Norfolk, VA
To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.
"...That I shall say good night till it be morrow."
Today: laundry, last-minute supplies, weather.
We'll miss Miami. In particular, the last two nights were beautiful. The three of four days previous, however, were gusty and crappy. The Dinner Key Mooring field is a world of extremes: flip-flopping between …
We had an amazing storm this morning: 45 kt gusts. Quite alarming to hear that racket inside Red Ranger. The mooring lines held: Dep Chief David gave us some old firehose which we cut up to make chafe guards. Nothing on deck was damaged: we try not to leave things …
Thursday the 17th WX info:
--N-bound vessels Bahamas-Florida and the long US ECoast should enjoy benign weather beginning Mon21 or (may be more likely) Tue22 With benign weather (either little wind or maybe modest favorable wind) thru about Sat26 or Sun27.
Sweet!
This doesn't go as far into the future …
I think we've done our last Biscayne Bay day sail. Our next sailing day(s) will be our passage north.
Here's the video of this week's outing: Sailing Day II.
Here's a video from last month's outing: Sailing Day.
Here's the weather forecast summary that we're looking at …
We're closing in on time to start migrating north for the summer. We have to be north of Cumberland Island, GA, in about six weeks. The Commodore has said that we'll be leaving Miami in about three weeks. We're looking at several big challenges on this voyage.
The leg to …
It's time for our weekly sailing outing. Questions were raised. Answers, however, are not forthcoming.
The winds from about 120° (something like ESE or maybe SE by E) at 10 to 11 kt here in the mooring field. Once out in the bay, the winds were actually 15 kts gusting …
Started: Star Island 25°46.56′N 080°09.25′W
Mooring: Coconut Grove near Dinner Key Marina, 25°42.92′N 080°13.63′W
Log: 8.5 nm. Time: 2 hr. Engine: 2 hr.
Great party on Perfect Partner. Great tour of Lincoln Road Mall on Miami Beach …
It's Biscayne bay. It's breezy. It's beautiful. Let's go sailing!
We're trying to do this weekly. We =haul Scout up on deck and scrub the algae off. Then we take Red Ranger out and sail.
We're getting a little better. Let's not get silly though, things can still go very …
This is something we haven't done in months and months. Recreational sailing. Not moving the boat. Just sailing around to see the sights.
Important lessons learned yesterday.
First, the "genoa" cars (they're really yankee sheet turning blocks, but most sailors will know them as genoa cars) are waaaay too …
Started: Vero Beach Marina, 27°39.69′N 080°22.35′W
Ended: Coconut Grove near Dinner Key Marina, 25°42.92′N 080°13.63′W
Log: 155 nm. Time: 24 hr. Engine: 24 hr. Fuel: 29.1 gal.
Dropped the anchor at the edge of Biscayne Bay. Not …
Started: Eau Gallie (N), 28°08.16′N 080°37.53′W
Moored: Vero Beach Marina, 27°39.69′N 080°22.35′W
Log: 31.5 nm. Time: 6¼ hr. Engine: 6¼ hr.
Rafted up with Creola here at Vero Beach. This is a small mooring field, very well …
Started: Green Cove Springs, Governor's Creek, 30°00.72′N 081°41.26′W
Anchored: Marsh Island, 30°23.74′N 081°30.41′W
Log: 42.6 nm. Time 7½ hr. Engine 7½ hr.
We've heard mayday calls before. They've always been far enough away that we haven't been …
Started: ICW Mile 710, Cumberland Island, 30°45.943′N 081°28.329′W
Anchored: 2 miles from ICW Mile 740, Marsh Island, 30°23.74′N 081°30.43′W
Log: 31.2 nm. Time 5¼ hr. Engine 5¼ hr.
Yesterday we hiked Cumberland Island. I think we put …
Started: ICW Mile 464, Cooper River Marina, 32°49.94′N 079°56.02′W
Anchored: 10 miles from ICW Mile 505, Big Bay Creek, 39°29.790′N 80°19.523′W
Log: 56.5 nm. Time 10 hr. Engine 10 hr. Fuel 35 gal.
Sunday's weather promised to …
This was painful, but necessary.
Stuff broke. We knew something was amiss when Mr. Lehman developed an unusual new smell on Saturday or Sunday. Really. A new smell. We'd learned all of his various noises. And a diesel engine has a characteristic smell. But this smell was new and different …
We're getting our ICW reading list organized.
Skipper Bob Anchorages Along the Intracoastal Waterway. Crucial.
There appears to be a pattern here. Many popular anchorages seem to be about 50 statute miles away from each other. It's very likely that this pattern is essentially sampling error. A daily run of …
It makes sense to keep a detailed equipment inventory.
Sadly, we don't always think of writing down the serial number until after the painful, difficult installation.
This leads us the following foolishness.
Slide a mirror into the space where the serial number is visible.
Take numerous pictures of that mirror …
The Commodore Said "Those headsails are shot."
We took them to Baxter Sailmakers and had two new headsails made. This is a multi-part operation.
Measure. See Custom Tailoring. This starts Baxter on the route of laying out a pattern, getting pieces cut and sewing.
Rebuild. We had to install new …
The Commodore Says "This boat is built for guests."
Red Ranger has a sea-kindly motion, two heads (better than...), ample water and a large holding tank. Plus. A full bar in the saloon. And a beer cooler on deck.
For overnights, we can fit a couple or two friendly singles …
The Commodore Says "Jobs can wait; once in a while you need to have some fun." It's Memorial Day: a day to cease work and recall the sacrifices of others. And have a party to celebrate our veterans and the benefits of those sacrifices.
It was one of those too-perfect-to-believe …