Dec 27, 2011 onward

Well it is now 1800 and the boat is repaired. I had the boat hauled out at Browns Boat Yard in Nassau this morning at 0800, and then checked for any damage. The keel was fine with just some bottom paint missing; the rudder had what looked like a split where the two halves joined at the bottom tip of the rudder. There was no evidence of any separation of the skins from the body of the rudder and just what looked like filler chipped out. So I cleaned that area out and then filled it with epoxy and micro-balloon filler, then covered the joint with two layers of axial cloth and roving to secure the joint. An improvement over the stock configuration. I went out for lunch to give it time to set up. Once that had all set I sanded it reasonably smooth and then covered the repair with bottom paint and the whole job was done by 15:00.

The tide was down by then and there is only 3 feet of water in the slip so we’ll spend the night on the hard and launch with the morning’s high tide. From what appeared to be a disaster we are now ready to go for under $300.00. Next stop is the Exuma’s…

Dec 29, 2011

We set sail from Nassau about 10:00 heading for Allen’s Cay. The day was overcast and the wind was supposed to be more north than it turned out. We were heading southeast but the wind was easterly so it was a motor-sail to Allen with the main up. About half way out it started to rain and the wind was a little gusty up to 17 kt. We eventually let out about 75% of the headsail but kept up motoring because it was a little tight and we wanted to get there before dark. We arrived about 16:30 and set the anchor in a nice patch of sand. About 20 minutes later Bolero arrived and anchored close by. After dinner we went over to chat over a couple drinks.

The next morning we headed out for Shroud Cay about 14 miles south. We arrived at 14:30 and took a mooring that we checked to see if it was secure. Shroud is a low island with extensive mangroves in the middle of the island but you can dinghy through all the way to the sea side to some excellent beaches. We then took a dinghy ride through the mangroves but had to cut it short as the tide was falling fast and I didn’t feel like carrying the dinghy out. Later I sent Chris up the mast to check and clean the antenna coupling. It looked good so I am still not sure why I don’t have much distance on my VHF radio. I will try calling boats I hear on the radio and see how far I can transmit.

We left early on December 31^st for Staniel’s Cay to meet some of our friends for New Year’s Eve on the beach and arrived about 14:00 and are now tucked in close with about 90 feet of chain out in preparation for an expected front to pass through on the 3^rd. This evening we joined in for hors d’oeuvres with several of the other cruisers. We met several other couples and had a fun evening and were back on the boat late after cruisers midnight, about 21:00.

January, 2012

Jan. 1, 2 & 3, we took the dinghy around and checked out the sights, watched the cruisers regatta and enjoyed roast pork dinner at the awards. And then just before nightfall, settled back onto the boat to prepare for the expected cold front. We knew it was coming which was why we chose this spot to anchor. I checked the anchor and it looked secure though not buried as deep as I’d have liked. I went to sleep early so I could be rested by 03:00 when it was forecast to arrive. The winds slowly built all night and the front arrived at approx. 04:30. The anchor held well and did not drag as far as we could tell. One boat had come in late and anchored just behind and to one side but the wind shift to the NW put him a few boat lengths off my stern. If we’d have dragged he’d have had some predawn company. The far corner of the anchorage looks pretty empty this morning and I think those boats have moved in closer to our end.

Come dawn though everything looks good, though there is one boat nearby without a mast, I will have to go over and talk to them later when things calm down and hear his story.

Well as forecast the secondary front has winds blowing 20 kts with higher gusts. It is supposed to blow 30 today before it calms down this evening. The waves in the anchorage are pretty choppy and if it calms a little we can go for a dinghy ride. And if it calms enough I will go get that lobster that Dejarlo offered us.

Well we survived the two day front with winds gusting to 30 kts. Dejarlo was leaving early and dropped off a nice lobster tail that we’ll have for tomorrow’s dinner. This morning was calm even though the wind threatened to go farther west which would have sent big waves through the anchorage. Our anchor held and we didn’t drag at all. We left about noon for Black Point and are now having a beer at Lorraine’s restaurant with internet access.

