sailFar.net

I just got confirmation that I will be out from the 11th until some time around the 1st of the year.

I have a Pearson 424 to take from St. Pete to Marsh Harbour... the new owner has never sailed before.

She has a 50'+ stick, so I will be going the long way around.  :P  Probably go up to Lake Worth again to go back across.

So, I expect to be out of pocket for a bit.  Not bringing a computer, so I don't know if I will be online much.

Cool, Have fun!

I will be really cool the latter part of this week (going up to the mountains weather permitting) but will be back on Sunday (12th) and will be ruthless on the holiday spammers ;D

I have been away on an adventure for the last few weeks sailing aboard a Pearson 424, Emerald Tide.

What a wonderful boat, albeit not exactly "SailFar"

She had a bit of trouble, but I think she is going to be a better boat on the other side of it.

My friend called me about a delivery, he had helped another friend find a boat and it needed to be moved from St. Petersburg to NC.  The plan was to make a Bahamas detour of an unspecified duration.

The 424 has a 56' mast, so going through the waterway was ruled out.  I drove down and worked on the boat for a few days and we got underway.  The boat had just been purchased, and there were a few (ahem).... "Oversights" by the surveyor..  ::) but she was sound and we had a nice sail down Florida Bay.

The owner had bought her as her first boat, a brave step of "cautious optimism".  ;D  Very cool, but there were some naysayers who were not too supportive.  The project really appealed to me since it was such an act of "living deliberately" to step out like that.  I really want to see this work out.

All went well until we reached the yacht channel in the keys.  The yacht channel passes under the 5 mile bridge (also called channel 5) and is a tough bit to navigate with nearly 6' draft.

Just as we hit the dog leg, the motor stopped and would not restart.  I had been motoring since it was a lee shore and very shallow.  I did not want sails up in case I hit the bottom for fear that a soft grounding might have become a real problem in the time it might take to drop the sails.  I was able to pop the jib and unfurl it to sail through the dogleg, but it was close.  My friend and I sailed her closer to the bridge but did not have the wind to go under it.  After checking out the motor for a little bit tow boat was called in for an assist.

Plans were made to anchor there, and take a tow into Marathon the next morning.  That evening after working on the motor for a bit I was able to get it going again.  We motored into marathon the next day with no issues.  Unfortunately, the Westerbeake had suffered from some deferred maintenance and was going to have to be re-built or replaced.

I stayed with her there for the last couple weeks to make her safe to stay on the mooring until something could be done.  Among the surveyors "oversights" was the fact that the house bank of 8D batteries was almost a decade old and completely shot.   ::)  New batteries were sourced and installed (great fun from the dingy on a mooring!) so the bilge pump could run, and a small solar panel was installed to keep them healthy.

I hope to get back aboard once we get this all sorted out.

SWEET.

:D

/me is that color... um, whaddya call it? Jealous? ;D

hope your delivery goes good and everyone has fun.
Judy had a flight in booked for the 3rd. There was no decent window coming up so I flew over to meet her. we opened the cottage...all was well...no surpises (water, rats, mould etc) but holy cow....the yard was 4ft high with aweful grass. There was this tall-thick stuff and lots of bur grass too. We worked all week getting the yard so you can walk around. If your going by...drop in for a peek. Don`t expect fancy...but the view from the deck is priceless.
we`re heading home tuesday for Christmas...back right after newyears.
Enjoy your tour   

I am alive.

more later.  ;)

Glad to hear that !!  Hope ya had fun

Welcome back!  Cannot wait to hear more details of the trip.

Question:  HOW are you getting all these delivery jobs?  I "offer" and what-not and have no bites.  You know of the only close possible I have had, and that one would have been a nightmare had I taken it.

Just wonderin'.

I dun now John. I have turned down several now, most of which I simply considered, prayed, and said no.

Keep in mind, whatever is broken when you climb aboard (even if that way for years) will become your fault once you drop the lines (forget the legal argument).  I am much more inclined to move boats when I know the players involved.

Insurance companies seem to like the Masters ticket too.

The delivery (finally) continues.

The owner put $34,000 into a re-power.  :o

And then put 16,000 into rebuilding the genset, and replacing the AC and DC wireing...

It now has something like 740w of solar!

I will be offline for a couple weeks, starting next Wednesday....

... hope not to get caught in the gravitational pull of the keys this time!

And where is it going?

Quote from: Tim on August 05, 2011, 07:52:04 PM
And where is it going?

It will be in the same neighborhood as the Smollet 30... :)

Maybe we could run jumper cables over, and John could add that convection oven he has been wanting.  ;D

Do you have an ETA?

Quote from: Captain Smollett on August 07, 2011, 12:57:52 PM
Do you have an ETA?

Every once and a while a get one, but then I lay down and take a nap and it generally passes.  :P






;D



  No, I am going to pick up the rental car tomorrow morning, and drive down.  I hope to get underway on Thursday and we will see after that.

  I generally try to avoid schedules as much as I can, but I have your number and will call as I get closer.  Never really do know where I might turn up.  ;)

Home is the Sailor.

