SHIP'S LOG:
It has been a rollicking day down here in Daytona! This morning at sunrise, there was barely a stirring in the air. By 8am, the wind had cranked up to a solid 25 and remained there all morning. During the afternoon, it got up as high as 30. Now these aren't especially "terrible" numbers, but in the shallow water of this anchorage, such "breezes" do set up a nasty chop. It is tough to put anything down and have it remain in place and if a liquid, to remain un-spilt. It does not appear that it will die down all that much tonight as this wind is the harbinger of a front that will move through later tonight insuring, according to the boys and girls at NOAA, that it will be another one of those days. You know, rain, thunderstorms, hail, high winds, possible tornadoes. Right now, it is making snow sound good.
I replaced the final hinge on the doors to the windlass locker. All four of them gave up the ghost on this trip and have had to be replaced It is a weird item to break in the first place but to have all four of them go in the space of a few months is hard to believe. But believe it or not, they all went and, even stranger, I had replacements available in my "What not" locker. With all the other odd items located there in, the prospect of more "weird" replacements in the future is not fun to contemplate.
I am starting to think in terms of fall. It is as though I have gone through my "summer" and am now approaching the end and what "should" be ahead is fall. But actually, it is SPRING! I think my biological clock is going to go a bit off in the weeks ahead.
For a few weeks now, I have been trying to locate the source of a tapping that seems to come in the early evening. It is as though there is a "mad" woodpecker tapping away somewhere. Y p until today, I have only heard it at night and I have actually conducts hunts to try and locate the source of the noise. I narrowed it down to the port side of the boat near or around the engine somewhere, but couldn't get any closer than that . . . . until today. I was sitting up in the cockpit reading when I heard it and it was right next to me. I looked down and it turned out to be a unsnapped metal snap on the dodge. The wind was causing it to "tap" against the retaining stud. Well that's one "mystery" solved, a 1,000 more to go.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Another Dull, Hot, Sunny, Boring Day In Daytona!
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, though I am still in Daytona, I did travel today . . . just a little bit. I had to do a "Pump & Dump & Fuel-up" as I was running out of fuel and filling up with garbage and . . . . "black water!"
Those are some of the things people who don't live on boat never think about. Flush the toilet and that's that. Put the garbage out by the curb once a week and it magically disappears. And the fuel truck comes to your home! And when the wind blows and the rain pours most people hardly notice it is happening and unless you live in a "double-wide," they never have to check and make sure that their "home" won't blow away!
Some poor fellow in a Catalina 25 sailed away from the dock at the Halifax Sailing Club and
"discovered new land." Evidently he strayed to close to shore and found one of the many sand bars that dot the Halifax River outside of the ICW Channel. He could sail off and couldn't power off and was lucky that one of the coaches from the sailing club was tooling around in a skiff and was able to pull him off. Major "whoopsies" like that cause the loss of "Harbor Face" and usually only happen when there are lots of people around to see it happen. Such was not the case today though and aside from the embarrassment he might have experienced in front of his crew, no other serious damage was done.
I sort of had my own experience with possible loss of "Harbor Face" today. Coming back to the anchorage after my "journey", I was headed up to the bow to drop the hook when I somehow snagged one of my "alligator shoes" or whatever they call those rubberized clogs, in the jackline and it flipped overboard. It was beyond boathook reach in seconds and getting the anchor down and set was primary. I kept look back as the bloody "shoe" floated down wind. No way I could take ABISHAG toward it or I would have gone aground, so i kept an eye on it during the anchoring process. Once the hook was down and set, I lowered the dinghy and went off in search of the most recent "crew" to abandon ship. Truth be told, I can't remember the last item lost overboard, it has been awhile. It took about 10 minutes to find and finally "rescue" the floating "shoe." And that was the extent of the excitement today.
Tuesday's departure is now in the "iffy" category as the boys and girls at NOAA are giving a "50% chance of rain on Tuesday. Well then, departure will be Wednesday. I'm flexible!
Well, though I am still in Daytona, I did travel today . . . just a little bit. I had to do a "Pump & Dump & Fuel-up" as I was running out of fuel and filling up with garbage and . . . . "black water!"
