November 25

We were off just before the 7:30 bridge opening. After we successfully passed through the temporary bridge at the Bridge of Lions site, Sabbatical ran with the swift current toward our next anchorage in Daytona Beach. The tide was an exceptionally high one. Bridge clearance became an issue for some of the taller boats who needed nearly all of the 65 feet that the fixed bridges here are rated at. The signboards on the bridges were reading only 63 feet and a catamaran in front of us suddenly wheeled to the side and then called us about our mast height. They wanted to make a judgment about the clearance, saying they needed at least 63 feet to make it through. I told them I was just over 55 and that the bridge was reading 63. They turned back for St. Augustine to take on fuel rather than sit waiting for the tide to fall. We saw them pass us later after we were safely at anchor at Daytona.

The Admiral took the wheel during a part of the voyage and this is the captain's attempt to document the event. We decided to relax the rest of the evening, inviting Eagle's Wings and a Canadian couple from Wingspread to join us at the cocktail hour.