 :)

~~~~~+> This was originally posted, then removed from view. <~~~~~


The adventure continues.

The owner has taken a big step and invested in the boat in a big way.  She has been re powered with a new Yanmar.



We got back underway and had one of the nicest sailing experiences I have had.  It was a wonderful, dreamlike sail around the keys.  We anchored and swam right at sunset while the sky exploded with every shard of red yellow and orange imaginable.

The trip up the coast was relatively uneventful.  Made it to New Bern just in time to avoid the hurricane that was brewing down south....   Of course I just drove back to Florida and started a load of laundry before hurricane Irene made her intentions clear... New Bern was in her sights!

 Back on a plane after a quick trip into WestMarine for some extra dock lines, a great big Fortress and a storm sized hunk of 8-plait.  Arrived in Nc just in time to be too late for leaving the dock so we tied her down and watched the storm pass from the comfort of the third floor of the Sheraton.

 Been a great trip, very happy to be able to be a part of this.

The journey continues.

After several short trips around NC and VA, Emerald Tide is headed South.

I have a SPOT Messenger. I am sharing my location information with you. Click on the link to see where I am.

Quote
Just follow this link to see my location updates:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0k74N72e5suub7IY433h3m03C2KUPpGs4
If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it to your browser's address bar.


Thanks,
Craig

P.S. To learn more about the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, visit
http://www.findmespot.com

That's just the canned spot. Message, will update as I go.

I recognize that location.

Where ya goin'?

Hope to head se to cross the stream some time Friday.  Will get UW in the am, and hopefully the next stop will be in Marsh Harbour....

 Headed to the Virgin Islands from there.

After sharing the pictures from my Virgin Islands charter back in May, it was decided that Emerald Tide was going too.  ;D

There are naysayers, but with her new re-power, electronics, and sails she is all dressed up so she ought to have somewhere to go!  The owner is going along for part of the trip and will fly down with some family once down there.  It ought to be an amazing trip.

Yes, Emerald Tide is not exactly "sailfar" sized, but she has many simple systems and is sailed by a simple minded captain so there is that. :)

A canned of spots message... wha...? ;)

Sure hate it for you, Craig - I mean having to go to the islands and all... But I guess you'll manage. ;D Hope yer Stream crossing goes quick and easy! And that you maybe even get some downhill 'tween here and the VI.

8)

underway 0950 this. morning following wind, beautiful day

Trying not to be jealous on this day of Gratitude.

Fair Winds!

Okay, all you guys playing the VIRTUAL ocean sailing game...time to play more for real.

Feeling a bit, uh, "pressured" here.

Here's the Scenario:

Craig called me yesterday as he was clearing Beaufort Inlet to get my read on the wx as he headed out.  His original plan was to head SE, cross the stream, turn south and run for the islands.  His concern was a forecast for 10-15 knots from one source, a Small Craft Advisory from another.

I was enroute somewhere and pulled off the road.  Told him I'd look up what I could on my phone and call him back..hopefully before he lost cell signal.

What I saw:

Checking several sites, including NOAA's Marina Offshore and Coastal products and Passageweather.com (gribs forecast in 3 hour interval) AND the Synoptic Surface Analysis graphic broadcast as the North Atlantic radio fax a couple of hours earlier, I saw two things that alerted me and saw why he was getting conflicting information.

(1) Huge Low sitting just S of Bermuda...gale force extending out several hundred miles.  Though I knew this was not going to effect him DIRECTLY...it's reach was into the area he was planning to cross the stream.

Looked like 15-20 knots from the N right about where he'd cross.

(2) Another system was filling in along the coast (seen on wx maps later, see below, as that cold front that moved across the SE US last night), and that could potentially bring him 20-25 knots, initially from the W then clocking N as the front passed...again right over the stream.

I called him back and told him what I saw.  Here's what we discussed:

(1) Heading back in and taking the ditch.

(2) Not crossing the stream directly, but staying in the countercurrent inshore of the stream, and heading just far enough out to avoid Frying Pan.  He had a couple of "bail-out" inlets as options..,Masonboro, Cape Fear, Georgetown.

(3) He said he'd play by ear as conditions warrant sticking his nose in the stream to see what's what and if making a break for crossing looked like a good idea.

Here's the "problem."  When I looked before calling him back, and I SWEAR this is what I saw...the secondary systems boiling off that cold front were not to hit until TODAY in the afternoon.  I thought he'd have enough southing by then to basically be around it, maybe catching the the edge but nothing out of the ordinary.

Everything I saw yesterday at 14:00 local pointed me (and him via discussion) to making SOUTH, get away from the crud, THEN crossing.  He looked REALLY good, 10-15 knots from the W through the night if he stayed "inside."

Alas, when I looked last night around 21:00, what I saw was COMPLETELY different.  I do not know if the forecast changed in those seven hours or if I completely misread the maps, graphics and timestamps.  I felt a little sick.

The cold front was going to be churning up the wind, 20-25, right on time of where he was going to be.  The poop was going be overnight, not today after a the first night as sea being "restful." 

I added to my arsenal of data the actual data from wx buoys along the coast.  The most informative, I think, has been the one along Frying Pan shoals, pretty much within a few miles of his last SPOT message a few minutes ago before I started typing this.

That buoy was reporting (and has pretty much overnight) 20 ish knots susttained, gusts in the 25 knot range for the most part, WNW, seas about 6 feet.

All in all, it does not sound TOO bad, and certainly nothing out of Craig's experience.

But, looking at the situation in hindsight, I'm wondering if (a) I misread then data and thus steered him wrong, and (b) if he would not have been better with his original plan.  Wondering if he's been cussing me all night!

Had he crossed earlier then headed south, he MAY have had lighter winds but definitely bigger seas last night.  NOAA Offshore was predicted up to 11 footers in the eastern part of the zone (roughly where he'd be now had he headed more SE yesterday before turning south).

All in all...here's my conclusion:

Being closer to the shore has provided SOME shelter from wind-waves...there's still a pretty good swell from the E from that gale way offshore.

Anyway...just wanted to 'vent' more than anything.

Final remarks:

SPOT is incredible asset.  I was able to not only see where he was, but by assuming he'd hold course, project where he'd be at different forecast times. 

This is INCREDIBLY complicated with a moving boat and moving weather systems like that cold front (and it's effects).  It makes me wonder just how much effort most people put into their weather routing, and emphasizes in my mind why so many are content to simply run the ditch.

Passageweather.com.  I'll probably never use it again.  Those gribs make purty pictures, but their practical utility is woefully inadequate (in my opinion).  They do NOT show frontal systems, and in this case that was a CRITICAL piece of information.  Yes, it was not the only product I used, but I confess that I did place a little too much emphasis on those cute little wind barbs that I could step in 3 hour increments (for up to a week..though I looked for 24 hours).

Craig has the ability to send me an email from offshore, and said he would if he felt he needed a wx update.  I have not received one, so I am taking that as "no news is good news."  The SPOT updates saying "here I am" along with no "immediate" request for wx info are positive signs...


And hoping I'm being more of a worry wart than anything else.   ;) ;D

Punchline...even here in the warmth of my bedroom, it's a bit more "hectic" than "Virtual Sailing" when real people are on the live end of the rope.

Carry on, brethren.  And, as a parting shot...I more than welcome any and all input.

--John

Well, if Spot is accurate, he's been making 10+ kts for the last 5.5 hours (pos 17-18), in the usual 'middle of the Stream' area for offshore of here,& is headed south - that sounds pretty durn good to me! Not like there is a bunch of bad seas to bash through, with that pace & his waterline...

He is w of the stream not in it. Looked at the actual stream position data last night, so not going by an average.

He was shooting for a counter eddy, and looks like he found it.

Data from the fps buoy all night has showed 5-6 footers on average...not bad at all.

Edit: Just looked at most recent buoy reading...looks like it might be backing off a little bit.  Last hour has had nearly all readings less than 20 and one in the 16's.  Seems like 17-ish on 'average' for sustained speeds right now at the outer edge of FPS, which is within just a few miles of his last SPOT Pos.

My two cents; (and worth every penny of it ;))

Reading the dynamics (speed at which they are moving) of multiple systems in an area is a poop shoot much of the time.

My own experience reading weather data of an involved and evolving situation, has me often putting the ideal (in my opinion) scenario at the the top of the list whether it is warranted or not.

This not in any way saying it is not extremely important to prepare with all the best data and methodology, rather that one still has to accept that it may never  always be the right plan.

Quote from: Tim on November 24, 2012, 10:58:37 AM
My two cents; (and worth every penny of it ;))

Reading the dynamics (speed at which they are moving) of multiple systems in an area is a poop shoot much of the time.

My own experience reading weather data of an involved and evolving situation, has me often putting the ideal (in my opinion) scenario at the the top of the list whether it is warranted or not.

This not in any way saying it is not extremely important to prepare with all the best data and methodology, rather that one still has to accept that it may never  always be the right plan.

I understand that, and agree 100%.  I'm not trying to play one of those "But NOAA said it'd be RIGHT HERE" games.

My concern, such as it is, is that I MISREAD the data that WAS there.  That all the indicators, graphics, maps, purty pictures and text was right, and I screwed up big time.

Now, screwing up bigtime is fine if it's just an exercise in a lab or for gee wiz.  It is completely unacceptable, to me, in "the real world."

Hindsight and looking backwards is next to useless.  It does serve one purpose...to learn from mistakes when they happen.  Perhaps the learning here is for Craig never to ask me for wx info again.  At this point, I believe that would be fully justified.

Whatever the cause, I was wrong by more than acceptable, reasonable error in a few hour "forecast" or interpretation of forecast data projecting merely 12 hours or so.

Geez, a school child looking at the clouds could have done better...

Update:

WX data from the FPS buoy (which is now clearly behind him, to the north of him, and the worst of the wx is north as well) shows a distinct drop-off in wind-speed over the last hour.  15-16 knots average sustained speeds now.

So, he had roughly 9 hours of 20-ish knots, but should be past the worst of it and in improving weather now.  Again, nothing critical, so I'm not trying to make a mtn out of a molehill, or breakers out of catspaws.   ;)

I would look for him to dart E sometime soon as he makes his crossing.  We shall see.

(You guys have to understand that I post analyze EVERYTHING to at least this degree....it comes from a combined scientific and forensics/investigations background, plus a healthy degree of personality disorder, too, I imagine).

Looks like someone is going to be making a landfall in the Bahamas pretty soon...

You guys really are the greatest.   ;D

  John thank you so much your
advice was spot on. 

  I cleared in at walkers cay yesterday evening, after a very quick offshore passage....  Mostly sailed...  Was a good call to avoid the stream at the onset.

  Listened to a boat on cruisers net who was in 15' seas with wind driven cross waves...   He was 160 miles se of hattaras... About where i might have been.

  I did ride the eddies, and had some great SOG numbers....   The ride was good (Pearson 424), glad to be on an old school boat (heavy with thick fiberglass)...  Had a nice run into the Bahamas even got cleared in after hours w no problems.

  Had a brief grounding today.... Apparen'y the charts from 2007 are no longer accurate...  Great Bahamians helped me out

  Dropping crew at marsh harbour, picking up more in Georgetown then off to the VI's.

Thanks to all...  You guys are the best.

See John, in the vernacular "No Worries!" ;D

Cleared into walker cay, got fuel (and a rat apparently!) at grand cay...

South to Allen's-Pensacola, then Manjack...  Brief stop at green turtle then across the wale with a stiff ne wind!

Matt Lowes cay, then Marsh Harbour for a crew change...  Was to head out to sea bound either to Georgetown or Nassau but once again plagued by wx data.

Bahamas meteorology was calling for 20-25 k which is a bit much on the bank....   Got caught in a squall at the fuel dock in. Marsh harbour so I filled up and decided to heed the forecast and stay put....  An hour later it was clear so I headed over to hopetown, better to get some miles then none!

Will check in am, either head down to. Little Harbour and out or maybe till loo cut....

Wind will help me decide to stop next at Eleuthera or Nassau.....   Then on to. Georgetown and likely streight in to the BVI's...  We will see.

anchor dowm in georgtown.  amazed to find less then 40 boats here...  not even an active cruisers net.  there are not many folks out cruising this winter.

off of pr.  just north of the mona passage... close hauled at seven knots.... yahoo!

hope all is well, hope to be in the VIs tomorrow.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttt....  8)

Jeallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllloooooouuusss...  ;D

You be cruising!!!      Have fun

full moon party at trellis bay.  woke with sore muscles and singed hair....  good times.

Ok, backing up now and posting some more detail.

Trip from New Bern through the Abacos.

Depart New Bern Grand marina, day before Thanksgiving.

Sail to Beaufort, out inlet and south off shore to Walker Cay in the Bahamas.

Grand Cay for fuel (and to pick up rat), off to Allen's-Pensacola, Manjack, Guana and Marsh Harbour.

Crew change, and down to Hope Town.  South for Tiloo cut, then off shore with the next stop being Georgetown Exumas. 

Through the Exumas, south to the Virgin Islands.

Made the run south from Tiloo Cut all the way to Georgetown without a stop.  Upon arrival in Georgetown, I was very surprised to find something like 40 boats there, was a week before Christmas so I expected it would be packed with cruisers.  So few boats, there was not even an active cruisers net! 

Carried jugs ashore for some fuel, and got underway for Myguana the next morning.  Wind was pretty close to the bow, so it was motorsailing and tacking down to the last of the Bahamian islands to clear out.

From there I decided to make a straight shot to St. Thomas.  Of course many would have stopped along the way.  I hear good things about the DR, but had no interest in stopping in PR so I kept as much northing as I could and avoided PR.  I have been there already, and have other reasons for not stopping but the passage went well....

Until the autopilot broke....

The Virgin Islands (US and British).

  North of the Mona passage, the autopilot went out.  The difficulty presented by a larger boat like the 424 compared to a smaller (tiller steered) boat is that there are very few options when the autopilot breaks. 

Sure it is hypothetically possible to have a windvane mounted but with the swim platform, dingy davits, AND the large cockpit enclosure with huge solar panels mounted on top it is not very practical.

Tricks I might use on my Ariel like just balancing the helm and lashing the tiller, or rigging sheet to tiller steering are much more difficult or impossible with a larger wheel steered boat.

  Thankfully it was just over a day of hand steering a close hauled course before making the approach to St. Thomas.  I would later learn that while the autopilot control computer had been replaced, the linear actuator (electric motor that turns the quadrant) had not been.  When I worked on it, I learned it was built sometime between 1982 and 1986, so it had certainly done its service.

(Will add arrival picture here when I get sufficient bandwidth to upload it)

  The arrival into St. Thomas was fantastic.  Leaving NC just under a month earlier it seemed so far away, but here it was.

  Even though aboard a US documented vessel I could not go ashore until I cleared in.  I dropped the hook in Brewers Bay near the airport and got some much needed rest.

Lost my easy access, maybe try again when I am in the Bahamas...

Slow access.  Will write more about vi later and post it here.

Turks and Cacos

There are few cruising destinations I have enjoyed as much as the Turks and Cacos Islands (TCI).

These remote, and often overlooked islands have very little to offer the cruiser who is in search of jimmy buffet franchise goods and t shirts.  But if great cruising, amazing diving, and clear water are what you want...  This is the place.

Back to the Bahamas.

Mayuguana

Clarance town Long Island
(Where I am typing this right now).

Flying Fish Marina
(http://www.flyingfishmarina.com/index.html)
Where I got water last night

Quote from: s/v Faith on March 20, 2013, 11:24:06 AM


Flying Fish Marina
(http://www.flyingfishmarina.com/index.html)
Where I got water last night

Wow.  Their rates seem quite reasonable.

Side Note:  You want me to move this thread to the public board?

Craig....my friends Bob and Jane do the chart work for the Turks and Cacos. They return yearly to check for changes (after hurricanes etc) and send in the updates. I've never been there but they love it.
I just looked at the website for the marina at Long Island and saw a link to "Bahamas Air" for travel. Locally.....they are often late so we've come up with some slogans..........

"When you have time to spare....fly Bahamas Air"

"Bahamas Air is a Christian airline.......God only knows when you'll get there"

HAVE FUN!!!

John,

  I would love to spend more time and add in the pictures and information on each of these locations..l I suppose I can do it later.  I had wanted to wait to get it all down before I went live with it.ll but I suspect I can just do that later.

  It is tough to do it with limited Internet access... As I take the time to type this I am missing the "shark show" where they are feeding the sharks the carcuses of the fish caught today.... So I can upload pictures or I can cruise... So yes.  Please move this into the open forum.  I will modify the earlier posts and add pictures later on.

Thanks.

A guy on a sport fisher just gave me something's like 12-15# of tuna! 

Molly (the bartender at this excellent establishment) is iceing it down for me...  Life is good!  Far better then I deserve...   To all who read, please get out there!

Quote from: s/v Faith on March 21, 2013, 08:30:23 PM
John,

  I would love to spend more time and add in the pictures and information on each of these locations..l I suppose I can do it later.  I had wanted to wait to get it all down before I went live with it.ll but I suspect I can just do that later.

  It is tough to do it with limited Internet access... As I take the time to type this I am missing the "shark show" where they are feeding the sharks the carcuses of the fish caught today.... So I can upload pictures or I can cruise... So yes.  Please move this into the open forum.  I will modify the earlier posts and add pictures later on.

Thanks.

Okay, I did not realize you planned to add pictures...thought you just wanted it moved.

It's cool to wait til you add the pics.  No rush from my pov...just wanted to help out, but I misunderstood the bigger plan.   ;)

From Clarencetown (19 march) we sailed to Calabash Bay Long Island.

Then on to Georgetown...  Many more boats there this time... Active cruisers net this time.  Found out about a dive site in hurricane hole 2 right off of volleyball beach.  Dove the "mystery cave" went 92' down through the cave...  Really great dive!

Anchored in various places in Elizabeth Harbour until 6 April, then sailed for Cat Island.  In route decided to go back to Long Island to check out Thompson Bay.  Anchored in route off of White Cay.

Attended cruisers sundowner gathering on the beach on the NE corner of the bay and then sailed over to Salt Pond.  Visited the excellent "Island Breeze" marina.  Mike is the owner, he sailed Fastnet 79, (Fastnet force 10)... Humble guy, I only learned about this after I left.

Rented a car, drove around the island and dove in the blue hole where the world free diving competitions are held.

Sailed from Long Island to Conception Island.

Anyone who read the log of my long trip on Faith might remember that I had a goal of reaching Conception Island.  The seed was planted after I met James Baldwin, and he told me over dinner that the picture on his web site was taken at Conception Island. He described it as one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I tried 3 times, but had been unable to make it with the easterly winds and north swell.  My plan had been to try again, but a changed wedding date changed the whole nature of that cruise,.. The rest of it was a challenge to get back to make a wedding....  Conception Island was not to be had that trip.

I made it this time.  It was as beautiful as James had described.  Dingied back into the creek, found the. Turtle nursery, saw small sharks...  Something rally special about that beautiful place!

Sailed from there to the New Bight on Cat Island.  Hiked up to the Hermatage, checked on my friend Frankie who I had taken fishing on my boat back in 08.  Sadly i learned he had passed away.

From there it was back to Georgetown to pick up my friend Dennis.  We sailed up to Farmers Cay where I am anchored right now.  Sadly, the boats anchored near the settlement are scattered and poorly spaced, so I will not be able to get ashore here....  Had to anchor around the corner since there was no room. :(

Almost forgot to mention the coolest part of reaching Conception.... Saw a couple I know I knew.  Finally asked, and sure enough it was Connie and Crock! Lady Bella was laying at anchor there and I got to talk to them in the dingy.... While waiting some dolphins swam by and they took turns getting in the water and swimming with them!