Those are some of the things people who don't live on boat never think about. Flush the toilet and that's that. Put the garbage out by the curb once a week and it magically disappears. And the fuel truck comes to your home! And when the wind blows and the rain pours most people hardly notice it is happening and unless you live in a "double-wide," they never have to check and make sure that their "home" won't blow away!
Some poor fellow in a Catalina 25 sailed away from the dock at the Halifax Sailing Club and
"discovered new land." Evidently he strayed to close to shore and found one of the many sand bars that dot the Halifax River outside of the ICW Channel. He could sail off and couldn't power off and was lucky that one of the coaches from the sailing club was tooling around in a skiff and was able to pull him off. Major "whoopsies" like that cause the loss of "Harbor Face" and usually only happen when there are lots of people around to see it happen. Such was not the case today though and aside from the embarrassment he might have experienced in front of his crew, no other serious damage was done.
I sort of had my own experience with possible loss of "Harbor Face" today. Coming back to the anchorage after my "journey", I was headed up to the bow to drop the hook when I somehow snagged one of my "alligator shoes" or whatever they call those rubberized clogs, in the jackline and it flipped overboard. It was beyond boathook reach in seconds and getting the anchor down and set was primary. I kept look back as the bloody "shoe" floated down wind. No way I could take ABISHAG toward it or I would have gone aground, so i kept an eye on it during the anchoring process. Once the hook was down and set, I lowered the dinghy and went off in search of the most recent "crew" to abandon ship. Truth be told, I can't remember the last item lost overboard, it has been awhile. It took about 10 minutes to find and finally "rescue" the floating "shoe." And that was the extent of the excitement today.
Tuesday's departure is now in the "iffy" category as the boys and girls at NOAA are giving a "50% chance of rain on Tuesday. Well then, departure will be Wednesday. I'm flexible!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
SHIP'S LOG:
Daytona . . . .Still! ! ! ! !
Hey, it could be a lot worse. I could be "rotting" on the hook in Cape May, NJ! At least here it is sunny and bright and WARM. The mornings and evenings have been cool, but the days are hot and sunny . . . . except for those storms, that is.
The Halifax Sailing Club ran another "Learn to Sail" Event for adults today and got a pretty good turn out. There must have been pretty close to 20. They got a morning of instruction and some sailing in before noon, got a lunch and then more sailing afterward. The after lunch part consisted of everyone lining up and sailing in formation - 100 yards this way, everybody tack - 100 yards this way everybody jibe - follow the leader around the marks and don't crash into any anchored boat. This group was better than last week's, less capsizing, fewer T-Boning incidents and crashes. Everyone appeared to have fun.
The anchorage has filled up with big boats, both power and sail. Ia ma beginning to think that the actual bottom bear no resemblance whatever to the charts. Of course, after 7 years of hurricane and other storms, it is doubtful that the charts most people have are anywhere up to date, me included.
More boats passed by today heading north. The great migration northward has begun in earnest. I get the impression from the cruisers I have met, especially those from Canada, that while they might go north, the boats do not. Somewhere between here and home, the boats are put up for the "summer" and will be returned to the water only in the late fall for the run south. Seems quite the reverse of what we do at home. The again, if you are making this trip every year, it saves a lot of wear and tear on the boat if you pick it up half way to your sunny destination. Easier on you as well.
I laid out the courses that will take me out of Florida, well at least to Fernandina Beach which is within spitting distance of Georgia. St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach is 55 miles and that is really a push. I might have to break it in half if I can find some good anchorages. I have a couple mapped out but until you see the "real ground," you never quite know what you have. I am not all that concerned about it though. It will all work out in the end. I still have a couple more "grounding sites" to get by, though I don't expect them to be a problem either . . .unless I find new ones!
Daytona . . . .Still! ! ! ! !
Hey, it could be a lot worse. I could be "rotting" on the hook in Cape May, NJ! At least here it is sunny and bright and WARM. The mornings and evenings have been cool, but the days are hot and sunny . . . . except for those storms, that is.
The Halifax Sailing Club ran another "Learn to Sail" Event for adults today and got a pretty good turn out. There must have been pretty close to 20. They got a morning of instruction and some sailing in before noon, got a lunch and then more sailing afterward. The after lunch part consisted of everyone lining up and sailing in formation - 100 yards this way, everybody tack - 100 yards this way everybody jibe - follow the leader around the marks and don't crash into any anchored boat. This group was better than last week's, less capsizing, fewer T-Boning incidents and crashes. Everyone appeared to have fun.