Time to relax and check emails and look for parts to get the radio back up to par…

Jan. 6 2012

We are still anchored in Black Point. I was going to go up the mast today but all our friends decided to go fishing so…. I managed to spear a lionfish and Skip got a wrasse and gave that to us so that was today’s dinner. Been a quiet few days, last night was happy hour at Scorpion’s and after a few there and a game of pool we went over to Lorraine’s for dinner. It was Carol’s birthday and Lorraine put on a nice buffet. There was another sailor there having a birthday and that just added to the evenings fun. Just another day in paradise…

I climbed the mast today to work on the antenna and wind instrument. Cleaned all the connections and theantenna bracket base but still no distance on the radio. On a hunch we tried a friends spare radio in the boat and it got out fine. So that means that my radio is dieing and will need to be replaced. So now to find an decent priced radio in the Bahamas... Just another day in paradise...

Update Friday December 23, 2011

Left Miami at 0615 for the Bahamas, heading to North Rock just north of Bimini. I hooked a nice Dorado and got him within 20 feet of the boat. I could see him just below us when he started to dive, getting too anxious I tightened the drag too much and he broke the 50 pound test line… We got to the banks about at 1630 and headed east to Mackie Shoal and then to the Tongue of the Ocean. It was a pretty uneventful crossing, with one sailboat coming at us and turning across our bow about 0100. We passed the shoal buoy seeing it only on radar as it hasn’t been lit in years. We stopped to assist another boat with engine trouble and offered to tow him, he elected to wait for another boat that was coming back with a tool that he could use to repair the fuel system. We continued on when the other boat got close and all was well. We passed into the ocean again and continued on to Frazer Hog where we planned to take a mooring. We anchored up near a beach using the moon and starlight to see the bottom behind a point and got some sleep and waited for dawn. We woke about 0930 and headed up the channel to the moorings. We took one close to shore and near our friends around 1100. The men took a couple of dinghies and went around to Chub to check in. All was going well and we socialized and went to bed about 2000. I could see the chain of the mooring wrapped around the 2 ton concrete block and thought all was well though I didn’t dive on the mooring due to the depth and the strong current.

The Day After

We are on a good mooring now at the Berry Islands Club. Starting to sleep a little easier now after the mooring broke that first night. We have been here almost a week waiting for a decent window to cross to Nassau. The club is actually closed but the manager has the water system and generator going for the boats that are here.

We had an easy crossing from Miami where we had spent almost two weeks waiting to cross. Then we sailed and motor-sailed across the stream and the banks. We got in to anchor at about 0400 and dropped the hook and slept for a few hours after the 22 hour run from the Miami. About 1100 that morning we had taken a mooring on what looked like a good one. I could see that the chain was around the 2 ton concrete block and looked to be secure. We took the dingy over to Chub Cay and went to the airport to check in. All seemed well when we went to bed about 2100. Then at about 0400 I felt the boat hitting the bottom. The second time it hit I was pulling on clothes and looked out to see the shore a few boat lengths away. I started the engine but we were already in shallow water. Chris helped me get the dingy and the anchor in it and I ran the anchor out till we had all the chain out. We winched it in until it bit and was taught so that we would not run up onto the rocky shoreline.

 The boat stopped about a boat length away from shore and was in maybe 4 feet of water on a falling tide. We were stuck good. I had issued a mayday when I got back and had the anchor set. Then later a securite to ask for assistance; but at 0430 I doubt anyone was awake. I took the dingy out and pounded on Randy’s boat and told him what was happening. He helped me set the second anchor and then a third. The boat was secure but the tide was falling and we had no way to get free before high tide. A couple with a nearby house shone a spotlight on us and later offered help.

