9 January, 2020 Crystal River anchorage after a rough day

Rough pounding and rolling trip.  33 SM traveled and 4.7 engine hours.

Rollie night with NE 10-12 winds and strong tidal currents changed twice.  Sometimes the wind on the beam.  But anchor held, clear to partly cloudy night.   Very chilly this morning--44 inland; 54 on the water.

Well the forecast we thought, was not what we heard.  We reviewed windy , passage weather and NWS Tampa marine forecast.  NE to easterly 10-15 knots with 1-2 foot chop expected.

A partly clear sky with approaching sunrise we weighed anchor at 0735 and made back out the channel 5 miles into the gulf with the winds behind us.

Cedar Key departure back to the Gulf

 Over the radio we heard a small craft advisory issued, but we figured we were going to be close enough to shore that there would not be enough fetch for the freshening easterly to build.  We were wrong .   We bounced and slammed through 2-3 footers for the next three hours.  Cedar Key has no usable marina, and no really safe anchorages that are protected from strong blows.  We were faced with getting beat up for several days with approaching bad weather or press ahead today with higher winds and seas than desired.  Crystal river offers both good marinas and safe anchorages.

Working the wipers

Plus heading into a low sun angle it was near impossible spotting crab pots.  Clearing the shallows we turned more easterly and headed for the long channel into Crystal River.  Anticipating the land mass friction reducing the wind and waves we pressed onward.  In fact the last hour was much better with 1 foot or less wind chop.

Glad to see these navigation aids

We traveled about three miles of the 6+ mile channel to anchor at dolphin creek anchorage in 10 feet of water.  Beautiful spot, ripping tide current and blustery east wind.  Set anchor hard @1205.  Glad to complete the day here.  (map) Lots of jarring and sloshing of the fuel tanks today.  The little Yanmar purred--good fuel filters and clean fuel?  Grateful.  Wind is supposed to die down overnight; really cranking up over the next few days so we will remain here.  Will relocate up river tomorrow to Crystal River Town and may take a marina slip.  Boat needs a good washing--lots of salt spray all over.  58 miles remain to Tarpon Springs, our last long open ocean crossing for a while.
SST 66 degrees.

Shell island, Crystal River

1299.5 Hobbs, 1384 Sm elapsed.