While the fuel prices and location were both attractive, the Marriott Hutchinson Island "resort" was a bit disappointing. Regardless, we had a wonderful evening in Stuart and even the rain that drove us off the flybridge of Navigator could not daunt our spirits and the enjoyment of meeting new friends and connecting with MYC members! CA shared two lessons -- 1) About buddy cruising -- If you are not the lead boat in the flotilla and you decide to "run-um-up" - stay close. Navigator was behind Ivory Lady and by the time she got on plane at 18.5kts, Ivory Lady’s wake was reverberating off the sea walls from both sides of the channel. Even a 50’ vessel can have a real wild ride when being battered by multiple irregular 2’ waves. 2) Upon righting the vessel, a check of the vessel for loose debris below allowed them to pat themselves on the back for squaring away the vessel before departure – second lesson.
The morning dawned sunny, a quick stop at the fuel dock for Navigator and we were off for a morning run to Vero Beach and the Moorings Yacht & Country Club. The Four Amigos have enjoyed this location before, but it was a first for CA & PC by boat. Navigator draws a bit more than Ivory Lady, so the knowledge that the channel has been dredged since our last visit was good news for all. We entered the long Indian River, which is really not a river but a large lagoon ("a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef") which stretches 150 miles and encompasses approximately 40% of the Eastern Coast of ICW.
The lagoon has wide expanses, 65' bridges and many 25 mph speed zones. The signage along the ICW can be confusing at best, with many calls for "manatee zone" of which we have not seen a single one! Whether it is a ploy for revenue generation (either it takes you so long to travel that you spend more nights along the way or speeding) or residential preference, it certainly keeps you on your toes. And then, each sign is different - some more than a little confusing with lots of small print and directives. The sign here makes one question when it would NOT be a Manatee Zone @ 25 MPH?!?
We arrived at the Moorings with warm winds & bright sunshine. We were unable to raise the "dockmaster" (he had his radio off) and after having re-confirmed our reservations several times, he had us arriving the next day. We hope he is more competent in his role as maintenance man than as dockmaster, as communications, slip assignments, required dockage length and line handling are not his skillset. He took his paint cans and left -- without completing the securing of dock lines or power cords. But, we saved some $$ on tip money!
We spent a delightful afternoon in town, secured a rental car for our adventures the next day and dined aboard Ivory Lady. During the night, the projected cold front arrived - dropped the temperature from 90 to 60 the next morning.
Undaunted, The Four Amigos pointed the rental car south on A1A to the National Navy UDT-Seal Museum on the south end of the barrier island just north of Ft. Pierce Inlet. What a wonderful morning and a fabulous tribute to these men who commit their lives for our Freedom! The UDT (Underwater Demolition Teams) were established by Franklin Roosevelt in 1943 following a disastrous attack on Tarawa Island in Pacific Theatre. Unknown currents and obstructions resulted in the Marines being forced to begin their assault on the island some 3 miles out and swim to shore. 
Of course, many lost their lives before they even had an opportunity to address the enemy. Ft. Pierce Inlet was selected as the site to train these teams to deal with natural and man-made obstructions so that future assaults could be more effectively executed. As horrific as both Omaha Beach & Utah Beach in Normandy were for our American troops, it is inconceivable that the Allied Forces could even have come ashore without the brave commitments of the UDT forces. In 1962, President Kennedy expanded the scope of these Special Forces to include Sea-Air-Land and created what we know today as Navy Seals.Those of you that know CA & PC can imagine how special this museum was for them -- and for CB & AJ to share it with them!
After the museum, we toured "old Ft. Pierce" and had a delightful lunch on the beach (all the eisenglas was down to protect from the winds). AJ & PC enjoyed a trip to the Spa at the Moorings in the afternoon while the boys returned the rental car! A delightful evening at the Club was made even more special with Jim & Helen Dodds joining us. Great friends from CB/AJ years in Greenville SC!
Tomorrow we're off to Eau Gallie YC in Melbourne!
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