Finally in Texas

WE MADE IT.  Docked, safe and sound in Kemah.

The second leg of the trip was a little more "spirited" with wind, waves, and weather.

I took foul weather gear but didnt need it till we got just south of Louisiana and a cold norther blew through.  (I was comfortable in 45 degree Virginia wearing shorts) The lovely perfect calm of the first week down the East coast from the Chesapeake was the opposite of what we got in the Gulf crossing.  When the front blew through we got 30+mph winds (with some big gusts) along with 10 foot seas.  One night the seas were breaking over the top of our cockpit roof.  In the distance you can see the many bright lights of an oil rig standing a hundred feet tall above the Gulf.  Then a massive wave rolls up and everything goes black as it blocks your view.  Next it either lifts the boat up and rolls it on it's side as it passes under her, or crashes down on the deck.  One particularly massive wave hit the top side of the hardtop roof and sent a 'bucket worth' of water inside all over me.  An eye opener in the pitch dark at ten pm.

 

This photo is our radar when we got close to Galveston.  Each blip is another boat we had to dodge.  It got a little intense for a few hours.

note:  I apologize for the batteries dying on the SPOT during our crossing.  I replaced my 4 triple AAA's before this trip and they just died.  The 'funny' thing was that Rod's (second spot) had his batteries die the day prior.  Rod's spot died and I watched him change batteries.  (I 'knew' I was ok because I had fresh batteries.)  then the next day my spot started blinking funny and we figured out MY batteries were dying.  what we didnt realize was, mine died for two days.  So, EVERYONE I am now aware it was a time of tension ashore while you all figured it out.  On the boat, there was zero tension and a calm blissful ignorance throughout.

DEPARTURE TODAY from St. Petersburg to Kemah

Up early with a flurry of activity.  Rod got up about 5:30 and walked the dock checking weather while I tried to sleep...   ('tried')  It's 7:30 now and Dave is in the galley cooking [scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy] and complaining that he is 'the clean up guy, not the cook.'  The boat is ready, prepped and we just have to put away any loose items that might get shaken out onto the floor.

Departure time is noon, so our spot will become active with movement about then.  Tonight will be rough and very windy.  Then the wind will clock around and help carry us on toward Kemah.

Bon Voyage!                -Peg Leg Captain Skip

*the SPOT link is in

 the RIGHT hand column.

Dodging weather at a dock in St. Petersburg, Fl.

We are leaving St. Pete in the moring to sail on toward Kemah.  We pulled in here to dodge a big cold front, high winds and large seas headed this way.

   

Our trip up from Marathon has been safe and pleasant, but slow.  We anchored two nights to avoid hitting stone crab pots down in the keys.  (they are so thick in places you are constantly driving a zig zag.)

Our trip since changing crew has been:  Saturday sail from Riviera Beach to Fort Lauderdale down the ICW.  (anchor just outside the ICW and take turns all night on anchor watch)  Sunday from Ft. Lauderdale to Key Biscayne anchored with a killer view of Miami and 3 kids sailing classes sailing all arund us.  (note: insert camera photo)  Monday sail from Key Biscayne to just off Long Key for a great nights sleep!  Tuesday sail down to Marathon to tie up at Burdines.  We got diesel fuel, water, went to Publix market for food.  Had diver Derrick dive the prop and find tangled crab pot line.  We had lunch at Burdines and then sailed off into the gulf till dark.  *we did something unusal and anchored out in the gulf surrounded by crab pots.  we didnt want to hit them in the dark and get tangled up, so we anchored out at sea.  It was a very rough bouncy night.  Nobody slept well.  Wednesday we sailed all day through crab pots, then on all night.  At dusk in about 85 feet of water we finally saw the last string of pots.  (there could have been more, but that's the last we saw)  Thursday we pounded all day and all night north to make landfall to avoid this coming Norther and the blow we expect.  (the weather for sailing shows massive winds and waves that we didnt want to encounter in the middle of the gulf)  Friday we sailed into port in St. Petersburg and tied up to the city marina about 330pm.  Last night was another great night of sleep.  Today Saturday did boat chores.  change the oil, new oil filter, add diesel fuel.  Take EVERYTHING of fabric and wash it in the Marina washing machines.  rinse the boat, cushions, and put them on deck to dry.  Take the dingy off the davits and tie it up on deck. Went again to the Publix for cereal, eggs, bacon, sausage and gravy.  

