Lemon Bay to Cayo Costa

Anchored in the harbor between the Islands

Cayo Costa State Park, Group Picture

Twenty mile passage today out of Lemon Bay, through Gasparilla Sound and a piece of Charlotte Harbor, across Boca Grande inlet to Pelican Pass on the inside of Cayo Costa. Showers early on then some clearing temperature to 81 degrees with mostly sun and lots of moisture. After arrival and lunch we rode the dinghy to the State Park on Cayo Costa about a mile walk to the other side of the island to the gulf beach. We visited here when we vacationed at Cabbage Key with our friends in Racine New Year’s Eve a few years ago. Would really enjoy having them all here now.

We saw shore birds and rays in the water swimming and eating I am sure. The rays would occasionally jump from the water five feet into the air. We had never witnessed that behavior. They would jump with their heads extended straight up so we could see their white bellies then generally flop back into the water. Some of the more talented rays could actually flip over and land on their backs, fun to watch.

Sailing Fun in Florida

A fern growing on the tree

This is a great anchorage with very good holding and protection from the wind in most directions. I expect there are 30 or so boats in the bay and room for 60 more if necessary. We are trying a new anchoring harness it ties to both forward cleats and hooks to the anchor chain to form a “V” at the water line. It lowers the point of contact with the boat and I believe keeps the boat straight into the wind better than the standard chain arrangement.