By sunrise I had all the boats helping us and had put out a message on the SSB radio and asked that person to relay our situation especially back home. At this point I wasn’t sure if we could save the boat. The radios did bring another boater around and I later found out that Chris Parker had called Jeanne to let her know what was happening. We arranged to get a local boat to pull us off at high tide but that wouldn’t be for several more hours. All I could do now was wait, as the boat kept leaning over as the tide fell, eventually the rail was about 6 inches under water and the depth was about two and a half feet. I kept watch for leaks but only saw a minor amount of water get into the boat. Slowly the tide rose and the winds had abated somewhat during the day. Overnight when the mooring let go the winds were gusting to 27 knots.

When the tide was finally high the depth was still only 4 feet. We tried to pull it out into deep water but couldn’t budge the boat. We had a forth anchor tied to two halyards to keep the boat heeled. Someone on shore, who has sailed these waters for many years, told us to pull off with the halyards. I wasn’t sure that would work or if we’d break the mast, but the only other way was to wait for the higher high tide at 0300. That wasn’t a good option so we attached the power boat to the halyards and he pulled. The boat heeled way over and took off for the deeper water. We had to stop and release the anchors holding us and then pulled again and we were in deep water. I started the engine and slowly motored out as we checked for leaks. I slowly motored to a new looking ball that we were told was recently installed.

Tying off to that buoy, I backed on it several times to see if it would give way. After 4 nights on it hasn’t let go but I am still nervous about it.

Anyways I will be off to Nassau on Saturday with 6 other boats and will have company should anything happen. I have dived on the boat and the only damage I can see is a small split in the bottom off the rudder and missing bottom paint. I plan to see if I can get the boat hauled in Nassau to inspect it better and do any needed repairs and touch up the bottom paint. This must be what they mean by “another day in paradise”.

That night we had a little party to relax and enjoy after the days frenzied efforts to save the boat. This is a picture of some of the many people who helped me save our boat that day. All fellow cruisers and Howard who looks after the Berry Islands Club and used his boat to pull us out by the masthead.

I am now in Nassau at a dock at a dollar a foot with electricity and water and finally got a decent night’s sleep. I was awake often during the nights on the mooring to check that we hadn’t broken another one and were drifting away.

Sailing South 2011 - 2012

I had a good talk with the CBP officer today who explained several things about cruising permits.. He gave me a paper stating info about renewing the permit... basically it comes down to only resident aliens can renew a foreign flagged vessel cruising permit if the boat was made in the states... If you are not a resident alien then the only way you can renew is to have your permit expire while you are out of the country for at least 15 days before you return... you can turn in your permit when you leave and have it cancelled and the reapply when you return... but make sure you are out for the 15 days and they will ask for papers to show you checked into the foreign port as proof

I will be leaving St Augustine in the morning and plan to take 7 to 10 days to get to Ft Pierce.
The batteries were dead this morning and I suspect I left something switch on... it was raining with thunder and lightning till about 9:30 and then with a little sun peeking through the solar recharged the batteries enough so we could start the engine... the refer was finicky about running but by the afternoon it seems to be working again... will need to keep an eye on it and the switches we leave on... I may need to get a third battery and dedicate it to engine starting only

I am now in Vero Beach for US thanksgiving... I plan to make my trademark Jambalaya
After checking in and out tomorrow I will head for Ft Lauderdale and then it will either be south to the keys with a cruising permit or east to the Bahamas without one

Still in Vero Beach Fl. now and will be sailing farther south soon... May stop in Lake Worth and get another battery sized 4D for the boat for additional reserve capacity when I entertain later into the night

So while debating about getting another battery I had to measure up the space... anyways I took of the caps on my 2 year old batteries and find low electrolyte levels... a summer of solar charging took a toll on the liquid levels... now an excursion to find distilled water and to see if they come back to par... To be continued....

My batteries appear to be back up to par after a long day motoring down the ICW
That will save me a few dollars
Had a great sail from St Lucie to Ft Lauderdale left at 07:00 and sailed into the night and arrived here at 20:30.

