Like many families during this time of COVID, we were mindful this Thanksgiving holiday to keep extended family safe and decided to forego a group dinner. After a quiet holiday with just the four of us, we took advantage of the time off to do an overnight trip with Salema to Emerson Point, which is at the mouth of the Manatee River (Bradenton, FL). We had first discovered Emerson Point a few years ago when we had wanted to find a nature preserve close to home to take walks. The last time we were there, we noticed a few sailboats were anchored nearby, and a small dock off the southern side of the preserve would be a perfect spot to tie up a dinghy to go ashore. After consulting our Windy app, we decided the prevailing winds that weekend would favor an Emerson Point anchorage, so we started gathering our supplies for a weekend on the boat.
A one-night stay on the sailboat sounds pretty straightforward, involving perhaps a modest overnight bag and a few planned meals tucked into the boat’s cooler. However, there is no going small when it involves lugging down to the boat an inflatable raft (with pump, seat, floorboards, and oars), several meals for a family of four (plus snacks, so many snacks), spare clothes, bedding, stuffed animals, and all the dog’s supplies (bed, bowls, food, dog cookies, leash, doggie life jacket). As I ambled down the dock with the marina-issued dock cart loaded with a teetering mountain of bedding, the friendly sailor across from our slip asked if we were “going out for awhile.” Transoceanic crossing, overnight trip with a four hour transit. Yeah, same difference.
The wind was a little light when we shoved off the dock around 11:00 a.m. to head down to Emerson Point. We decided to motor and took the “inside passage” route, passing Egmont Key to our right. The smooth water and uneventful passage was fine by Gertie, our German Shorthair Pointer mix, who is not what one would call a ‘sea dog’. She tolerates sailing, as long as the dog biscuits keep coming and we don’t sail in big swell. The boys love having her aboard and she keeps them occupied during the transit as they focus on making sure she has water and is comfortably in the shade in the cockpit.
We were anchored by 16:30, which was perfect timing to get settled in before sunset and preparing dinner. While it was still light out, the whole family hopped into the dinghy so we could stretch our legs at Emerson Point and give Gertie a bathroom break.
An often-discussed topic this weekend was that we really need to get a better solution in place for a dinghy motor. We bought our Avon inflatable off a Craigslist about ten years ago from a guy in Savannah, GA. He threw in the ancient 5 hp 2-stroke motor since I think they just wanted to clean out their garage. The motor isn’t a bad size for puttering around and is easy to carry compared to a larger 8 hp that is more in the 75 pound range. But, the 5 hp motor tends to work about 35% of the time, so for this trip we just brought the oars. Rowing the dingy is a bit of an awkward, cumbersome process, especially when the boat is loaded up with the whole family. The slightest amount of wind or current also makes rowing a lot more difficult.
After dinner, the boys wanted to tuck into their respective bunks and read a bit. Dave and I rowed, rowed, rowed our boat one more time to shore around 22:00 to let Gertie use the facilities before bed. It was a beautiful, quiet row to the dock, and an almost-full moon made it possible to navigate without using our flashlights. The overnight itself on the boat was a little uncomfortable. While the drop in breeze meant a calm anchorage and no worries about the anchor possibly dragging, the lack of breeze meant everyone didn’t sleep very well and the mosquitoes came to say hello. At one point at o’dark thirty, I was wrapped in only a sheet with a dishcloth around my head to keep the buzzing mosquitoes away from a meal source. However, by dawn, we had all gotten a descent amount of sleep and were looking forward to starting the day and getting some sailing in for the trip back home.
Spending the weekend on the boat was a welcome change of pace, despite the amount of prep it took for a single night on the boat and somewhat uncomfortable night fighting off a squadron of mosquitoes. We we definitely keep this anchorage in mind for the future, especially since it is easy to get to from our marina, and we can bring Gertie with us as well.
Sailing Salema 