We are ready now to take off tomorrow to Kemah after the storm blows through.

St. Petersburg, Fl.

Yyyaaarrrrrrr...

"Salty" in Marathon, Fl.

Derrick dives to find wrapped line on prop.

Rod on deck pulling the anchor at sun-up 

Key Biscayne at anchor

We are at anchor off Key Biscayne Bay, just south of Miami.  We will stay here overnight and leave at 3am sailing for Marathon, Fl.  Marathon is the first place we can go under a bridge and access the Gulf of Mexico.  *ITS THE WEATHER that is creating delays and sailing inside the ICW instead of out in the Atlantic.  For example, yesterday we motored about 40 miles with almost 20 bridges to "go under."  IF we were out in the Atlantic we would expect to sail 120 miles in 24 hours.  Non-stop.

I'm not even going to guess about our transit, the weather or our next port.  I'll watch and see.  But we are daily checking weather and charting our course based on the latest weather front moving in.  We dont want to be out in the Gulf of Mexico when a big storm blows through!

Our view of the Miami skyline tonight ill surely be spectacular.  I'll try to remember to get a photo.

-Peg Leg Pirate Skip

Dave, Rob & I left the marina in Palm Beach this morning and used only the motor to come south in the ICW.  got to see lots of very expensive houses built on this canal...   Mostly it was a series of hurry up and wait to get through bridges.  we met almost two dozen low bridges and had to wait for them to raise to get our tall mast under.  (our mast is 52' clearance off the water and lots of bridges were 22' with some down lower than that.)  some open upon request and we would call them via our VHF radio.  others open on a fixed schedule.  'On the hour and half hour,' or 'every 20 min.'  Often we could hurry up or slow down to pace ourselves to be at the bridge just in time.  Other times we did circles in the 'river' till it ws time.  *NOW, remember it's Saturday on a Holiday weekend and envision tons of traffic.  Rich kids in daddys yacht out playing speed boat up and down the ICW.  I actually saw a boat pulling 2 water skiers. (in a no wake zone)  

Short version, it was a zoo!  We dodged boats all day.  Next think of this - there are no brakes on this boat.  So we hurry to the next bridge and then have to 'jockey' in position, as the boat drifts in sometimes strong currents, surrounded by other boats without hitting anyone.  It was stressful.  We were all wiped out when we finally dropped anchor.  Spent about 8 hrs and travelled about 60 miles.  

It's 2:20am and i'm on 'anchor watch.'  since we are in a small cove and shallow water - RIGHT BESIDE - the ICW, we cant afford to have the anchor drag.  if a storm were to blow up and we drug, it could put us in the ICW and a hazard to navigation.  (plus we might get hit)  my shift is from midnight till 3am.  I've seen 2 small boats go by during my watch.  we will pull anchor and start on toward Miami with first light.  (i'll go to sleep at 3am when Rod comes up on deck to relieve me.)  Anchor watch - sit in the cockpit and watch the shore to insure you dont move.  stay awake.

Last week we were 50 miles offshore in 600 feet of water and I was more scared today in a ditch with 12 feet of water, drifting slowly toward another massive yacht while drunk speeding kids flew by in their daddys boat.  I'm excited to get out to sea where its safer!

We are watching with great interest the weather and how it might get worse.  (concern of weather prompted us to sail the ICW today instead of out in the Atlantic)  talk here is to sit it out near Miami and let this storm blow through before going on.  this could impact our travels by a day or so.  more on that as it happens.  fortunately we have plenty of food and time.