I am getting tired of Ft Lauderdale and need to get moving... If the winds abate a little I will sail south to Miami in the morning to Coconut Grove. Sailing inside to there are 25 or so bridges and all are on a schedule with the last being only 54 feet... The schedules are such that I will have to wait for each successive opening... Well I am off to get some groceries and rhum and wine for the trip.

I am going to go down to South Miami tomorrow morning. The winds have been blowing hard out of the N to NE for the last few days so unless there is some moderation today we will stay inside and deal with the 20 or so bridges south of here...
Will check in and out to the Bahamas when we arrive... Looks like there may be a 1 - 2 day weather window on Wed/Thurs. to cross to Bimini... Wish me luck...

Heading South

Just arrived in Vero Beach on the way south. Had a long day yesterday motoring down from Cocoa Beach where we'd anchored for the night. Before that it was a night on the dock in Titusville after stopping in the Haulover Canal to watch the Manatee's on the great motor sail down from New Smyrna Beach. I met with Jim whom I'd met last year on the Erie Canal and he drove us for groceries and supplies...
I plan to spend Thanksgiving here before heading out to Ft Lauderdale and the Bahamas...
Still no luck in getting a cruising permit and if that doesn't happen soon I will spend my time cruising the Bahamas and spend my money there...
Will post again and let you know how it goes...

October 1, 2011 update

Late Summer Update

I arrived back home in late April after a side trip to Boston Ma. Brian drove my truck to Florida to pick me up along with the stuff I didn’t want to leave on the boat over the long hot summer. Then we drove up to Boston Ma  along highway #95 Our timing couldn’t have been better, we were along the coast as tornados were blowing through Atlanta Ga. We cut inland south of Washington Dc to avoid that area and spent the night in a small town in the mountains.  We got to Boston the next day and we enjoyed“relaxing” ale with our dinner after the long drive, then we loaded up Brian’s radar arch. That night the weather we avoided all the way here caught up as we slept. It had caused a lot of damage all along the coast but we were safe inside.

The next day we headed out for Albany and Buffalo. After leaving 95 degree heat 2 days ago it was strange to be driving through snow and sleet as we crossed the mountains again. The weather cleared up after the mountains but when we got to Buffalo it started to snow again. As we crossed over to Canada the snow increased and our welcome back consisted of white out conditions for the next 75 Km’s.  Although I cannot complain, after spending a beautiful 3 months sailing in the Bahamas. When we got home, Jeanne and Leslie had made an excellent meal for us, and so my 8 month adventure had come to an end. A little over a week later I was working in a sewage treatment plant.

My summer at home was spent working and making plans for returning to our boat to continue sailing. The summer seemed to pass way to quick; I didn’t have time to see many of the friends I hoped to see while home. I had some extra equipment I wanted to purchase for the boat. High on the list was a GPS/chart plotter, a Lofrans manual windlass, and some modifications to the ice box. I had planned to rebuild it completely but settled in the end to make a couple insulating panels for inside the box. I am basically making an insulated freezer section which would use much less of my valuable space inside the icebox as opposed to rebuilding it with a full 3” of insulation. My icebox project is just about complete, two more pieces of fiberglass sheet to apply and then it will be done. I found the fiberglass sheets in a 4x8 size at our local Home Depot; they are made for wall paneling but work out perfect for boat projects where you want or need a readymade flat sheet of FRP to start off. (My next boat will have a roomy icebox with at least 4” of insulation)

This summer Phil and Lorraine the couple we met on the Erie Canal over year ago on the boat “Changes” came over to Erieau On. And we spent the weekend on their boat. And our other friends Sue and Rob on Mandate that we met in Castleton and sailed together along the Intracoastal are coming this weekend for a visit. Oh and don’t say Mandate 3 times on the VHF as the coastguard may mishear it and think you are saying mayday, that happened twice to me near Charleston and Jacksonville.

Jeanne has me doing house projects that she wants done before I leave again in the fall. Doing things with the kids and grandkids, seeing my mother and all our other relatives occupies a lot of my time.  Jeanne is in a dilemma as to whether to head south with me in October or stay with the new job she started today. She had planned to finish work in the New Year but getting laid off from one job threw a wrench into her plans. Any bets as to what she will do???