The anchorage has filled up with big boats, both power and sail. Ia ma beginning to think that the actual bottom bear no resemblance whatever to the charts. Of course, after 7 years of hurricane and other storms, it is doubtful that the charts most people have are anywhere up to date, me included.
More boats passed by today heading north. The great migration northward has begun in earnest. I get the impression from the cruisers I have met, especially those from Canada, that while they might go north, the boats do not. Somewhere between here and home, the boats are put up for the "summer" and will be returned to the water only in the late fall for the run south. Seems quite the reverse of what we do at home. The again, if you are making this trip every year, it saves a lot of wear and tear on the boat if you pick it up half way to your sunny destination. Easier on you as well.
I laid out the courses that will take me out of Florida, well at least to Fernandina Beach which is within spitting distance of Georgia. St. Augustine to Fernandina Beach is 55 miles and that is really a push. I might have to break it in half if I can find some good anchorages. I have a couple mapped out but until you see the "real ground," you never quite know what you have. I am not all that concerned about it though. It will all work out in the end. I still have a couple more "grounding sites" to get by, though I don't expect them to be a problem either . . .unless I find new ones!
Friday, April 1, 2011
What Is That Bright, Shiny Object In The Sky?
SHIP'S LOG:
Still on the hook in Daytona!
It actually got down into the 50's last night. Yeah, I know, I know, but down here that's cold. It made up for it during the day by getting up into the 80's. That was a good thing. i could open up the whole boat and let her air out and dry out. By late in the afternoon, the dampness had gone and thing were more back towards normal, at least for down here.
Rowed ashore and picked up some ice and a few odds and ends and then curled up with a good book in the sunshine. It was actually a bit "breezy" today as NOAA likes to say, blowing in the 20's but the fact that there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the temp was warm more than made up for it. I did a little repair work on my "Swedish" flag and the ensign. Both have gotten rather tattered from being blown against the shrouds and I will probably have to retire them once I get back. But they have been up everyday of the trip and they won't come down until it is over, if there is anything left to them.
I called Annie in St. Augustine and let here know I would probably be there by the end of next week. She seemed excited that we would have the chance to get together, especially since I missed her on the way down. (I didn't even know she lived in St. Augustine!) I am still waiting for Rich & Martha to get back from the left coast and they should be in Monday or Tuesday and I'll make a stop in Palm Coast.
Other than that there is not much going on . . . and I am enjoying that!
Still on the hook in Daytona!
It actually got down into the 50's last night. Yeah, I know, I know, but down here that's cold. It made up for it during the day by getting up into the 80's. That was a good thing. i could open up the whole boat and let her air out and dry out. By late in the afternoon, the dampness had gone and thing were more back towards normal, at least for down here.
Rowed ashore and picked up some ice and a few odds and ends and then curled up with a good book in the sunshine. It was actually a bit "breezy" today as NOAA likes to say, blowing in the 20's but the fact that there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the temp was warm more than made up for it. I did a little repair work on my "Swedish" flag and the ensign. Both have gotten rather tattered from being blown against the shrouds and I will probably have to retire them once I get back. But they have been up everyday of the trip and they won't come down until it is over, if there is anything left to them.
I called Annie in St. Augustine and let here know I would probably be there by the end of next week. She seemed excited that we would have the chance to get together, especially since I missed her on the way down. (I didn't even know she lived in St. Augustine!) I am still waiting for Rich & Martha to get back from the left coast and they should be in Monday or Tuesday and I'll make a stop in Palm Coast.
Other than that there is not much going on . . . and I am enjoying that!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Rainy Day III: The Reprise - "Hey, Noah, Any Room In The Ark?"
SHIP'S LOG:
Location: Unmoved in Daytona!
Today, the weather decided not to wait until late in the day to"act up," it basically started first thing in the morning. A crappy way to start your day. I was barely into my second cup of joe when the rain started. Slowly at first,then more, then less, then more, something like someone playing with the water faucet. Then came the thunder and the lightning. My friends at NOAA noted that " there is a chance for an abundance of frequent lightning!" On that score they were dead on accurate. Lightning flashed up and down and sideways. It was spectacular to watch really quite beautiful to see, but all the time in the back of your mind it the thought that it might just consider your mast as a lightning rod, and in my case two of them, and "make the connection." Thank God none of the bolts tested the grounding system on ABISHAG, though some seemed closer than others.
