6 January, 2019. Steinhatchee at sunset

Our track across.  10.9 engine hours; 82 SM

Made it.  Great crossing, weather very favorable.  Boat and crew well, but pooped

This morning billion stars; horizon to horizon.  Good night sleep, wind less than 10 and swell decreased.  Gentle rocking but very comfortable. Departed the anchorage as it was just turning a bit pink in the east.  Anchor up and underway at 0640.

My paid weather forecast:  CWF2 - Depart: Carrabelle, FL - To: Steinhatchee, fl and on to CedarKey Tue7 - (p) Serenity - 27' , Albin 27 FC

Mon6 looks terrific. There will be a little land-breeze-enhanced N wind Mon6 morning, but it ends quickly, and the rest of the day is ideal, under HI pressure with little wind & calm seas.

Mon6 morning departing Carrabelle area, from 6am-10am: 340-360@10g14, wind-chop 1-2', STRATEGY: I would probably try to parallel the Coast, remaining as close to the Beach as possible, to minimize fetch and hence seas. If this becomes too uncomfortable, consider altering course more to the SE, to put wind/seas on your Port stern quarter.

Mon6 from 10am-2pm: 360@9<000-030@5, wind-chop 1-2'<0-1'. STRATEGY: as conditions settle, make course direct for Steinhatchee.

NOTE: the "<" symbol describes a TREND in conditions during specified timeframe and should be read as the word BECOMING.

Mon6 from 2pm-Sunset: variable wind probably switches from NNE in direction to SW-W in direction in a seabreeze, but it's all 7k-or-less, wind-chop 0-1'.

My observations:
Lee of dog island swell wnw shallow wind ripple.  About 0815 out of lee of the island a north wind--10 adding .5-1.0 wind wave on swell.  Building to 1-2, white caps frequently. Still not bad.  66 miles to go

1000--52 miles to go--northerly 10-12 with average 1-2 foot wind wave with west swells on port beam.  Very rollie at times.  White caps occasionally Clear and sunny.  So far so good.  Winds should shift and seas reduce within couple of hours.

1200--35 miles to go.  Northerlies 10 steady.  Wind chop from beam to slightly aft abeam.  White caps infrequently 1-1.5 wind chop.

1400--clear sunny, northerlies below 10, 1-2 foot swell with wind ripples.  26 miles to go.

Distant trees seen to NE @1435

1600. 15 Sm out.  Wind has shifted wsw--10. Now have 1-2 foot wind chop on stern.  Frequent white caps.  Heading toward anchorage inside.

The channel in is narrow and winding.  Anchorage protected, saw grass on west side, condos on east side.  Dropped anchor in 8 feet of water, expect 3 foot tide range so should be good to go.  Anchor set at 1730.  (map)  We are pretty pooped.  Probably will reassess weather tomorrow; seems there are increasing west winds later tomorrow and the next.  Our course out of here is southernly so strong west winds will will make for a very uncomfortable ride.

Here is what is happening:  Steinhatchee

1283.2 hobbs; 1277 Sm elapsed