We now have an offer to visit with Changes in Cleveland on the way south, and I plan to visit with Island Moon in Georgetown on the way to the boat.

It looks like the two big tropical storms have trashed the Erie Canal and it could be closed for some time. It won’t affect my plans to much but for my friends on Afeica who plan to head down in the summer of 2012 will have to take the Champlain Canal or sail around the Maritimes or truck their boat to the east coast. I hope it is back in operation by the spring of 2013 when I plan to head back north. I understand that 5 locks are severely damaged. In the last notice to mariners the canal should be open or at least partially reopenned. Some sections they plan to have stay open into December, lets hope that those planning to head south can take advantage. Though any boats just departing the canal in December will not just have winter nipping at their heals but have it taking big bites of their transom's if they slow down at all.

Well I better get back to my boat projects, only a couple weeks left till I head south to the boat.

The Boat is Repaired

Well the boat is back in the water now, The new shaft and cutlass bearing are installed and the strut was rebuilt with 8 layers of Bi-axial glass and epoxy. The motor over to a dock went fine with no vibration.

The next test will be on the sail back to Frazer Hog Cay across the Tongue of the Ocean about 45 nautical miles; and then across the banks to Bimini and then on to Florida.

The new bottom paint is Micron 66 and when I get hauled I will repaint the bottom with it, only $460.00 a gallon here

I plan to sail for Florida this week and then up the coast.


Taking a pass on the Abacos this year to get back home a little earlier.

Will stop to visit Jim my friend from the Erie Canal. Then I will be heading up to Green Cove Springs and will try to get home in time for the next grandchilds birth.

What has happened

I am sitting in the airport at Ft Lauderdale waitng for the plane to Nassau

Lets see... I left Galliot and headed up to Staniels Cay for some fuel 

before my planned hop to Eleuthera. Spent a couple nights anchored off Big Maajors to check out the swimming pigs. And yes they do swim out for treats. Bill Karen and I dingied in close and one big one swam out for his handout. We were taking pictures as Bill trtied to bait the pig into climbing into the boat... We'd have had a pig in the boat if we'd let him keep teasing the pig.

Next we sailed for Warderick Wells and got a mooring in the Emerald Cay bay and the next day we moved to the north field. I had made a boat board for the collection on top of the hill.

The next morning asa I was trying to drop the mooring I under estimated the speed of the tidal current and in motoring to avoid the boat behind me I got the line wrapped in the prop and the engine stalled and in doing that it bent the shaft and broke the strut. I managed to anchor in 20+ feet of water with about 150 feet of chain and rode out but the Bruce anchor bit well and I got the boat under control with only a minor chain rope burn and lightly smushed finger. After I calmed down a bit I dove under the boat to cut the painter and free the dingy. There was only a couple inches of line left to the dingy when it was free and the prop must have missed it by inches.

I checked the prop out and all looked ok but at the end of the sail to Eeluthera, as I tried to motor in the last 10 miles, the prop was shaking so bad that I could not go above idle speed. When the weather and water cleared enough I dove under again to discover how bad the strut was broken. I spent two days researching how to fix it and decided to make a brace to hold it in place and sail back to Nassau on my insurance agent advice to get hauled out for repairs.

We were going to wait two days for the seas to settle out in the sound but decided to leave early and it was a good thing we did. The waves were still big and winds gusty to 28 knots. But the sail over to Ship Channel Cay went well and after several tacks I made it up into the lee to anchor without resorting to my hurt drive line. The next morning I sailed out again but 5 miles out the winds died and Bill and Karen on Island Moon towed met the rest of the 30 miles into Nassau wher I very carefully motored into a slip at Nassau Hrabour Club to wait for the boatyard to lift me out.

After I hauled I discovered the bend in the shaft and the extent of the break... So here I am in an airport with a new shaft and with any luck I should be floating by the weekend...
Life is an Adventure
To be continued...