Left georgetown, sailed up to Farmers Cay.  Unfortunately there were several boats anchored (badly) close in so I had to abandon plans to anchor and go in....  :-\

Spent the night without heading in to shore at all... Too far out. 

Did another 40-50 today and now anchored at highborne cay.  Unfortunately, there are a couple boats sloppily anchored and taking up the whole basin (one idiot on 2 anchors, right in the middle of the anchorage).

I am around the corner, out in the swells... Sitting on the banks.  Tomorrow I have to decide if I am going to Nassau and on to the Berrys, or Eleuthera and back up to the Abacos....

Got an email from Connie about running into you.. She was stoked. :D

Too cool!

Anchor down at Royal Island off the north end of Eleuthera.  Headed across to little Harbour in the morning.

Never made it in to Pete's Pub, might change that tomorrow.

have fun at Lil Harbour...You'll get a kick out of the crooked dock. It's a 'drunk test" to walk on   ;D
Gotta time it for tides...only about 3ft going in at low.

Moored at Spanish Wells.  Man, that channel is narrow coming in! I had a much easier time of it in Faith, ran into the bank, and got a hand from a passing fisherman.

On a mooring ball here, no anchorage.  Chris Parker was perdicting squalls withup to 40 knots between here and abaco today... Try again tomorrow.

Depending on wind direction....the channel to Little harbor can get quite sloppy during and after a blow. VHF ch 68 @ 8:15 is cruisers net when ya get within range ....one chap always sends in a report on the cut at Little Harbor (lives there)

Craig...is there a bearded guy on about a 32ft cat anchored there?

Quote from: Frank on April 22, 2013, 11:38:23 AM
Craig...is there a bearded guy on about a 32ft cat anchored there?

There is a cat on the mooring ahead of us.  Have not seen anyone aboard yet... What boat are you looking for?

They are couple that for years had a little S2 center cockpit boat...only about 27ft. (smallest center cockpit boat I ever saw) Then 2 years back thet got a fairly small cat, about 30 +/-. They love Spanish Wells!  He is a young looking 70 with a beard. I just can't pull their name outta my failing memory. She is younger, still works, comes as much as she can, but he is solo often. They are musicians. He's from Maine. The Cat has a Yanmar outboard (yep...a diesel outboard!) and one of those silly "cat" names (again...forget) I've met them often over the years. Nice folks. Didn't see them this year so thought maybe they were hanging out at Spanish Wells. They spoke of it often.

PS...if you make it to Green turtle....dingy around the far back end of black sound. They gave their S2 to a local...it is anchored in the mangroves back there. Cool lil center cockpit.

I checked out the cat last night, it is a bigger one with inboard motors. 

Had a bit of rain last night, which gave me a good reason to trap every no-see-em in the northern part of Eleuthera below on the boat.  :P. I pretty much sluff off mosquito bites, but have lots of welts from those little buggers which must be all mouth.

Listened to the first few minutes of Chris Parker (mostly static) and got underway early.  Very light wind until 1700, then a line of showers and NE wind (pretty much off the bow) slowed progress to less then 2 knots.

Ran the Little Harbour Cut in the dark, and dropped the hook behind Bridges Cay.  Nice to shut the motor down and relax.  Looks like it was good that I went for it today, wind guru is calling for NE for the next 7 days at least!

How long did it take ya from Spanish wells to Little Harbour cut?

Quote from: Frank on April 23, 2013, 10:22:26 PM
How long did it take ya from Spanish wells to Little Harbour cut?

0700 to 2130....  With wind on the nose most of the day.

Quote from: s/v Faith on April 23, 2013, 10:10:06 PM


Had a bit of rain last night, which gave me a good reason to trap every no-see-em in the northern part of Eleuthera below on the boat.  :P. I pretty much sluff off mosquito bites, but have lots of welts from those little buggers which must be all mouth.

;D Used to call the buggers "Flying teeth" ;D

Quote from: CharlieJ on April 23, 2013, 10:54:16 PM

Quote from: s/v Faith on April 23, 2013, 10:10:06 PM


Had a bit of rain last night, which gave me a good reason to trap every no-see-em in the northern part of Eleuthera below on the boat.  :P. I pretty much sluff off mosquito bites, but have lots of welts from those little buggers which must be all mouth.

;D Used to call the buggers "Flying teeth" ;D

That's what they feel like!  I am working on another kidney stone right now...  Neither were welcome last night!

Sitting at Capt. Mike's, just finished dinner, sipping a rum to celebrate passing my stone today...

Hopetown lighthouse standing vigil in the background.

  I can say with authority that a Pearson 424 can not make it in the cut at low tide  ::)

Anchor lights are all coming on, sipping rum... Life is good.

Congrats on "passing your stone" !!!!

Yep....gets a lil shallow at low tide headin into HopeTown harbour.
Have you seen the new marina? Very nice!!!
Have fun!

Quote from: Frank on April 24, 2013, 09:30:58 PM
Congrats on "passing your stone" !!!!

Yep....gets a lil shallow at low tide headin into HopeTown harbour.
Have you seen the new marina? Very nice!!!
Have fun!

No, did not see it back in November either ???

Where are they hiding it?

As soon as you enter there is the fuel dock to stbd...keep going...next is the new marina to stb. New docks, buildings, even a "swim up bar" (honest) great chicken casadias (sp?) at not too bad a price to boot  ;-)
They were full every time we were there last winter.

Bet you're releaved to pass that stone! Hurt much??

Are you at "Capt Mikes" or "Capt Jacks"???    (didn't know there was a Capt Mikes)

Quote from: Frank on April 24, 2013, 10:00:04 PM
Are you at "Capt Mikes" or "Capt Jacks"???    (didn't know there was a Capt Mikes)

Captain Jacks, not sure where Mike came into it other then maybe "Chicago Mike" who I met here in 2008, he was the on who kept an Ariel here.

Captain Mike's, Captain Jack's....doesn't the real question concern the Captain Morgan's?



(Couldn't resist....)   ;D ;D

Quesadillas :D

Capt S.....yep, Capt Morgan should be the correct answer. :o

CJ.......ya get a star beside your name for the spelling B.  (heh....I quite school at 16) ;D  ::)

 ;D ;D

Hey- I live in South Texas.  We have at LEAST nine Mexican food places, in a town of about 7000.

understood   ;D

Sailed out of Hope Town and up to Green Turtle.  Dingies in to buy an outboard and some bottom paint.

Sailing past Manjack right now, will wave in the direction of your place Frank!

Might stop at either Copper or Spanish to fuel up ans cross tomorrow or Sunday.

Makin me "home sick" !!
Coopers town dock is exposed...Spanish is an easy in/out. The fuel dock is "just" to port once you're in.
Enjoy your tour!!
Have a good crossing!!!!!

Just had a peek....good east wind to carry you across. May be a lil bit bumpy but not too bad

Just called Spanish, they close at 1800, looks like I will camp out there tonight.

Just wasted couple hours filling out my required float plan SVRSS...  What a pain!

You have to do this for "LBO" local boater option clearance with DHS....  Hopefully I am good to go now.

The LBO is worth it.. We called from just offshore and got cleared before the hook was down. MUCH better than having to go downtown ;)

Too bad you're "on the move". Lot's of great anchorages to explore if you had time. Are you heading to Great Sale, Mangrove, then Memory Rock to cross or trying the cut at the West End?

Left Spanish Cay at 0700, sailing across the bank... Sailing out little bahama bank waypoint some time thi
S evening..  :'(

Chris Parker is calling for bad wx on Tuesday, will see how far north I get before then.

how far N are ya heading?

Quote from: Frank on April 27, 2013, 10:30:20 AM
how far N are ya heading?

Boat is going back up to NC.  Where I cross back to depends on how the wx holds up.

Craig, FYI in case you are heading back up here....

NWS is calling for rain and/or  t-storms beginning Sunday and lasting (chance of) all week to FRIDAY!  Precip amounts up to 0.3 inches per day forecast.

With 5 days of that stuff rolling through here, I cannot imagine it won't be at least a little bumpy (and wet) outside as well.

Here are the 48 Hr and 96 Hr forecast radio fax charts from this morning:

Not sure why I have signal right now.... ???  Probably, 20 miles from the nearest tower.

Thanks John, I am going to head NW and see how far up FL I can get before Tuesday morning.

46 Nm from Matanalla Shoal, then off into the Atlantic.  Offshore?  ???

Made it back.  Hoped to sail to st. Mary's. but wound up here in the cape canaveral barge canal.

Welcome "home."

Home ground again. It's been quite the adventure.

Last night Daytona, tonight St. Augustine....   Not a bad day considering it was only 9 hours...

Sooooo,

 I get up, put on clothes and get my shower stuff.

Lower the dingy.... Fills with water.  Rise dingy, drain water and put plug in.... Lower dingy again.

Start motor, had thought to check gas... Motor up to bow to get the number... Motor runs ut of gas.

Current running very very fast.  Manage to catch boat as I. Drift by.  Get gas can, had to add oil as new motor needs very rich mix for break in... Spill sticky oil down my leg.  Fill motor, drop gas can cap into the water.  Current takes it away in seconds.

Motor in with spilled oil running down leg.

Dock, and can not find marina dude (the one who said I need to come in).  Decide to go to shower, find dude cleaning the bathroom.  Take shower, notice there is a hole in my plastic sac I have my clothes in.

Take quick inventory, and notice my wallet is missing.

Panic.

Go back to dingy, wallet is not on dock or in dingy.

Take shower, sign into marina and take off to look and hope wallet is on boat.

Dingy motor runs out of gas again on way to boat...l forgot to open the vent, so the motor is not really out of gas but stops.

Watch as I drift past ET in about 3 seconds.  Desperately try to paddle back with one oar.

Think for 1 second about the motor, open vent and she starts on the first pull.

Get back to boat, climb out... Drop shoe in water watch it drift away.

Jump in dingy, while starting motor I see shoe floating away... Keep eye on it.

Get shoe.

Get back aboard, wallet was in back pocket of long pants (I wore for first time today since November).

Going to bed....

too funny!!!!!   We all have days like  that....a comedy of errors. Going back to bed was the right thing to do!!! Better luck next trip out of the bunk   :o
At least the marina is nice there  ;D

What a great way to keep the boredom away on another perfect day.  (said by a less than apologetic scalawag sitting on a Fijian beach right now  ;) )

Enjoy the beach......SCALAWAG !!!!!!!!!  :o ;D ;)

Quote from: Tim on May 01, 2013, 09:46:55 PM
What a great way to keep the boredom away on another perfect day.  (said by a less than apologetic scalawag sitting on a Fijian beach right now  ;) )

Hey Tim

PPPHTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!

;D ;D

Hope you have a blast

The only question I have is "If you are sitting on a beach in Fiji, what in THE WORLD are you doing browsing the 'Net and posting on forums?"

;D ;D

Quote from: Captain Smollett on May 02, 2013, 04:00:06 PM
The only question I have is "If you are sitting on a beach in Fiji, what in THE WORLD are you doing browsing the 'Net and posting on forums?"