Thunder on the other hand always seemed right overhead. About every fifth blast I could feel it though the hull as well as through the air. Most of the peels were sort of high pitched and tinny, but the ones I felt through the hull really had the bass turned way, way up. As "Perfect Peter," the computerized voice of the NOAA Weather Forecasts says, "When the Thunder roars, get indoors!" He also says "Exclamation Point" since the range of emotions in his voice run the gamut of from "A" to "B!"
Then of course there was the hail. It came in various sizes: golf-ball; 3/4 inch, quarter -size, penny - size and pea size. Thank God there wasn't a lot of it. I gather that there are times when it falls like rain. As it was, this was more like sprinkles when they happened.
Then there were the tornadoes - three of them in the general vicinity, including one that landed on "Launch Pad 39-A" at the Kennedy Space Center. Didn't see one, didn't want to see one. Probably couldn't see one if it came for all the rain. Then again they say that it sounds like a passing freight train. Doesn't work here though as there are railroad track less then a mile away inshore and they are very busy.
Well the upshot of it all is that everyone in this anchorage stayed in place. We got a nice 3.7 inches of rain. The wind gusts seemed to top out at 50mph, though farther south in Melbourne where I was just a few days ago, they got a few that topped out in the 70's! No damage from the hail, at least nothing serious and perhaps the best thing is that the crappy weather is going away. It will leave the wind for Friday, but the sun will return and over the weekend it should turn disgustingly hazy, hot and humid once again. I was talking to someone in Connecticut today who said they were looking at 6-12 inches of snow. Some people have all the luck!
Location: Unmoved in Daytona!
Today, the weather decided not to wait until late in the day to"act up," it basically started first thing in the morning. A crappy way to start your day. I was barely into my second cup of joe when the rain started. Slowly at first,then more, then less, then more, something like someone playing with the water faucet. Then came the thunder and the lightning. My friends at NOAA noted that " there is a chance for an abundance of frequent lightning!" On that score they were dead on accurate. Lightning flashed up and down and sideways. It was spectacular to watch really quite beautiful to see, but all the time in the back of your mind it the thought that it might just consider your mast as a lightning rod, and in my case two of them, and "make the connection." Thank God none of the bolts tested the grounding system on ABISHAG, though some seemed closer than others.
Thunder on the other hand always seemed right overhead. About every fifth blast I could feel it though the hull as well as through the air. Most of the peels were sort of high pitched and tinny, but the ones I felt through the hull really had the bass turned way, way up. As "Perfect Peter," the computerized voice of the NOAA Weather Forecasts says, "When the Thunder roars, get indoors!" He also says "Exclamation Point" since the range of emotions in his voice run the gamut of from "A" to "B!"
Then of course there was the hail. It came in various sizes: golf-ball; 3/4 inch, quarter -size, penny - size and pea size. Thank God there wasn't a lot of it. I gather that there are times when it falls like rain. As it was, this was more like sprinkles when they happened.
Then there were the tornadoes - three of them in the general vicinity, including one that landed on "Launch Pad 39-A" at the Kennedy Space Center. Didn't see one, didn't want to see one. Probably couldn't see one if it came for all the rain. Then again they say that it sounds like a passing freight train. Doesn't work here though as there are railroad track less then a mile away inshore and they are very busy.
Well the upshot of it all is that everyone in this anchorage stayed in place. We got a nice 3.7 inches of rain. The wind gusts seemed to top out at 50mph, though farther south in Melbourne where I was just a few days ago, they got a few that topped out in the 70's! No damage from the hail, at least nothing serious and perhaps the best thing is that the crappy weather is going away. It will leave the wind for Friday, but the sun will return and over the weekend it should turn disgustingly hazy, hot and humid once again. I was talking to someone in Connecticut today who said they were looking at 6-12 inches of snow. Some people have all the luck!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Rainy Day II - The Sequel : "Comes The Deluge!"
