My Scoot will start a little earlier than planned. Next Tuesday to be precise. *grin*
I'm leaving Annapolis Tuesday with a crew of three to sail offshore to Green Turtle Cay. We'll cross the Gulf Stream directly off the mouth of the Chesapeake and then turn right. I'll drop my crew off in Marsh Harbour and then single-hand around the Abacos for a bit before settling in Spanish Wells for a few days. Janet is flying in to meet me in Nassau on the 17th. We're going to spend a couple of weeks working our way down the Exumas.
Return crew is flying into George Town -- including one SailFar mystery guest who can identify himself when and as he pleases -- and we'll head back offshore from there. This trip will be Janet's first offshore passage: 5 - 7 days from Bahamas to Norfolk and on to Annapolis.
Things are a little crazy now with last minute provisioning and cleaning.
I don't know what this means for me in April. Events came together for Janet to be able to join me now, so now is when I'm going.
sail fast and eat well, dave
Loading provisions today - not sure it will all fit!
Best of luck to you as you prepare, I know that more than one person here wishes that it was them getting ready to go,
Mystery solved. Tickets are confirmed. I'll be there.
A little nervous about keeping warm. Bahamas dress is simple enough. It's gonna be winter time, though. My foul weather gear is Ronstan inshore/coastal stuff. I'm wondering if I need to upgrade.
If every thing happens as planned, we'll be IN the Bahamas already when Scoot occurs. Gonna attempt to connect.
Godoy - iI would imagine your Ronstan stuff will be mor than adequate for the Bahamas. That's about the level we have.
Bahamas dress........1 pair of crocs,5 T shirts, 5 shorts, 1 sweat shirt and jeans (just in case) on 5th day wash shorts and T's in salt water,rinse with a spay of fresh water, hang on lifelines ;)
I don't 'think' you need more foulweather gear. A sweat shirt under
rain gear in wind is fairly warm but I'm not familiar with temps where you're leaving from.
Have a fun, safe crossing. Hope to see you's here
Adam,
Best of luck!
You're just the man for the job.
(Dave sent me an invite, too, but I couldn't possibly make the schedule--and you've got many more reasons to make the Early Scoot.)
Keep us posted. (Also, let us know how your plan to "buy a boat, live aboard, pay off boat and leave" progresses.)
--Joe
Ok. Misinterpretation. I'm NOT concerned about dressing in the Bahamas. Heck, I'll likely only be there for a day or two. I'm concerned about the sail to Annapolis. Offshore. In January. I'm guessing it ain't gonna be 80 degrees the whole way.
Frank- one point. Well, two really
I find Tee shirts to be too hot. I prefer button up shirts.
Second- Laura washes with fresh water, often with melt water
from ice chest, with some ammonia added. Takes little or no rinsing, no smell lingers, and no salt to get rid of. Give it a try
Adam....just pulled out a map...yep, thats up there for january. I'd be packin wool . Charleston can be cool (cold) that time of year way south of MD. I see your concern.
Good news is the gulfstream is warm once you're in it. Watch the water temp go from 50's to low 70's . Air gets warmer too
CJ....I only wear button shirts at weddings and funerals :o but I can see how a loose fitting one would be cooler
BTW, Auspicious did give me a good set of suggestions of what to pack. I just recall sailing around midnight an early November evening last year. Three fleeces, and my foulies and I was still cold. I don't like to be cold. But neither do I want to drag 80 pounds of gear through the airports (never mind stowing it once onboard).
Quote from: CharlieJ on November 29, 2009, 02:18:56 PM
Laura washes with fresh water, often with melt water
from ice chest, with some ammonia added. Takes little or no rinsing, no smell lingers, and no salt to get rid of. Give it a try
Grog to Charlie (well - really to Laura) for reminding me of this. I've done it before with good success but clean (ha!) forgot about it in stocking the boat. One more last minute thing to pick up!
I do now have the best inventory list of consumables I've EVER had.