FOOD:  We cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast.  I had 2 cups of coffee.  (then we walked a half mile to the boat store for some fuel filters)  Lunch was a sandwich with chips.  We were so worn out by dinner time that we just had snacks.  Summer sausage with cheese and crackers.  *I'm already excited about breakfast.

Nothing further to report.  Rick flew out this morning.  Dave Damm is filling in his spot now.  All is well on board.    

-Peg Leg Pirate skip

Saturday and which weather report to choose?

STATUS:  We sent cousin Rick on his way this morning and have Dave Damm on board from his flight yesterday.

ITS TIME TO SAIL ON.

I'm sitting in the cockpit drinking coffee listening to Rod and David discuss weather and whether to go inside via the ICW or outside into the open Atlantic.  (do we sail overnight in the Atlantic or "down the ditch" in the ICW to just daylight hours to Ft Lauderdale?)  Our goal is to reach Marathon FL and cross under the high 7 mile bridge over into the Gulf of Mexico and sail toward Kemah TX.

We have:  

*provisioned with more food.

*filled all water tanks

*filled all diesel tanks

*washed clothes

*washed the boat

*fixed a bad steaming light

*created a spare safety running backstay
*moved every package, box, pillow below decks
*eaten some big meals!
*tied up and straightend everything on deck.

Now we are now untying dock lines and .....  going INSIDE via the ICW.  *follow along via the SPOT (click on it in the right column)

God Speed and fair winds.  See ya on the other side.
- Peg Leg Captain Skip

7 days from Urbanna to West Palm Beach

We survived LEG1. 

the sail from Urbana Virginia down to Riviera Beach FL went without any major incident.  Seven days at sea to arrive and anchor in Florida.  

Urbana

Rick caught a nice tuna which we are still enjoying. It filled two gallon zip lock freezer bags.

HALF WAY THERE. FLORIDA

We are in FLORIDA at anchor in Riviera Beach.  We anchored by noon today in the river near the marina.  Seven days at sea.  (the same marina I helped Gary and Tara Last move their boat to 2 weeks ago.)  The passage was great.  The boat performed as expected and we survived with plenty of rest, food, and no injuries.  We expect the next leg to take 10 days.

Next step, re-provision and do crew swaps.  Cousin Rick flies home on the 11th and Dave Damm arrives the 10th.  So we are making lists of what to do.

I'll work on getting some photos posted soonest.  For now its time to eat some lunch and grab a nap.

- Peg Leg Pirate Skip

In TRANSIT - Urbana, Va. to Kemah Tx.

I'm currently on the dock in Charleston, SC filling up Rod and Linda's sailboat IT'S PERFECT with diesel and water.  We left Urbana Wed 7am and have been out in the Atlantic going steadily south and west.  After a few days beating directly into the Gulf Stream we decided we needed more fuel to make it to Fort Lauderdale to swap crew.  Cousin Rick will leave us there and Dave Dam will fly in and join us.  Then it's across the Gulf of Mexico to Kemah.

I dont have much time to type as "Time and Tide wait for no man."  I can watch the chart on the bridge change before my eyes and I can also see how antsy Rod is to shove off.

So far the weather and equipment have both been in our favor.  We are all well and getting almost enough rest.  Our rotation is 3 hours on watch, then 6 hours off....   but sleep rotation takes a couple of days to settle in.  So the start of the trip is a little sleep deprived.  We are all in 'rare form' now.

I expect to make landfall in Kemah on Nov. 20th.  I also expect something unexpected to happen that will challenge us.  (knock on wood)  We are eating well.  Today cousin Rick went to a bait store and bought some heavier line so we can stop allowing our fish to break free.  I can already taste fresh Tuna.  Or mahi mahi?

They are yelling for me, so I better run.  s/v It's Perfect is sailing.     - Peg Leg Pirate Skip