A Challenging Entry

Two separate friends had told us that one of their favorite anchorages was Long Boat Key, so we were really looking forward to a stop there and perhaps a visit to  one of the two restaurants ashore.  Sand Castle had developed a problem with a broken dinghy davit. Their dinghy was held in place, but not securely and until they were able to get it repaired in Bradenton, preferred to go up the intercoastal. So Atlantica and Wind Dancer took the outside route, heading for the Longboat Key inlet. We had been told to stay to the right, but no one mentioned that the sand bar had moved dramatically from its marked position. Fortunately for us, the Bascule bridge was located within view of the channel opening. We had radioed ahead to tell the bridge operator we were on our way into the channel and he was watching for us. He called via radio to tell us we were way off the channel and to follow a local fishing boat into the channel. I am telling you, those red and green markers meant NOTHING. We had to travel parallel to the beach, about 500 yards from the nearest marke,  for about 3oo yards and take a sharp turn to starboard as we came opposite the distant bridge. Thank you bridge operator, because without you one or both of us would still be sitting on a sand bar a  half mile or so off shore. By the time we got to the anchorage, which was in a pretty cove and very protected, it was late in the day. The anchorage was very crowded for the depth and weather conditions, and filled with sailors and several abandoned boats, one of which broke loose and was saved by Luke and Jan, Jose and Char. This is not a place or an entry we would ever repeat.