I'm looking forward to seeing Adam coming down the sidewalk next to Exuma Market.
Quote from: Auspicious on November 29, 2009, 09:53:25 PM
I'm looking forward to seeing Adam coming down the sidewalk next to Exuma Market.
Can't wait!
Just don't bother with the grocery store stuff- to weak. Laura buys industrial strength from ACE Hardware, by the gallon. Concentrated and a little goes a long way.
Dave, Adam, and crew of 'Auspicious' -
Fair winds! What a great time you'll have. Keep me apprised of your return plans - if you make landfall near here, maybe we can grab a Grog in person. ;D
So happy for you guys! Jealous, but very happy! Have a fun, safe trip and post lots of pics! Especially action shots from watch! I love the sea with the boat heeled over, and sails full!
I'm jealous! Buen viaje!
Almost ready to go -- still have to load the reefer and freezer and strip the 135 off the furler to load the 100. Everything else is ready. Nasty low coming up the East Coast so first thing tomorrow has become midday, by which time the rain from the current cold front should have passed and we can work in the dry to finish those last two chores.
We're going to head down the Bay and wait in Little Creek for the low to pass North of our track and then slip down behind it before the next cold front rolls through.
Kurt - I'll try to remember to add you to our daily position report and update from the boat.
sail fast and eat well.
Have Fun! Looking forward to reports
Have a safe, fun and fast passage. Enjoy yourselves.
Fair winds and keep us posted. :)
Auspicious is underway. We dropped lines at 16.15 and headed out to the Bay. Winds are lighter and more southerly than expected so we're motoring toward Little Creek were we'll wait to duck between the Lows boiling up the East Coast. ETA in Little Creek around 1 tomorrow afternoon.
Internet by data card probably out to the sea buoy.
Good for you's. Hope you's have a hoot
Sounds like a fun trip! Be sure to give us a full recap when you get the chance. Fair Winds!
Still at sea, I guess...
Hopefully they got into port and have/had a hook or two down before the front that went offshore yesterday got to 'em. :)
I see 'Auspicious' is signed in... ;D
Dave, remember - PICS! Or it didn't happen! lol ;)
darn Kurt - was catching up before posting.
I'm in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. Great trip down - TR to follow, including video of dolphins at the bow! Some sail damage - story in TR - that I'm working first before I have the time to catch y'all up.
The Bahamas are as beautiful as I remember and as you imagine.
Shrimp risotto offshore is a good thing!
Kurt - if you have an IM or Skype account please PM.
sail fast and eat well, dave
Glad your safe Dave. We have a whale of a storm up here.
Quote from: Auspicious on December 10, 2009, 10:01:09 AM
darn Kurt - was catching up before posting.
I'm in Marsh Harbour, Abaco. Great trip down - TR to follow, including video of dolphins at the bow! Some sail damage - story in TR - that I'm working first before I have the time to catch y'all up.
The Bahamas are as beautiful as I remember and as you imagine.
Shrimp risotto offshore is a good thing!
Kurt - if you have an IM or Skype account please PM.
sail fast and eat well, dave
Glad to hear it, Dave. Looking forward to the TR (and the pics/vid)! :)
I'm half packed already.... Can't wait....
Fisher's Bay, Guana Cay, Abaco 26?40.074'N 077?07.214'W
Frank -- where are you?
Are you heading to "Nipper's"? I'm between Manjack or Green Turtle. Judy fly's in today ;-) Off on the ferry soon to meet her at the airport. The Whale must be a rage today...sure is gusting here
Hi Frank- Whale is definitely raging today. Scrubbing and other boat chores today. Ate at Nippers last night - on the boat tonight.
I'm within eyeshot of Grabbers just outside the little mooring field anchored in a sand patch about 12'.
Glad you made it safely.
Some of the lows moving through here lately have not been fun at all!
Pix, please.
