"For the most part, a sailboat navigates through its world of wind and water not leaving a single trace of its passage. Nothing is consumed. Nothing is altered. The winds and the water are left in exactly the same condition for the next user. Sailing is forever." Michael B. McPhee

I love this quote, and I think that speaks volumes about why sailing is so appealing. No CO2, no fuel, no oil, no pollution. We sailed today, and we love it when we do not have to use the engine. The ICW runs through Indian Lake, which is a huge body of water. Because it is so open we were able to sail on a beam reach for a large part of the day. What a great day...wind in the sails and Jimmy singing, I wish I was a pirate on the Caribbean. I even sailed under a few bridges, which still makes Shirl nervous. On a beam reach you are being blown sideways as well as forward, and the passage through the bridge is not narrow but seems to be.  I start through east of center and come out west of center. The sail looses the wind temporarily under the bridge any way.
We are in Melbourne, Florida. We rented a slip at the harbor so we could take long hot showers, do laundry, and charge every thing on the boat. While Shirl did laundry I completed a few boat projects. My engine alarm has been inconsistent since Hurricane Sandy, when everything got soaked with the blowing rain. I took the face plate off and cleaned the connections and it is working for now. This alarm sounds if the engine gets overheated, and until you have adequate oil pressure. I definitely want it working. I also put silicone tape on the connections of the cable that supports the dink motor lift arm. It supports the weight of the motor, which is 85 pounds, when I lift it off the dink. Now that it is being exposed to salt water, I want to limit the chance of corrosion.
I looked at the chart, and we will cruise to Vero...Velcro Beach tomorrow. I am anxious to find out why so many people decide to stop traveling and stay there. We plan to get some sun and some rest. This is a lot more work than it appears to be. It is not all TiKi Bars and rum drinks...at least not yet.

 

 

Sunrise...this morning.

 

 Five minutes later...

 

 Sailing at 5.5 mph with just the Genny in 12 mph winds

 

Going under a bridge...it looks closer that it is.

 Reviewing the chart for the next day...a seat with a view.

 

 I really like this picture.

 

 Little pink and green houses on the ICW.

 

A couple in a large sailboat passed us on the port side and yelled at Shirl..."you need to learn how to relax"...I think they were being sarcastic.

We promise to give you a full report on Velcro Beach. One attraction is that it is only about $15 dollars a night for a mooring. Not bad at all. By the way, Shirl is doing fantastic at picking up the rope on the mooring ball with the boat hook.

Until tomorrow...sail on.