;D ;D

Oh just because I am the kinda person that likes to share  ;D

read gloat

So, st. Augustine was the stop to head out to Fernadina beach.... Spent a couple days there for weather and the shrimp festival.

From there it was to ft. Fredricka GA....   Then on to Kilkenny creek...

Then on to Savannah ( waterfront).

Sailed up to Beaufort SC and now I am anchored at the Wappoo creek just south of Charleston.  Still have a sour taste for Charleston so I am going to skip it and head on north tomorrow... Will see.

Met Mike aboard "Last Chance" in the anchorage in Beaufort.  Great guy, on board the Rhodes 24(?) I believe it was the "outlaw".  He had taken many great liberties with the boat... Had a boom crutch, added his own pop-top...  Reat boat.  He crossed the pond twice on a triton, I gave him a couple stickers and hope he will join jus here.

Quote from: Captain Smollett on November 24, 2012, 11:08:06 AM
.....My concern, such as it is, is that I MISREAD the data that WAS there.  That all the indicators, graphics, maps, purty pictures and text was right, and I screwed up big time.

Now, screwing up bigtime is fine if it's just an exercise in a lab or for gee wiz.  It is completely unacceptable, to me, in "the real world."

Hindsight and looking backwards is next to useless.  It does serve one purpose...to learn from mistakes when they happen.  Perhaps the learning here is for Craig never to ask me for wx info again.  At this point, I believe that would be fully justified.......

John,

 Reading back through this thread, I realized I had somehow missed this.

You are one of the very few humans on the planet who I would trust to analyze the weather data for me in the absence of my being able to look at it myself.  Thank you again for your help when I needed it.

Enjoy your 245th grog!  ;D

  ???  Some might be scratching their heads wondering how they missed this 6 page thread.   ???

Moved the "sailing Emerald Tide" thread out to the board.  I had been working on it, behind the scenes and was going to post some pictures (still may, just not right now with the limited Internet I have on Batelco cell).

Underway this morning before 0530, just rounded Egg Island and have about 15knots just a few degrees forward of the beam. 

Bright morning, I wish I could post a picture of the sunrise... It was simply amazing.  Making best speed for little Harbour as there are high winds expected tonight.  Speed right now is just over 7, I expect to see that increase once I am fully out of the lee of Egg.

Quote from: s/v Faith on February 11, 2014, 03:59:46 PM

You are one of the very few humans on the planet who I would trust to analyze the weather data for me in the absence of my being able to look at it myself.  Thank you again for your help when I needed it.

Enjoy your 245th grog!  ;D

Well, thanks for both the comment and the grog!

If there is anything from that experience that can be used as "lesson learned" for others, I hope it is the following two points:

(1) Weather based routing is EXTREMELY complicated in real time.  Anyone that says cutesy little chestnuts like "I'll just..." is, I think, fooling themselves.

Perhaps that was an atypical case...two systems just about getting close enough to influence each other.  But, perhaps that's not all that uncommon either, especially along the coast where the marine pattern (systems moving E->W) meet the westerly continental pattern.

(2) Don't use gribs like those from passageweather.  The pictures are pretty, but the information lost is beyond important.  In the forecasting/routing problem, data is key.  Throwing out important data to make pretty pictures is inviting problems.

It's been blowing hard since last night. Hope your in and secure. Let us know.

Yesterday was a wonderful, amazing passage.  Dad and I trimmed Emerald Tides sails so well she was sailing at a consistent 8+ knots... Even overtook a larger boat that had at least a 10 mile lead on us headed up from Eleuthera.  ;D

Was 80 miles in all... Left before sunrise, but safely moored here in Hopetown before the sun set.  Longest passage with m dad onboard, and just a wonderful wonderful sail! 

GREAT!!!  Sounds like an awesome day!!  We were at Guana last night....did "don't rock passage" early this morning and moored in Black Sound Green Turtle now. Your catchin up quick!!   ;D   Hope to see you's along the way.

PS...you'd mentioned earlier that Capt K "may" be down as well but things fell through. I was really looking forward to seeing him as well but somewhat releaved as I haven't had a chance to get my limit raised on my credit card to be able go drinking with him !!

just sayin.....



;D :D ::) ;D :o

Quote from: s/v Faith on February 11, 2014, 04:17:53 PM
Some might be scratching their heads wondering how they missed this 6 page thread. ???
Moved the "sailing Emerald Tide" thread out to the board.  I had been working on it, behind the scenes and was going to post some pictures (still may, just not right now with the limited Internet I have on Batelco cell).

I had missed it. Enjoying the updates and looking forward to the photos--including of your paintings!  :)

Quote from: Jim_ME on February 14, 2014, 09:01:24 PM

Quote from: s/v Faith on February 11, 2014, 04:17:53 PM
Some might be scratching their heads wondering how they missed this 6 page thread. ???
Moved the "sailing Emerald Tide" thread out to the board.  I had been working on it, behind the scenes and was going to post some pictures (still may, just not right now with the limited Internet I have on Batelco cell).

I had missed it. Enjoying the updates and looking forward to the photos--including of your paintings!  :)

Thanks Jim, I will do that.  I am on Batelco Internet, using my ipad to connect.  The service works pretty well, but the bandwidth is pretty limited.  I hope to go back through this thread and edit it with pictures some time in the future.

On edit;

  Gratuitous shot of full moon rising, shining on the water.....

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/4f7cd6f427167d276fad4c547f4062c5_zpsdca381c4.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/4f7cd6f427167d276fad4c547f4062c5_zpsdca381c4.jpg.html)

Frank is headed around the point, looking forward to a raft up in a few minutes.  ;D

Quote from: s/v Faith on February 18, 2014, 10:08:16 AM
Frank is headed around the point, looking forward to a raft up in a few minutes.  ;D

Oh boy, here come the lies stories.   ::)


Just kidding.   ;D ;D

Ya'll have fun!

Don't hold your breath for the stories ;)  they will have to sober up to type  ;D  :P

Quote from: s/v Faith on November 21, 2012, 10:41:18 PM

I have a SPOT Messenger. I am sharing my location information with you. Click on the link to see where I am.

Quote
Just follow this link to see my location updates:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0k74N72e5suub7IY433h3m03C2KUPpGs4
If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it to your browser's address bar.

Guess I got some catching up to do... Just found this SPOT gizmo post... Still working...
So that's where you are!   :)

I was looking at your location from the spot.
After needing to snow blow 2 days in a row, I hate you :)

Enjoy!

Quote from: misfits on February 19, 2014, 05:36:21 PM
I was looking at your location from the spot.
After needing to snow blow 2 days in a row, I hate you :)

Enjoy!

My friend,

  Do not hate...  Get underway!  There is plenty of room for you down here!

Dad is flying home today.  :-[   We have had a really fantastic few weeks cruising together.  He came aboard in Georgetown, and I estimate we sailed somewhere around 360 miles together.  Very cool sailing with my dad.... Some of the best passages, and most wonderful sailing weather... Could not have asked for better.

• Georgetown, Exuma
  New bight, Cat Island
  Black Point, Exuma
  Staniel Cay, Exuma (Thunderball grotto).
  Big Majors Cay, Exuma
  Ship Channel Cay, Exuma
  Current cut, Current Island
  Spanish Wells, Eleuthera
  Hopetown, Elbow Cay Abacos
  Manjack Cay, Abacos
  Green Turtle Cay, Abacos
  Man-O-War Cay, Abacos
  And finally Marsh Harbour Abacos....

Petty busy schedule, was just the right balance of moving, staying, painting, and hanging out.   ;D

Cool itinerary. While at Black Point, did you tour Willy Rolle's "Garden of Eden"?

Cool  spot with his fruit trees and driftwood sculptures

My friend,

  Do not hate...  Get underway!  There is plenty of room for you down here!
[/quote]

I don't hate you, just a little envious after dealing with the New England winter.

Maybe someday I'll be able to get down that way. Until then the boat show in Boston this weekend will have to do :)

Just back in wifi land. Had the pleasure of meeting Craig and his dad earlier in the week. Very nice laid back morning in Emerald Tide's cockpit. He and his dad welcomed Sadie (our golden retiever)  aboard as well. She was in her glory getting a LOT of attention. We are all "dog people" !! It was truly a pleasure seeing Craig again and meeting his dad. Great humour!!
We headed off to clean up and paint the cottage. Work finally done...the holiday now starts! Craig...keep in touch. Lots of rain coming up....meet up in Marsh? Treasure? Hope Town? let me know

I finally have some (little bit) bad weather to report on....

....  Have felt very very guilty posting all this sun and wonderful weather all winter while everyone has been suffering under the series of polar vortices......    ;)

Laying on a mooring here in Black Sound, Green Turtle Cay.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/7febd4b90c20cce53c6cabd91452498d_zpsb237bcce.jpg)

 Been an absolutely wonderful week!  Left Marsh Harbour, and anchored off of Fowl Cay.

Fowl Cay is part of the Bahamas National Trust (http://www.bnt.bs/) and is a very pretty unspoiled Cay with great reefs to snorkle on the ocean side and a very cool little beach to snorkel to on the Sea of Abaco side.  Swam ashore and watched an amazing sunset from the beach.

From Fowl Cay we sailed over to Sand Bank, near Treasure Cay.  Treasure Cay is one of the developments in the Abacos I had avoided.  I learned early on that many places "billed" as resorts were not particularly attractive as destinations to me.  Often the canned Jimmy Buffet "cheese burger in paradise" motif carries a premium price for a less then premium experience.

I did not go into the harbor, it seems very cool to me that there is an anchorage near the marina basin though.  Frank can certainly comment on the anchorage, as I believe he was anchored there when I arrived.  I choose to anchor off of the beach, and explore the point in the dingy. 

The beach is nice, but segregated by the various retaining walls running into the water and separating the individual properties from one another.   I wanted to go over to the north side of the peninsula, but the whale passage separated it from where I was anchored.

The next day was the sail around the Whale Cay.  There is an inside passage known as the "Don't Rock" passage.  This passage has trapped more then a few Abacos Cruisers, it seems like a good idea.... Once you are on the banks, you can pretty much go anywhere you want in the Abacos... Except for the "Whale".  Often times the "Whale is running" or there is a "rage" in the whale passage.  The north winds can cause a breaking condition across the reef that can make a very powerful confused sea that can be difficult to impossible to run.