--Joe
Connection isn't quite up to pics and video yet. I promise I promise! They are coming! *grin*
Grabbed a good weather forecast yesterday and jumped from Man of War Cay in Abacos to Nassau. Wind was higher than forecast: 12-15 instead of 10 and down; seas were flat instead of 8-10 forecast. Big problem -- was going too fast! At about 4a furled the jib and reefed the main to slow the boat down so I could do a daylight entry into Nassau Harbour.
Given Explorer Charts I'd say Nassau is an easy night-time entry FYI.
Scrubbing the boat and doing laundry before Janet flies in on Thursday. Expect we'll move to West Bay late Thu / early Fri to hop to Exumas when weather looks reasonable.
Reasonable: This from a guy who flirted with a gale on purpose to get his butt South. *grin* Perhaps I am a glutton for punishment as accused. Heck a gale is only 40 kts. Go sailing!
Sorry -- been repacking the entire cockpit locker this morning and I'm a little loopy.
Update - Janet will be here in three hours and I just found that a yogurt dumped in the bottom of the fridge. Everything out, scrub, wipe down the contents and repack and then up to shower/shave before she gets here.
Weather looks stinky the next couple of days so we're probably here longer than expected - maybe sail to West Bay on Saturday and Exumas on Sunday.
We spent a few days in Nassau waiting for a forecast of winds below 30. *sigh* Had a nice trip across the Yellow Banks to Allens Cay - with a little excitement there. Next day (yesterday) we sailed in the Exuma Sound to Warderick Wells (deep water is good!) Wifi here albeit a bit $$ and not very fast.
Leaving in the next hour or so for Little Farmers Cay (probably two days there) and then on to George Town.
Pics and a better trip report eventually. *grin*
Back in Abacos with Adam / Godot aboard waiting for a window to head back to the US.
Adam has never seen Captain Ron. We're fixing that tonight.
sail fast and eat well, dave
S/V Auspicious
lying Marsh Harbour Abacos Bahamas
Quote from: Auspicious on January 02, 2010, 04:56:41 PM
...Adam has never seen Captain Ron. We're fixing that tonight.
sail fast and eat well, dave
S/V Auspicious
lying Marsh Harbour Abacos Bahamas
Outstanding! Glad you are taking care of that Capt. Ron issue... 1/3 of all the inside jokes on various sailing forums will soon be clear Adam! ;D
QuoteWhere is my auto?
:D
Adam is no longer a Captain Ron virgin.
Quote from: Auspicious on January 02, 2010, 08:17:22 PM
Adam is no longer a Captain Ron virgin.
How apropos. ;)
Quote"If it is gonna happen... it's gonna happen out there."
Made Beaufort NC yesterday afternoon.
More to follow.
Glad you's made it back. Look forward to details.......................................and pics ;D
Quote from: Auspicious on January 10, 2010, 07:54:10 AM
Made Beaufort NC yesterday afternoon.
More to follow.
Hey, Dave,
How long are you planning to be in Beaufort? When I told the family at dinner tonight that you are there, Hunter asked if we were going to go see you.
Do you need any shoreside transport? If so, just ask. If you still have my cell number, just give me a call.
Clawson's is our favorite place to eat there.,.pricey but yummy. We have not sampled all the places yet.
JR
Thanks John -- We liked Clawson's our first night here. Also found Back Street Pub - lots of fun. Dinner out in Morehead with local liveaboards last night.
On the way home Adam asked if you lived here. *grin* Both of us clean forgot.
Will call you today - not sure if we'll push off today or tomorrow - probably tomorrow - would like to get more cleaning done before we push.
If you are out and about stop by Beaufort Docks - we're on the t-head at the west end right behind the bath house.
Auspicious is home. Shower, food, nap, another shower - feeling pretty good.
Good to hear, Dave.
It was great meeting you guys. I figured you probably made it out of Beaufort/Morehead area without the 'lockdown' affecting you.
JR
It was great to meet you John.
We had no problem getting out of Beaufort/Morehead. I heard about the closure that night from wherever the heck I anchored.
You have well-behaved kids - you can certainly be proud of them.
sail fast, dave