Grand Sailing

No photos from April 8 as Oasis
returned to Longboat Key,
enroute to Sarasota.

April 8-12, 2022

The crew decided to head for Sarasota, but we'd take the inside route.  Anchor back at Longboat Key, then sail inside and anchor somewhere north of the bridge that blocks Oasis from going any further south along the ICW.

We were looking forward to good sailing in Sarasota Bay as the forecasts looked good for the coming days.

And the sailing proved to be excellent!

Brad settled into his post forward.

Security proving to be a non-issue,
Randy relaxes for the entire sail south.

Rob, on the other hand, decided to work.
Here he's scrubbing the salt off
Oasis's forward windows.

Admiral Steve takes the wheel as
Brad and Rob enjoy the sailing.

With superb weather, the crew
sailed Oasis the length of 
Sarasota Bay.

Small sailboats skittered everywhere off downtown Sarasota. 

Rob finally relaxing as Oasis
settles on her anchor.

Beautiful sunset at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron anchorage.

The Oasis crew takes a layday to enjoy the sights of
downtown Sarasota.  The day began with breakfast
after a dinghy ride ashore and an Uber ride.

A free, public art show made for a wonderful morning.

This statue celebrates the famous photograph
of the WWII sailor who grabbed a nearby
nurse for his first kiss ashore following the
end of WWII in NYC.

Bayfront Park in Sarasota hosted a huge display of
various large posters encouraging diversity.

Notice the bird on the branch?

The afternoon featured a nice ride and tour around most of
downtown Sarasota.  By the end of the tour the Oasis crew were 
accomplished "Segwayers."

The arts are a big deal in Sarasota.
This artist is preparing sidewalk art
for the city.

We always seem to have fun!

Dinner at Owen's Fish Camp.

April 11 began normally enough until time
to raise our anchor.  After 45 minutes of trying
every trick known to CaptMurph, the
anchor refused to budge.
That power boat is Sea Tow.  We called
them to see if they could retrieve Oasis' anchor.
After another 45 minutes, it was no go.
The crew was still chained to the bottom.

While the efforts were underway trying to unhook the anchor,
the Sarasota Sailing Squadron was racing their small boats.

This Optimist was one of many that sailed close by Oasis.

The SSS Sunfish fleet.

There were even a few of these guys,
flying ABOVE the water on their fancy
sailboards.

Sea Tow returned with additional gear to get
Oasis freed of the bottom.
That's the local Sea Tow franchise owner jumping
off Oasis' bow with breathing gear so he can
see what is holding Oasis' anchor.
He discovered that our anchor had
wrapped itself around an abandoned mooring anchor.
A check with the SSS confirmed that there were probably a hundred of these abandoned mooring anchors so
we were almost guaranteed to hook one.
Sea Tow succeeded to free Oasis and we departed,
albeit several hours later than planned. 

With another terrific weather day, we
sailed north the length of Sarasota Bay.
Our original plan was to anchor at Cortez
but as we were running out of 
daylight, we anchored off Longboat Key.

Dinner again at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub

Keith enjoys the Pompano fish.

Sandhill crane

Oasis in the Longboat Key anchorage.

April 12th, our final day aboard Oasis.
And the sailing was SUPERB!

This monohull was sailing the same direction as Oasis.
And what do you call this situation?
.  .  .  a Race!
Of course, the crew enabled Oasis to win!  😊

CaptMurph captured the sailing in a video.

What a great sail into Tampa Bay!