Departure delayed and we sit 100 yards from B-Dock on the fuel dock waiting for a weather and tide window to exit the Bay and head south without headwinds. A last dinner with crew on shore as we wait for the front to pass, and our departure. Waking every two hours now to check radar and conditions is almost a night watch, but Untethered remains tethered to the dock. The front and rain finally pass at 3 am and tides are up as we ready the boat, cast lines and head into Sarasota Bay and to the one bridge and pass that are our gateway to the Gulf. It is still dark as we transit Sarasota Bay north and navigate the narrow ICW channel. We make the tight turn into Longboat Pass as the bridge is lifting as we see the Gulf ahead…..finally fully Untethered.

Perfect downwind sailing as we head South and the progress is fast towards the Florida Keys….boat and crew moving easily and glad to be at sea and underway.

Sunrise brings Key West over the Port bow and Untethered slips quietly through the channel system and just off the Key West sunset party docks and normally busy downtown streets and shops. Glad to be slipping past as the Key West day begins with a comfortable distance from shore.