themed restaurant, Cafe Paradiso. On the 19th, we changed the oil and zinc anode (for corrosion prevention) on the generator. Two days later, we walked to the bridge crossing the Indian River do observe the SpaceX launch from Kennedy Space Center. We stocked up on groceries, filled water tanks, and did laundry. We bought containers of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans from Cafe Paradiso which lasted me almost two weeks. C’est bon!
On February 22nd, we began our final two legs south, anchoring at Melbourne, before tying up to a mooring ball at Vero Beach FL. In Vero Beach, boats are required to “buddy up”, two or three boats to a mooring ball. We moored outboard “Rough Housing” (Jason and Stacey).
On February 25th, we made the three-hour trip to Fort Pierce, Florida. Fort Pierce Marina has been rebuilt since being heavily damaged by hurricanes in 2004. They established barrier islands to protect the marina, making the route in a bit complicated. We worked our way in slowly with good instructions from the dockmaster.
Given the closeness of Fort Pierce to Vero Beach, we have aways bypassed Fort Pierce, so this was our first visit with me insisting we would go here. Turns out, Elena loved the place. It has a nice waterfront, a mini-Kennedy Center theater, lots of shopping for Elena, and is near the beaches (although we did not go). The marina is modern and well built, the water is a beautiful green and the weather has been glorious—clear skies and mild temperatures. We went to the theater twice, once for the National Dance Company of Ireland and a show by Engelbert Humperdinck (a singer from the 60’s, he is 85 and still kickin’). We could easily make this a winter home.
Unfortunately, we are getting kicked out of the marina (big crowd of motor-yachts coming in for the weekend). Our reservations were only short-term and there will be no room for us after Friday, March 4. On that day, at noon, we begin our northbound migration at the turning of the tide.
Oh Captain, my Captain!!! Way to go! What a way to spend your Winter months! On the boat, with your lovely bride, seeking high adventure!!! Every sailors dream!!! Cecil, keep the updates coming! I truly enjoy your posts!!!