I might try "don't rock" aboard Faith, but certainly not aboard Emerald Tide.  Her nearly 6' draft, and 22,000+ pound displacement would make the shallow pass a very bad idea.

The Whale Cy passage is known as the Whale for the spouts of water that shoot up as they crash on the reef.. From a distance it looks like an enormous Whale is spouting off and sending a gusher high in the air.

When the conditions are fair, it is no being deal.. But when it gets rough, it can be impassable.

Day before last, when I went across it , it was calm.  Dad and I had sailed through it a couple of times, and it was nearly flat calm.  I transited it last fall and it was running..l but not too bad.

My plan was to sail through the Whale and head over to No Name Cay or anchor behind the Whale Cay at the beach.  The wind was still out of the South, but had enough West to make either a lee shore.

I ended up on the North side of Treasure Cay, which turned out to be a great decision!  Wow, what an amazing beach!

From there it was over to Black Sound for the forecast "blow".  The wind was not bad (so far) for $10 a day with an exta buck for Internet from Donnie's boat rental Black Sound is not such a terrible place to be.

Sunset from Green Turtle Club, bluff house marina, Sea of Abaco side

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/f791fe820feb4ac0a2a60f3a92259187_zps77dcc9d2.jpg)

Yep, Faith could do "don't rock" at mid tide....but you'd likely be aground even at high tide with 6ft!  We have been across it 3 times this year but only draw 2ft 11in with "board up"

Treasure Cay's anchorage has great holding and is well protected. They charge $10/night but you get use of facilities (showers) and wifi. You are so right....the beach is beautiful!!

Glad you're having fun!!




PS: we left TC, went to MH, now in HopeTown but heading to Lil Harbor tomorrow. Keep in touch  ;D

Sitting here in Black Sound, I have been trying for an hour to upload pictures....   :-\

 Only one is displaying in the thread.  I have tried both the gallery (where I have exceeded my capacity) and photobucket which is not cooperating either...l

 I will try to update the pictures, I have a bunch of really great shots to share.

Anyone have any good suggestions I can try?  I have been doing this for a  long time, but am having a tough time with it today!

Lets try;

Georgetown, Lake Victoria

(http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/?action-view&current=59980d4f1efe0f250cf42f731cbc0916_zpsdf442cc8.jpg)

http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/?action=view&current=59980d4f1efe0f250cf42f731cbc0916_zpsdf442cc8.jpg

Lets try this one;

My painting of the Hermitage at Cat Island

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/be617d8c3c73ebd75eed972e2c41d9b0_zps02117b05.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/be617d8c3c73ebd75eed972e2c41d9b0_zps02117b05.jpg.html)

One of the fastest passages I have made aboard Emerald Tide  In almost 10,000 miles of sailing.

Dad and I left from Eleuthera shortly after sunrise, we made the ~10 miles to Egg Island, then the ~50 miles to North Channel Bar in the Abacos... And still sailed the ~20 miles up the Abaco banks to Hopetown to safely make the mooring before the sun set!

We passed a bigger, more modern boat that ought to have flat smoked us on the passage!

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/469eb443d1856d0ecf59305ad9ecf93c_zps0a40a462.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/469eb443d1856d0ecf59305ad9ecf93c_zps0a40a462.jpg.html)

One of the most amazing experiences I have had....

  Georgetown, watching the sun rise.  Anchored off of Kidd Cove, the coffee was hot and it was a still and beautiful morning.  The silence was broken by the sound of dolphins surfacing.  A small make, and a couple were swimming together... It was incredible. 

  I swam with them for an hour, they played and included me in their circle.  A painting (unfinished) of the couple, with Emeradl Tide's keel in the background....

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/2af1e5f8209b10ff43e1dc613b1d2110_zpsf0f1e035.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/2af1e5f8209b10ff43e1dc613b1d2110_zpsf0f1e035.jpg.html)

Underway on a beautiful day in the Bahamas

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/2ba11a815723b6277375df884b951f8e_zps8bbbefab.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/2ba11a815723b6277375df884b951f8e_zps8bbbefab.jpg.html)

Fwiw,

  There is a great new restaurant / bar at the Marsh Harbour airport.  It is called "skyways" and is right across the road from the old terminal.  The "new" terminal has been completed for almost 8 years, but the bEurocrats can not seem to get it opened...  I think they should have turned it over to "Angela" and the folks at "Skyline". :)

  They have good food, reasonable prices, and the owner runs a pot cake (Bahamian mutt) rescue out of her house.  Here is my dad with a friend he met there.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/8fe7d5251764256ebeb25a3de4a2f198_zps4e98fa48.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/8fe7d5251764256ebeb25a3de4a2f198_zps4e98fa48.jpg.html)

Hopelessly out of sequence here...  ;D

 Lake Victoria in Georgetown is a really cool place to provision... You enter under a bridge and come into a calm body of water with a great courtesy dock provided by Exuma Market..  They have free water for filling your Jerry jugs  and great shopping!

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/59980d4f1efe0f250cf42f731cbc0916_zpsdf442cc8.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/59980d4f1efe0f250cf42f731cbc0916_zpsdf442cc8.jpg.html)

Great to hear and see, thanks for sharing. :)

Wonderful photos, and paintings. Thank you, Craig!

Great to see a photo of your Dad, and you two sharing such great experiences.

Am anticipating more tales from the islands and cays.  :)

Friends I met at Big Majors Cay;

One cool dude;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/b415f5f55a161e6b3db0ba409d2e52e3_zps7286a865.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/b415f5f55a161e6b3db0ba409d2e52e3_zps7286a865.jpg.html)

Another friendly local...

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/727dc850cbaf0afc8abbd114d0a03fb0_zps7dbe8b8a.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/727dc850cbaf0afc8abbd114d0a03fb0_zps7dbe8b8a.jpg.html)

Hanging out at Wardrick Wells;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/efa68b86dc1bb18b829e423961b96b1a_zpsade2020b.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/efa68b86dc1bb18b829e423961b96b1a_zpsade2020b.jpg.html)

Great thread, as usual, Craig.  I have to say, it would have been difficult to recognize you!

Painting with my dad at Georgetown, volleyball beach
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/d0e4be7d469de47180e8e26bfc44643b_zps9f673184.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/d0e4be7d469de47180e8e26bfc44643b_zps9f673184.jpg.html)

Another friend at Big Majors Cay

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/bf2dc337c3d221bd81645e68e40efaed_zpse0ebfdc0.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/bf2dc337c3d221bd81645e68e40efaed_zpse0ebfdc0.jpg.html)

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/a5c1c5ff7e9cb09527098c2673d9d301_zpsebc3462b.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/a5c1c5ff7e9cb09527098c2673d9d301_zpsebc3462b.jpg.html)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/727dc850cbaf0afc8abbd114d0a03fb0_zps7dbe8b8a.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/727dc850cbaf0afc8abbd114d0a03fb0_zps7dbe8b8a.jpg.html)

Big Major is a neat place. Also,, I snorkeled Thunderball Cave, but the ones at Rocky Dundas were much better- LOTS of good coral. That's in the Exumas Land/Sea park so relatively untouched. Good thing too, because I saw some BEAUTIFUL lobster there

Looks like a great cruise with your dad.

Super pics!!!   Cool pigs  ;D 

From black sound Powell Cay was the next destination.  Pretty beach with great snorkeling....

Might head up to Allens - Pensacola today and then back south of the Whale by Thursday foe the projected blow,,,,

Allen's Pensacola. Got in just before dark.... One other boat here....

Quote from: s/v Faith on February 28, 2014, 12:09:47 PM
The silence was broken by the sound of dolphins surfacing.  A small make, and a couple were swimming together... It was incredible. I swam with them for an hour, they played and included me in their circle.  A painting (unfinished) of the couple, with Emerald Tide's keel in the background....

I've often looked at how the hull and keel forms of certain sailboat designs looked so much like an inverted body and dorsal fin of a dolphin--and now you have captured that relationship perfectly and more in your painting. I can imagine that it was an amazing experience to swim with them.  :)

Quote from: s/v Faith on February 28, 2014, 09:00:07 AM
I finally have some (little bit) bad weather to report on....Have felt very very guilty posting all this sun and wonderful weather all winter while everyone has been suffering under the series of polar vortices......    ;)

It seems like for many weeks now, the long range forecast has been for another week of bitter cold and then seasonably mild after that...but it keeps slip-sliding and staying one week away. Some evil herd of arctic gremlins keep moving the frigid goalposts on us. Tonight I've got a good fire going for what I hope (again) will be the last sub-zero night of the winter.

It would be getting kinda depressing except that this evening when I arrived at Mom's for dinner at 5:00, I realized that it was in daylight--not even sunset yet, and recalled that the last time I noticed it was completely dark. So whatever the weather is doing, the days are getting noticeably longer. The Earth is continuing to tilt toward the sun and eventually this should have some effect...

That other encouraging sign is that my annual Hamilton Marine catalog arrived in the mailbox, announcing that there will be a boating season after all and always starts that process of thinking about what I might be able to get done and possibilities for allocating the limited resources...

 

Enjoyed an absolutely wonderful evening with Frank, Vicky, and Sadie...   Had a great tour of the "Sunshine Cottage" and a bit of grog for the Sailor too long at sea!  What gracious hosts, and wonderful time had by all! 

Had such a great time I felt the need to once agin inflict myself and crew upon their graces for breakfast!  What a fun time, I am so thankful for friends!  Sure hope the time is short until we can do it again!  ;D

SO glad you's made it over last night. It looked funny.....the 2 headlamps coming up from the beach  ;D  Great visit !!  Sadie is missing all the extra attention....  Hopefully we get together again before we head home. Have fun!!

Manjack was great, especially so for the time at Sunshine Cottage!

Sailed down around the Whale again, and on to Great Guanna Settlement Harbour.

Had hoped to dive with Troy yesterday, but he cancelled for the weather.  He hoped to get a trip going for Saturday but could not be sure. 

Enjoyed getting "Grabbed" at Grabbers last night (their namesake drink... Might have had some rum in it, not too sure of such things... Have to ask others on this board)....   Wonderful evening with the locals!

Hoping the wind lays down a bit this afternoon, probably sailing over to Marsh Harbour....  Might get to dive with Dive Abaco tomorrow.

