Sarasota Fun and Heading South again

Our time in Sarasota was filled with lots of fun.  We enjoyed catching up with Mary and MaryJo,  Sharon's friends from her time in Provincetown, who own a place in Bradenton.  We shared time with Barbie and Paul from MA who were vacationing at Anna Maria Island.  We did more cycling.  Our friends on Neverland, Jim and Cynthia, arrived at the marina and we shared the last few days in town with them.  We went to see "The Greatest Showman" which was terrific!  We perused a couple artisan fairs.

A return to Marie Selby Gardens had us enjoying the beautiful plants in the conservatory (click to make them larger).

A Dart Frog in a large terrarium

Jim and Cynthia joined us at Selby Gardens - it was a "chilly" day

We enjoyed a visit to the Mote Marine Aquarium and saw lots of cool species we haven't seen underwater and on land.

The River Otters (which Sharon had seen in the wild in Stuart)
are very busy and social!

Caimans - small reptiles similar to alligators

The Seahorses were huge!  Like 6-8 inches long

The Friday before we were heading out, we were fortunate enough to be able to attend an Island Packet Owners Rendezvous at the Factory in Largo, Florida.  The company had gone through a downturn due to the bad economy a few years ago and many of us have been concerned about the future of the yachts.  The good news is that the company has new owners who are full of energy and enthusiasm (and have a strong financial backer).  They hosted a factory tour which allowed us to get up close and personal with their yacht building process and the people who create these strong and beautiful yachts.  We learned about the procedures and materials that make for a boat that gives us confidence to cross oceans, weather storms, and survive damage that many other production companies cannot claim.  We met the craftsmen and women who are so very devoted to their work.  Tom, the machinist who makes every piece of stainless steel on these boats, must have said half a dozen times, "It is very rewarding work".  (Uncle Danny, you would have loved this guy and could probably have spent hours with him!)  The woman who was staining all the smaller sections of wood that go into the interior of our boats had to show Sharon the "back room" where there were many pieces laid out to dry.  She almost reverently pointed out how the stain allowed the beautiful grain of the wood to show through.  We marveled at the giant "CnC" machine that routs all the wood pieces used in the interior.  We were able to peek inside the new IP 349 being built, and then watched as they lowered the deck and cabin top on top of the hull.  It was all SO COOL!

The Mold for the hull - click to enlarge

The room where they spray the gelcoat (the outer layer of the hull).
They basically build a boat from the outside in. 

Tom, the machinist. Every piece is made within 4/1000 of an inch.

Raw Stainless and finished pieces

A finished chart table

The doors are hand built slat by slat 

Looking down into the interior before the deck is attached

The deck and cabin top is hanging above

The staining process

   

 Lowering the deck to attach to the hull 

Jim and Cynthia joined us on Dream Catcher for dinner one night

Fancy dinner salad on DC! (Greg's creation)

There were always a couple of these guys hanging out
on the dock lines of boats - easier to reach
the millions of minnows in the water.  

This large statue adjacent to the marina was inspired
by the iconic photo at the end of WWII.
See Greg standing next to it to understand the scale!

Hayden and Radeen from Island Spirit with us at the IP Factory

Dream Catcher resting at the dock

A green heron fishing

Sunday, we left at dawn and headed south on our 50 nm jaunt.  It was a motor day with no wind and very flat seas.  We pulled into our favorite Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa Island by mid-afternoon and joined the dozens of other boats enjoying a sunny summery afternoon away from the mainland.  We've enjoyed a couple of walks on the beach, rode out a blow, and took in the gorgeous views of what could be a Caribbean Island.

This is the reflection of the sunset

Not a bad place to weather a storm

Later this week we'll head further south to Naples to enjoy a few days in their new city marina that just re-opened this week, then continue south around the tip of Florida, through the Keys, and back up north to Miami, Boca and Vero Beach.

'Til next time -