Wednesday 1/25/12. This morning was to be the trip back to Ft. Myers Yacht Basin but, we checked the weather forecast late last night and it says the winds will be 10 to 15 with gusts to 20. 10 to 15 are okay when you’re cruising or anchoring out. Even gusts of 20 is doable on the move. But maneuvering within the confines of a marina with winds at 15 and gusts of 20 it can be next to impossible. Imagine trying to put your car in a parking spot at the mall, moving forward at 5 mph while going sideways at 10 then getting stopped before you hit another car. The Captain made an executive decision. We are staying put until things calm down. Tomorrow the winds are forecast the same and Friday there is a 50% chance of thunderstorms. I think we will just enjoy the protection of Pelican Bay until Saturday morning.
Three more days anchored out means checking the fresh water and holding tank levels. You can’t pump untreated sewerage overboard within 3 miles of the coast; it must go into a holding tank. Our boat isn’t plumbed for overboard waste so everything (except sink/shower water) goes into a holding tank. It looks like we have about 20 gallons of fresh water remaining and about ten gallons of room in the holding tank. This will require a little rationing until we make it back to the marina. This is why the First Mate has a stash of four gallons of bottled drinking water onboard. Paper plates and Styrofoam cups will decrease the water needed for dishwashing. Sponge baths replace a full shower. Just like camping in the rough, only better! The gas cans for the generator are empty so it’s time to break out the transfer pump. I assembled an electric fuel pump with a filter and switch that connects to the battery. I can take fuel out of the boat’s tanks and refill the gas cans. When we are not cruising we have to run the generator several hours a day to keep the batteries charged which in turn keeps the refrigerator running. Think Rube Goldberg!
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