Been raining almost constantly today, most rain the entire trip....  Not bad since I have been out since thanksgiving.  Not too cool today, still shorts and tshirt weather.  I just came across by bag of cold weather gear and realized I had not opened it since I left.   ;D

Not sure if I posted this one yet, I uploaded it when I had the bandwidth the other day...

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/43759cb50d91dea6ac4bba7cbcc00fa3_zps421503e2.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/43759cb50d91dea6ac4bba7cbcc00fa3_zps421503e2.jpg.html)

Saturday night is "Steak Night" at the "Jib Room" !! Fun time...lotssa cruisers, good tunes, flaming limbo dancer etc. They have fish and chicken as well. Check it out....book early! Have fun  ;D :o ;)
PS....Sadie still miss's the extra attention :-(


PS...We had a ton of rain as well! A few big winds last night. Heading back to the cottage in the a.m.

Anchored at Treasure Cay, have some bandwidth so I thought I might upload a few random pictures....

Moonlight on the water;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/4f7cd6f427167d276fad4c547f4062c5_zpsdca381c4.jpg) (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/SailingFaith/media/4f7cd6f427167d276fad4c547f4062c5_zpsdca381c4.jpg.html)

 Emerald Tide, looking to the sunset...

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/253ec65855c87838f4a4f47aab53de89_zps8d1cb229.jpg)

Taken while swimming (at sunset obviously) near Fowl Cay

An absolutely beautiful swim at sunset near Treasure Cay

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/08ad6c7339012ef3479b50d1143df3e1_zpsb0e8058a.jpg)

Looking towards the beach;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/ef6a86ec5ba9f38535d5d4d5e1f8eaaf_zps1b4ae6e0.jpg)

Can one ever post too many beach / sunset pictures?

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/233be2cebf6b9611ff862558ab8dd6d2_zps4b06fe80.jpg)

Craig...where are you now?
Beauty pics!!!

Quote from: Frank on March 13, 2014, 09:11:13 PM
Craig...where are you now?
Beauty pics!!!

I am anchored in the basin here at Treasure Cay (the place you told me about).  I have been using the blow to work on projects aboard.

I had hoped to get more pictures uploaded using the Internet here, bit I don't get it in the anchorage where I am (condos between me and the router). 

How about your?  Are you in the mooring at black sound again?  I think it is supposed to blow again tomorrow but if you are going to be around maybe I can sail around the Whale again Sunday and come up?

Yep..Black Sound. Hoping for cottage by saturday night or sunday. Hope to see ya if it works.
EDIT: looks like it'll be windy until mid next week.

I had a great time Frank!  You do a heck of a job piloting that tractor over roots and ditches.... At night... With a half potted passenger standing on the rear link... In sandals.... 

Funny, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but when I write it out....not so much. :)

Divided on what to do this morning.  Weather is nice today, thinking about getting underway to come up and see you again.  As I understand it, the wind will return strong on Sunday.....  Picking up a mooring in black sound would work for that I suppose....

If you see this in the next little bit let me know.

We are in Black Sound. A "doo wop" dance at sundowners today to benifit "every child counts" from 4-7pm....will be there.
Hope to head to cottage sunday am.
looks windy monday.......

I am underway from treasure cay, I plan to round the whale to head up to Manjack by this afternoon.

What do you think of my anchoring in the north bay?  It sounds like the wind is going to be from the se,s, and sw....

I know it will me rolly, but otherwise?

Did you get my "I'm in Black Sound"
"doo wop" fundraiser message?
Come on in and DANCE!!  :o

The anchorage is funny.....ya never know.
Sun:SE @ 10 to 18
Mon:S @ 15-25
Tues SW @ 15-25
May be OK


We should be at Manjack late sunday morning
see ya at GTC today or Manjack tomorrow 

Have fun

Quote from: Frank on March 15, 2014, 02:53:56 PM
Did you get my "I'm in Black Sound"
"doo wop" fundraiser message?
Come on in and DANCE!!  :o

The anchorage is funny.....ya never know.
Sun:SE @ 10 to 18
Mon:S @ 15-25
Tues SW @ 15-25
May be OK


We should be at Manjack late sunday morning
see ya at GTC today or Manjack tomorrow  

Have fun

Just rounded the whale.  Got passed by a smug west sail...  Smug until he realized I was just sailing on my jib, while he was motorsailing. :)

The tide is way too low for me to get ito black sound right now, but I am thinking I can anchor outside, go in an get some supplies and meet you...  Green Turtle club?

On edit,,, never mind, I see you said "Sundowners". http://www.sundownersbar.com/ (http://www.sundownersbar.com/)

Wow! What a crazy website!  Don't want to stare too long at that one while you are navigating single handed!

Had a wonderful time with Frank and Vicky!  

 The Sundowners flowed with impunity that night!  I was glad Emerald Tide was anchored within view of the bar!

 Strangely the bar tender acted as though my money was no good???  Frank apparently felt like the bar was an extension of his home....   ;D.

Picture of Sundowners from anchorage off of Green Turtle;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/62c46062767a0f016d473a125610b194_zpse109f720.jpg)

Frank was kind enough to go to the trouble of selling a boat, just to allow me to help he and Vicky out.

The next morning, I weighed anchor to go into Black Sound to raft up and transfer gear and crew.  Sadie (the four legged crew member) came aboard before we were even rated up!  She immediately started to clean up the cockpit, washing my mess left over in the cockpit from breakfast.  Such a great dog!  I understand from Vicky she is used to cleaning up after Frank.  ;D

We rolled out the jib and motor sailed around to the north end of Manjack.

What an amazingly beautiful anchorage!  Just a bit of paradise!

Sadie the wonder dog;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/1ee5c5e2308cfe0ccdb489a96cd65515_zps30b7cb21.jpg)

After two days of mooching off of enjoying the hospitality of my guests, I was planning to weigh anchor and sail on this afternoon.  At noon when I was still sleeping off the night before diligently making preparations for getting underway.

The forecast was for the wind to clock in the afternoon or evening, and pick up.  It came early!  I looked out to see a solid wall of water from the water to the sky approaching from the west!

I knew it was going to rain, the sunset was amazing but a very "Sailors take warning" shade of red!

Red sky at morning, Sailors take warning;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/8fbcb1c52680210d7878f1f6b78ef0be_zps3b427f4a.jpg)

In the time it took me to get the motor started, and get to the bow to start cranking in the 70' of chain I had out, the wind clocked and filled in.  It had been about 15k all night and morning, ,and a quick glance at the wind instrument said 26k!  

Cranking the big windlass hard, I could barely get the chain in.  The 60# CQR had been buried in a hole I dug with my hands when I anchored.  

I am not much of a fan of the CQR any more, they were great in their day but the Manson Supreme is so superior I see no reason to use one.  Emerald Tide got a brand new #60 CQR when she was purchased (before I was involved) and a CQR is certainly serviceable so switching it out has never risen to the top of the heap of projects....  

It had now.

As soon as I started cranking, the big CQR started skipping across the bottom.  Once it bounced out of the hole I had dug in the weeds, it had no hope of setting.  The CQR is just too blunt to penetrate even a mildly weedy bottom.

So now the wind is howling, and the bow is falling off towards the shore fast.  I run back to the cockpit even though there is still over 40' of chain between the bow and the anchor... I had been in 7.5' when I anchored but was rapidly closing on the shore.

Putting the motor in gear and bumping the throttle to bring the bow into the wind was made more stressful for the chain I knew was still notionally holding me to the bottom.

My plan became clear, I would have to point upwind and slowly drag the big CQR on the bottom as far as I could to gain some sea room to be able to get back up to the bow and finish the job,

I clenched my teeth, and tried to balance the throttle between the need to maintain steerage and the desire to avoid a sudden stop in case the anchor were to suddenly catch.....

Quote from: s/v Faith on March 13, 2014, 08:01:13 PMCan one ever post too many beach / sunset pictures?

No.

(sF Gallery upload quota increased for everyone...) :)

The CQR was a cutting edge design when it was first marketed in 1933. It's hinged plough is weighted at the tip to assist with setting.  It is drop forged (at least the genuine Scottish article is) and very strong.

It's biggest flaw is that it is a "blunt implement" in that the tip is not very sharp.  This works fine for sand and mud, but does not like to easily penetrate a bottom with sea grass.  I normally dive the anchor and dig a hole through the grass roots with my hand so I can imbed the tip.

One thinkg you and count on a CQR to do reliably is to drag across the bottom when it does not find a patch of sand without roots... It will drag nicely.

I had to rely on this to move west into the prevailing wind yesterday.

Emerald Tide has a big manual windlass.  While tempted by electric windlasses, they add a level of complication because they draw high current, require complicated switching relays and often need a dedicated battery (due to the voltage drop over long runs of cable).  The auxiliary battery is often undercharged because of voltage drops in the run of cable used to charge it...

An electric windlass can be nice for a singlehander if it is rigged to be operated from the cockpit (as few are).  It is tempting to think that would have been a good thing for me yesterday but when I got back to the cockpit after bringing in all but 40' or so of the chain the wind was up to 33+ knots...  If an electric windlass were able to retrieve the chain in that wind it would likely overheat in short order....  Now motoring ahead might have helped ease the load but the manual windlass allows a better "feel" for what the real load on the windlass is.

I got Emerald Tides bow back into the wind and was able to motor ahead for a few hundred feet.  I went forward again, but was only able to retrieve another 20' or so of chain before the autopilot stalled and the bow fell off to port in the direction of the reef.

Now I have 6' to the water, so that left 14' in the water.  I was able to motor ahead for another couple hundred feet before heading to the bow for a third time to bring in the last 20' and stow the Achor on the roller. (Whew!)

Once around the reef on the west side of the North bay, I fell off and unfurled a bit of jib.  Emerald Tide has been re powered with a very reliable yanmar 4jh5te motor, but whenever a boat is able I would rather have at least some jib in the game...  

Frank had suggested the Manjack south anchorage, but it was fairly crowded.  A quick glance at the Explorer Chart book confirmed what I thought... There were not really any good options for me north of the whale.  I might have been able to get into one of the sounds at Green Turtle Cay, but the tide happened to be at dead low.  I might have hove too or motored in place for a few hours and tried, but decided to go for it.