SHIP'S LOG:
There is something about the weather in Florida, when they get a thunderstorm it is no ordinary thunderstorm, not by a long shot. I have already gone through two of these impressive storms, one in Ft. Pierce, micro-burst included; and one in Miami, with enough lightning, thunder and hail for anyone. Today, I got my third and hopefully my last taste.
There was a 50% chance of rain today, according to NOAA's breakfast weather forecast. I wasn't going anywhere, so it didn't much matter. It actually started out hot and sunny but by mid afternoon, the clouds took over and it got very still, so I flipped on the weather radio. It is never a good thing when you tune into NOAA and catch the announcement that they are suspending regular broadcasting because of a "sever weather situation." Trust me, that gets your attention. Then the started talking about severe thunderstorms, damaging lightning and golf ball size hail headed my way. There was not a lot for me to do but close up the boat, check the chaffing gear, put out another 10 feet of road(90 feet in 8.9 feet of water) and wait.
The sky to the west grew black and the wind started to pick up. The guy near me, who has a slip in the nearby marina but was anchoring out, pulled up his hook and started off to his slip. He had to go south through the mooring field, then turn into the ICW and head north and turn west past the mooring field( he had to avoid a shoal) and headed into the channel to the marina. He just started in when it hit. And I mean HIT! The wind picked up to a nasty 40mph and the rain came down like a fire hose had been turned on me. I instantly lost sight of the guy moving the boat though he was less than 100 yards away. I don't know what the wind leveled off at but the gust were enough to put my starboard rail in the water. I actually thought for a moment that ABISHAG was going to capsize.This was worse than the other two storms. The engine went on, as did the PFD and I went over in my head how to launch the life raft! The radio was screaming about "tornadoes" and "waterspouts", the wind was howling, the lightning flashing, the thunder crashing and the rain was blotting out everything from view. Thank God it lasted no more than 15 minutes. It was about as intense and hair-raising as it gets. Perhaps it is because Florida is so flat, or maybe because it is a peninsula, or maybe it is the cost of the great weather, but they get some incredible thunderstorms down here. I can't recall anything close to the three I have been through down here.
Once it was over, the warnings and watches were canceled and we settled back into 10-15mph winds from the Southwest, probably for the rest of the night, with a chance of showers. It almost seems a relief! I hope the guy who was moving the boat was OK. Trying to get through the narrow channel into the marina and then into his slip and then trying to tie-up the boat in the slip in all that wind and rain - he probably would have been better off just staying where he was.
Unfortunately, the weather for tomorrow doesn't lot all that hot. There is a 90% chance of rain and winds will be 15-20mph. I can deal with that, but they are talking more thunderstorms and that is not something I want to go through again, especially if they are anything like what I just went through. The weekend is supposed to be nice but I have to go through Thursday and Friday to get there. Well, one day, one storm at a time.
There is something about the weather in Florida, when they get a thunderstorm it is no ordinary thunderstorm, not by a long shot. I have already gone through two of these impressive storms, one in Ft. Pierce, micro-burst included; and one in Miami, with enough lightning, thunder and hail for anyone. Today, I got my third and hopefully my last taste.
There was a 50% chance of rain today, according to NOAA's breakfast weather forecast. I wasn't going anywhere, so it didn't much matter. It actually started out hot and sunny but by mid afternoon, the clouds took over and it got very still, so I flipped on the weather radio. It is never a good thing when you tune into NOAA and catch the announcement that they are suspending regular broadcasting because of a "sever weather situation." Trust me, that gets your attention. Then the started talking about severe thunderstorms, damaging lightning and golf ball size hail headed my way. There was not a lot for me to do but close up the boat, check the chaffing gear, put out another 10 feet of road(90 feet in 8.9 feet of water) and wait.
