December 5, 2009
Green man group
When we got out into the gulf, there were 4 to 6 foot rollers. Both captain dan and capt jim became seasick. You"ve heard of the blue man group. We had the green man group. They were both unable to stand watch. So much for sleeping.
By friday night we had not seen the sun. The moon. Or a star. Showers and thunderstorms. Big rollers left over. Capt ted an i alternated watches while capt dan and capt jim fed the fishes.
We also had some electrical issues with the boat. As in no electricity. The autopilot went out, the lights went off, and the bilge pump that had been frequently pumping out the leaking water.........etc.
I thought the motor wasn't charging the battery so capt ted took his multimeter down to check. He said one battery showed 8 volts and the other one 10 volts. Not good. I wasn't seasick but there was no way i could work under the back berth on the electrical system.
all these things coupled with the weather caused us to decide to turn towards key west. We were 85 miles n of the dt's and about 75 miles offshore out in the gulf.
later in the night, while cpt ted was on watch, i could feel the boat behaving strangely. When i went out i saw that we were going in circles. ted thought the autopilot was not letting him steer. He actually had the wheel hard over trying to turn farther. He thought he was in the bermuda tringle since his compass was spinning in circles.
we made it to key west. Shower and a nap.
By friday night we had not seen the sun. The moon. Or a star. Showers and thunderstorms. Big rollers left over. Capt ted an i alternated watches while capt dan and capt jim fed the fishes.
We also had some electrical issues with the boat. As in no electricity. The autopilot went out, the lights went off, and the bilge pump that had been frequently pumping out the leaking water.........etc.
I thought the motor wasn't charging the battery so capt ted took his multimeter down to check. He said one battery showed 8 volts and the other one 10 volts. Not good. I wasn't seasick but there was no way i could work under the back berth on the electrical system.
all these things coupled with the weather caused us to decide to turn towards key west. We were 85 miles n of the dt's and about 75 miles offshore out in the gulf.
later in the night, while cpt ted was on watch, i could feel the boat behaving strangely. When i went out i saw that we were going in circles. ted thought the autopilot was not letting him steer. He actually had the wheel hard over trying to turn farther. He thought he was in the bermuda tringle since his compass was spinning in circles.
we made it to key west. Shower and a nap.
December 3, 2009
Navagation
captain Ted & captain dan just spent an hour trying to program a waypoint in the chart plotter for the dry tortugas. Don't think they ever got it right. Havana here we come.
Our watch schedule is 4 hrs on 4 hrs off. I'm 8 to midnight and 4am to 8am. Last time we sailed to key west, i slept about 2 hrs in 12 days. We drove straight thru, got on the boat and left. Stayed overnight in key west but rented scooters for 24 hrs. Didn't want to loose any time there so we rode them all night. This year i've got it figured out. Sleeping pills and no doze. Got the idea from Elvis.
Our watch schedule is 4 hrs on 4 hrs off. I'm 8 to midnight and 4am to 8am. Last time we sailed to key west, i slept about 2 hrs in 12 days. We drove straight thru, got on the boat and left. Stayed overnight in key west but rented scooters for 24 hrs. Didn't want to loose any time there so we rode them all night. This year i've got it figured out. Sleeping pills and no doze. Got the idea from Elvis.
Away
we filled the diesel, bought ice, and departed the st pete marina at 3 pm.
sunny skies and light winds. We motored all the way to the sunshine skyway bridge.
sunny skies and light winds. We motored all the way to the sunshine skyway bridge.
December 2, 2009
dt Departure
I,ve attatched a photo of the 3 captains on this trip.
We're staying in a condo tonight because the boat is rocking too much in the slip. There's three beds........three captains........guess who's sleeping on the floor.
When we had a planning meeting a few weeks ago, the 3 said no dinghy this trip. Today, we loaded a dinghy on board. I wanted to snorkle at the DT's, but didn't think I could without a dinghy. Since we now have a dinghy I can. So I got Ted to take us to a sports store and I bought a cheap mask and fins. On the way into the store a woman walking out gave me $10 off coupon.
Merry Christmas to me.
November 30, 2009
Dry Tortugas (D.T.'s)
Off on another boating adventure this week--but not on my boat. Wednesday, I'm flying to Tampa to join three other guys for a sail out of St. Petersburg to the Dry Tortugas. The Dry Tortugas are a group of small islands 70 miles west of Key West. Our course from Tampa Bay is 180 degrees--due south for 200 miles. If we make a slight navigational error, and miss the islands the next stop is Cuba.
They're called the Tortugas because Ponce de Leon thought they looked like turtles (very small islands) when he discovered them. There is no fresh water on the islands so they're "dry." Ft Jefferson is on one of the islands, but that's about all. The islands make up one of the least visited U.S. National Parks.
Our plan is to leave the St Pete municipal marina on Thursday, and arrive at the Dry Tortugas sometime Saturday. Spend a couple of days there, and then sail over to Key West for a couple of days, then sail back to St Pete. I'm checking the Thursday marine forecast for the gulf, and NOAA predicts 40 knot winds, and 10 to 14 foot seas. I haven't spoken with the other crew members yet, but I think there might be a change of plans.
I sailed to Key West in '07 on the same boat with one of the guys making this trip. It's a 34' C&C. "Key Breeze" Home Port is Indianapolis. (Just in case you read about it in a Coast Guard report.)
I've added internet access to my cell phone. I can check the weather and emails and other simple tasks, and will attempt to post to my blog from it. Of course we won't have service when we're offshore, but we should pick it up again in Key West. My phone is not a "smart" phone--but as F.G. would say "I'm not a smart man."
They're called the Tortugas because Ponce de Leon thought they looked like turtles (very small islands) when he discovered them. There is no fresh water on the islands so they're "dry." Ft Jefferson is on one of the islands, but that's about all. The islands make up one of the least visited U.S. National Parks.
Our plan is to leave the St Pete municipal marina on Thursday, and arrive at the Dry Tortugas sometime Saturday. Spend a couple of days there, and then sail over to Key West for a couple of days, then sail back to St Pete. I'm checking the Thursday marine forecast for the gulf, and NOAA predicts 40 knot winds, and 10 to 14 foot seas. I haven't spoken with the other crew members yet, but I think there might be a change of plans.
I sailed to Key West in '07 on the same boat with one of the guys making this trip. It's a 34' C&C. "Key Breeze" Home Port is Indianapolis. (Just in case you read about it in a Coast Guard report.)
I've added internet access to my cell phone. I can check the weather and emails and other simple tasks, and will attempt to post to my blog from it. Of course we won't have service when we're offshore, but we should pick it up again in Key West. My phone is not a "smart" phone--but as F.G. would say "I'm not a smart man."
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