The wind was steady at ~30knots, which normally would not be favorable for purposefully going offshore and leaving the protected Abaco banks.  The thing that lead me to do it was that the wind was West and clocking slowly NW.  I was able to sail on the jib out and around the Whale.  It was already getting big swells but none were breaking.  The ride was like being in a cement mixer, but nothing too bad.

This post is too long, I will end now where I am this morning.... Fishers Bay at Great Guanna Cay.  Not a bad place to be, the Barefoot Man concert is supposed to be later this week...

.  Here is a shot of the sunset last night.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/bdfc562372bd523dff28dcd710eb54a2_zps796fd09f.jpg)

Oh let's see....

Barefoot man concert at nippers was great!  Spent a few days there, had a great time.  Back over to marsh Harbour for a couple days of cleaning and projects And to pick up crew.

Then a couple days over at Hopetown waiting out some weather.  A couple of farewell scuba dives out off of fowl Cay and the tunnels....    A night at Guanna cay, and today I sailed around the Whale.

Anchored off of Manjack right now, hoping to catch Frank at his cottage in a little bit...  Then up to Spanish (?) for some fuel and maybe Great Sail Cay... Then jumpin goff into the Gulf Stream to make as much northing as I can inteh time limits of my crew...

Life is good, always a little sad to be leaving the Bahamas.... But it is hard to complain when I have been here since November and entirely missed what I understand to be one of the most miserable winters in decades.....

....  I did have to put on a light jacket, but that was just that one night. :)

Caught up with Vicky just as she was walking Sadie back from the cottage for the last time this trip.  We are meeting Frank and some other friends on the beach for a send off Bon fire....   Sad to be heading north but I can not think of a better way to do it.  :)

We shall drink a toast to you all, and hope to do the same with as many will read these words.

Hope to see you all "Out There" soon.

Quote from: s/v Faith on April 01, 2014, 04:37:53 PM
Life is good, always a little sad to be leaving the Bahamas.... But it is hard to complain when I have been here since November and entirely missed what I understand to be one of the most miserable winters in decades.....
....I did have to put on a light jacket, but that was just that one night. :)

I hadn't realized that you had missed the whole (yes, miserable) winter. Man, that seems like the way to do it!

Great to hear that life is (and has been) good.
It's been wonderful to read and see the photos or your experiences.
A toast back to you. Grog! :)
Hope to see you out there, too.

Fair winds for your passage back.

Not entirely sure where I am getting signal from right now, but I have it!

  Just sailed north of great Sail Cay, still working my way across the banks.  Probably be out in the Atlantic before the sun goes down.  It has been an absolutely wonderful four months, it was 4 months to the day when I cleared into the Bahamas.

  Had an absolutely wonderful time with Frank and Vicky, topped off by a bonfire on the beach night before last.  Met some great new friends Bob and Jane and

We last talked to Emerald Tide by VHF as we both sailed towards Great Sale Cay. Craig....got some AWESOME "under sail pics" for ya (will post later). I hope your crossing is going well....the winds seem favorable. We sailed on and are at the West End. We'll cross sunday. The bonfire was GREAT!!!  Super evening....gotta do more of those...and have MORE from this forum join us !!!  CJ...ya gotta come over next year!!!   Anyhoot....nice meeting ya so often this year....good conversations. Ya all gotta get mobile!!!!

Craig...."are you out there"  :o   How was your crossing?
We crossed yesterday...near perfect fast close reach. The wind is way up today, so we timed it well.

Quote from: Frank on April 07, 2014, 11:00:43 AM
Craig...."are you out there"  :o   How was your crossing?
We crossed yesterday...near perfect fast close reach. The wind is way up today, so we timed it well.

Moored at Titusville this morning, had a great passage also!  Really appreciate the pictures, will upload when I am on wifi.  Glad you had a good rum run across...  Was really blowing here but I know that is how you hard core Sailors roll.  ;D

Taking care of some post passage stuff...  Getting things ready for the crawl up the coast.

Had a very cool welcoming by the dolphins coming along side and playing both when we left the Bahamas banks, and again just inside the cape Canaveral inlet....  They even accompanied us though the "locks" in the barge channel.

(http://).

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/0dacf8e10e557961629f3c30221bfc79_zpse4b13b8d.jpg)

The pictures are so great I did not want to wait... Here is the one Frank took of Emerald Tide bow on.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/76d6ac2d8c818d4bb957e9470bdefe59_zpsc093f16e.jpg)

The bonfire on Manjack beach, new friends and memories to last a lifetime.

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/f8a11d9e4575da891e62edc23020389c_zps6a1590d0.jpg)

That bow shot is just awesome. 

Grog for posting it and grog to Frank for taking it! 

PS...da guy with da longgg hair and cowboy hat is Craig   :o ;D :D

The fellow seated is Bob. He and his wife Jane (petting sadie) do chart sounding and updates. Bob's lived on a boat for 40yrs!! Jane about 28! If you use Garmin or C-Map in the Bahamas or Turks....you're looking at their work.

I'm thinkin' we are going to have to start calling Craig "The Dude"  ;) ;D

Craig is an example of what would have happened if all the hippies would have just gone ahead and enlisted in the Navy...

:D

Well if that is the case, I am wondering where my hair went ;)

Your hair?? HAH!!!

Quote from: Tim on April 07, 2014, 05:31:09 PM
I'm thinkin' we are going to have to start calling Craig "The Dude"  ;) ;D

"His Dudeness...Duder...or El Duderino, if, you know, you're not into the whole brevity thing."  :D

Quote from: s/v Faith on April 03, 2014, 03:05:20 PM
It has been an absolutely wonderful four months, it was 4 months to the day when I cleared into the Bahamas. Had an absolutely wonderful time...

Good to hear that you had a wonderful time and a great passage back. Four months would be just about right to miss the winter here, as you wrote. :)

Quote from: Frank on April 04, 2014, 05:19:42 PM
...got some AWESOME "under sail pics" for ya (will post later).

Great photos Frank! :)

Quote from: Frank on April 04, 2014, 05:19:42 PM
Super evening....gotta do more of those...and have MORE from this forum join us !!!  CJ...ya gotta come over next year!!! ...Ya all gotta get mobile!!!!

You make it very tempting, Frank, Craig--and Charlie's thread from his cruise there! :)

Thanks for the encouragement guys....

I wonder if someone could take a screenshot for me of my spot page right now and post it to the thread so I can use it later?

Link Sauce for Sailing Faith Spot Messenger page (only shows the last 7 days). (http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0k74N72e5suub7IY433h3m03C2KUPpGs4)

My "S" curve that I normally use for a passage was goofed up by a much more southerly stop... I want to look at it later.

Thanks!

"the Dude"....  (Aka, hippy)...  :)

(http://b29seeker.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Faith_Spot.png)

Quote from: Frank on April 07, 2014, 11:00:43 AM
We crossed yesterday...near perfect fast close reach. The wind is way up today, so we timed it well.

Frank, A late congrats to you on the crossing, to. :)
Would like to see a photo of your boat , too, if you have one. Is it the one (was it a Compac 23?) with the custom pilothouse you added?

I did 2 crossings on that lil 23  :o
This one was a delivery of someone elses boat.

Heading out the inlet, just passed Brunswick Georgia.

Lets see... Came in cape Canaveral, anchored near the old shuttle assembly building.

Couple days in Titusville.  Crew change, provisioning and back underway up the ditch.

8 April, anchored near sheepshead cut.

9 April, had a brief stay in the mud just north of the LB Knox bridge, kedged off (ICW can be tough with almost 6' draft).  Delay had me looking for an anchorage, but ended up grabbing the dock at  the Marina at Hammock Beach Resorts.  Tis a was the first time Emerald Tide has spent th? night at the dock since I left Kurt's marina at Georgetown right after thanksgiving. Enjo?ed the hot tub, pool and showers...  Marina manager Neal kindly said just to pay him next time I came though ?nd could stay for more time.

10 april Picked up city mooring just north of the bridge of lions at st. Augustine.  I love that town.

11 April, up the ditch to St. John's river, spent the night on the hook at sisters creek.

12 April, found the bottom again just south of Fernadina Beach, had planned to head out the inlet at st. Mary's, but the delay changed our plans.  Spent a very nice evening anchored ?ffthe plumb orchar just north of kings bay Georgia.

Today, 13 April we are heading out St. Simons inlet, heading for savannah or maybe charłeston.

Quote from: s/v Faith on April 13, 2014, 04:24:26 PM

Today, 13 April we are heading out St. Simons inlet, heading for savannah or maybe charłeston.

Give my regards to Charleston City Marina...I know how much you love that place.   ;D ;D

(In other words, wave cheerfully as you sail right on by....).

Sail safe; more pictures would not be amiss.   ;)

Anchored in "Cow Creek" about 25miles up the Waccamaw river from Georgetown.  The rain is falling, and I am anchored near a 3 masted steel schooner that was anchored in this same spot when I last came by here last November.

Had hoped to stop by Georgetown to visit CapnK, but had a good se wind and wanted to sail as far up the river as I could get before the rain started in Ernest.  Saw about 30k way up here in the middle of the cypress forest!

A few pictures;

Just north go Kings Bay, anchored near "Plum Orchard".

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/d653d90b02259b17f56b12df33cb08da_zpse6c7e7bb.jpg)

Another of Franks excellent "underway" pictures;

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/09f5d10bce2643e303743921b6e3355a_zpscda3eb74.jpg)

A little offshore yoga..

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p23/SailingFaith/dcf367582906fbeaedede75a38d37ecd_zpsd4f42918.jpg)

This would be "Tree pose".

"Cow House Creek" right across from Wachesaw Marina, behind Richmond Island. You didn't see my PM to send me your phone number so I could call you? poop. Argh... Funny thing is, I saw that schooner yer anchored by, headed upriver today...

That gust front was crazy, came through while my dinner was being cooked. When I got back to Katie tonight, the forehatch had been lifted off of her. A few pounds of flat, not very aerodynamic solid fiberglass, held onboard only by the spring supporter. Glad that didn't break.

Crewdog Barque has been performing his duties excellently and with aplomb. He wishes he'd have been able to visit with you on the trek north. Perhaps on your road trip back to Pcola, then...

PS - Who's that hippy doing yoga on the doc's boat? ;D

VERY familiar with that "gust front" Came through here on the Texas coast yesterday noon. Winds went from nine, to gusting 50 in about 10 Minutes. Temps went from 75 to 50 in 3 hours.

Sure glad I had that 5/8 braided line on the windward cleat!!! It was TIGHT!!

All done today- sunny, and winds WAY down

It was a doozy for sure

Quote from: s/v Faith on April 15, 2014, 09:11:15 PM
A little offshore yoga..

Avast-aye & Namaste, Dude! ;D

Took a look at your Spot course, and grabbed it for you. Fair winds, Craig.  :)