The sky to the west grew black and the wind started to pick up. The guy near me, who has a slip in the nearby marina but was anchoring out, pulled up his hook and started off to his slip. He had to go south through the mooring field, then turn into the ICW and head north and turn west past the mooring field( he had to avoid a shoal) and headed into the channel to the marina. He just started in when it hit. And I mean HIT! The wind picked up to a nasty 40mph and the rain came down like a fire hose had been turned on me. I instantly lost sight of the guy moving the boat though he was less than 100 yards away. I don't know what the wind leveled off at but the gust were enough to put my starboard rail in the water. I actually thought for a moment that ABISHAG was going to capsize.This was worse than the other two storms. The engine went on, as did the PFD and I went over in my head how to launch the life raft! The radio was screaming about "tornadoes" and "waterspouts", the wind was howling, the lightning flashing, the thunder crashing and the rain was blotting out everything from view. Thank God it lasted no more than 15 minutes. It was about as intense and hair-raising as it gets. Perhaps it is because Florida is so flat, or maybe because it is a peninsula, or maybe it is the cost of the great weather, but they get some incredible thunderstorms down here. I can't recall anything close to the three I have been through down here.
Once it was over, the warnings and watches were canceled and we settled back into 10-15mph winds from the Southwest, probably for the rest of the night, with a chance of showers. It almost seems a relief! I hope the guy who was moving the boat was OK. Trying to get through the narrow channel into the marina and then into his slip and then trying to tie-up the boat in the slip in all that wind and rain - he probably would have been better off just staying where he was.
Unfortunately, the weather for tomorrow doesn't lot all that hot. There is a 90% chance of rain and winds will be 15-20mph. I can deal with that, but they are talking more thunderstorms and that is not something I want to go through again, especially if they are anything like what I just went through. The weekend is supposed to be nice but I have to go through Thursday and Friday to get there. Well, one day, one storm at a time.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A Surprise From NOAA
SHIP'S LOG:
Surprise, surprise, it didn't rain today. It did everything else but no rain, at least as I write this. It was, however, misty drizzly, cloudy, co,d and generally awful, but no rain. I gather that this will change tomorrow and Thursday in a big way. Florida has been rather dry this winter and they really do need the rain. Lots of marsh fires and wildfires all over the place because of the lack of rain. So before the entire state burns down, they really should get some rain.
It can get just a bit boring on a boat when you are stuck in place. Reading is a way to pass the time but after awhile, your butt gets sore from just sitting. It seems as though coming up with the energy to do maintenance or some of the little projects that could use doing is hard to come by when the weather is crappy. It just seems to suck the life and enthusiasm right out of me.
I am about three days traveling out of Georgia. It will be more than three days as I have stops to make but in actual travel time, just three days, perhaps four. I started looking ahead to Georgia because I have to change my mindset again. Georgia is the state of tides, 7 feet on average, and is also the state that has done the least to keep the ICW passable. I made it down OK but there was a lot of very thin water in Georgia and a lot of very narrow channels in the ICW. And in Georgia I will begin to hit the dead-zones for cell coverage adn Internet access. Where there are big population centers, everything will be fine. Away from them though it will be no signal and no calls and no blogs. I am still unsure whether or not to go outside and give Georgia a pass altogether, but that call can wait til St. Mary and depends really on whatever NOAA has to say . . . . not that I trust them all that much
Surprise, surprise, it didn't rain today. It did everything else but no rain, at least as I write this. It was, however, misty drizzly, cloudy, co,d and generally awful, but no rain. I gather that this will change tomorrow and Thursday in a big way. Florida has been rather dry this winter and they really do need the rain. Lots of marsh fires and wildfires all over the place because of the lack of rain. So before the entire state burns down, they really should get some rain.
It can get just a bit boring on a boat when you are stuck in place. Reading is a way to pass the time but after awhile, your butt gets sore from just sitting. It seems as though coming up with the energy to do maintenance or some of the little projects that could use doing is hard to come by when the weather is crappy. It just seems to suck the life and enthusiasm right out of me.
I am about three days traveling out of Georgia. It will be more than three days as I have stops to make but in actual travel time, just three days, perhaps four. I started looking ahead to Georgia because I have to change my mindset again. Georgia is the state of tides, 7 feet on average, and is also the state that has done the least to keep the ICW passable. I made it down OK but there was a lot of very thin water in Georgia and a lot of very narrow channels in the ICW. And in Georgia I will begin to hit the dead-zones for cell coverage adn Internet access. Where there are big population centers, everything will be fine. Away from them though it will be no signal and no calls and no blogs. I am still unsure whether or not to go outside and give Georgia a pass altogether, but that call can wait til St. Mary and depends really on whatever NOAA has to say . . . . not that I trust them all that much
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