On Jan 29, 7:51*pm, Frogwatch wrote:
Left Tarpon Springs, Fl a litle later than I expected due to fueling
problems and when I got out in the bay it was 16 kts on the nose
building to 20. *It was all on the inside motoring down the ICW so it
was ok but this evening my face feels sunburned from the wind.

When I got to the Dunedin draw bridge, it was being painted so they
told me they could only open one side and that only part way but they
thought I could make it. *I wasn't going back to Tarpon at that point
so I agreed. *One side went up just enough for a 1.5' wide opening way
up at the top of the mast. One guy actually held onto the raised part
to guide my mast through. *Due to th bimini, I could not see what was
ahppening up there and suddenly the boat slews sideways and I hear an
awful dragging through the shrouds so I gently put her in reverse. *My
shroud had snagged to lowered side. *I half expected to have my mast
come down it sounded so bad. *Turns out no damage and I profusely
thanked the painters for helping.
Further down the ICW, *a very large yacht appropriately named
"Bacchus" was going up and down the waterway making a huge wake making
life difficult for smaller vessels. *When he passed me and I turned
into his wake, he saw me holding tha handheld VHF and he actually
taunted my on Ch 16 saying "Capt of "Ragtime", I got you a rockin and
rollin". *I ignored him but it sure is strange boating where there is
actually traffic because I never see other boats up in N. Fl (or very
few).
At at "The Pub" in the part of the ICW called "The Narrows" trying to
decide what to do about expected bad weather tomorrow. *Maximo Marina
who I called suggested Gulfport Municipal Marina which I had
completely forgogtten about although it was "Ragtimes" home port when
I bought her 20 yrs ago.
Turns out to be a nice marina and has working wireless which is why I
can *post this.

Glad your having fun, sail on.