It's warm these days. Supposed to get to 85 degrees today here in Fernandina Beach. It's humid, but not unbearably so. Last night Dave cooked local shrimp and veggies from the Farmers Market and couscous. Delish. We tried to sell the car yesterday but ran into an issue with the used car dealer who said he'd buy it but ended up offering a much lower price than what we were led to believe. We should have made him put it in writing early on, so that was our mistake. Went to a couple of other dealers who offered more, but could not write a check until Monday. Frustrating, but it's OK because it just gives us another day and a half to organize.
Conan has been a champ in jumping right in with a smile. He's leant a hand and given good advice from route planning to engine maintenance to dinghy davit rigging (hanging our inflatable boat off the stern mount) to stowage. Truthfully, in most instances, it is we who try to lend him a hand as he's the one with the expertise and mechanical chops. A friendly guy with a can-do attitude, we truly appreciate his presence.
Selling the car is the last big hurdle. We hope to do that tomorrow, then take off, weather permitting. We'll head down the coast of Florida about 10 miles offshore. When we're near the Lake Worth area, which will take about 24 hours of straight sailing, we'll choose one of three routes depending on the weather and how we are feeling. We are bound for Turks and Caicos first just southeast of the Bahamas. We have the option of a southern route skirting just north of Cuba then east, a middle route which heads southeast through the Bahamas then cuts east to deep water, or the direct route north of the Bahamas all in deep water. If it's all good, we'll continue sailing. If we need a rest or something comes up, we'll duck into Lake Worth and do what needs to be done.
Still a lot to do today. I'm excited and nervous and happy and scared, but most of all I'm ready.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Welcome Conan
Our crew member, Conan, arrived yesterday. His positive and inquisitive spirit is a welcome addition to Wayward Wind. He brings with him some serious sailing experience - and experiences - as we learned from his stories. Probably the most exciting was on his journey across the Atlantic with Force 8 winds (dat's alotta wind!) and 40-foot waves. From Calgary, he's a science and physical education instructor at a university there as well as a physical health consultant. Through crewing, he hopes to gain knowledge and experience so that he may take his wife and twin sons (now 5 years old) on an extended journey on a sailboat of his own. I think, however, that he will teach us more than we will teach him. Welcome aboard, Conan!
An hour after Conan arrived, Brian came by to help us with our SSB. Another friendly and knowledgeable spirit, Brian, who holds a PhD in communications, is in a local radio club and knows just about everything about radios. Our SSB receives communication as far away as Canada and Panama but cannot transmit. Through phone calls and emails, Brian has given many suggestions which has gotten us this far. Yesterday he brought his testing equipment to WW to see if we could solve the problem. We were able to transmit at a low level and had a response, so someone out there heard us and called back. The level, however, was low, so Conan cleaned the connections, and this morning we will drive to Jacksonville to get a part, although it's just a covering of a connector so probably won't make a difference. Brian would not accept any compensation for his time and only asked for an email about our trip. We'll send him the blog link. Thanks, Brian!
The past three days, we've stowed the rest of the food and other things. In the next few days, we'll finish setting up the satellite phone and email (for emergencies), finish orienting ourselves with the chartplotter, register the dinghy (still waiting for the title in the mail), go out for a sail close by with Conan so he can become oriented with the boat under sail, drop the car off at the used car lot, and buy the fresh food. We'll plot our intended course and take off, hopefully within the week.
An hour after Conan arrived, Brian came by to help us with our SSB. Another friendly and knowledgeable spirit, Brian, who holds a PhD in communications, is in a local radio club and knows just about everything about radios. Our SSB receives communication as far away as Canada and Panama but cannot transmit. Through phone calls and emails, Brian has given many suggestions which has gotten us this far. Yesterday he brought his testing equipment to WW to see if we could solve the problem. We were able to transmit at a low level and had a response, so someone out there heard us and called back. The level, however, was low, so Conan cleaned the connections, and this morning we will drive to Jacksonville to get a part, although it's just a covering of a connector so probably won't make a difference. Brian would not accept any compensation for his time and only asked for an email about our trip. We'll send him the blog link. Thanks, Brian!
The past three days, we've stowed the rest of the food and other things. In the next few days, we'll finish setting up the satellite phone and email (for emergencies), finish orienting ourselves with the chartplotter, register the dinghy (still waiting for the title in the mail), go out for a sail close by with Conan so he can become oriented with the boat under sail, drop the car off at the used car lot, and buy the fresh food. We'll plot our intended course and take off, hopefully within the week.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Early Morning Manatee
She/He was beautiful. My brother-in-law says they're like big puppy-dogs. True. The word "lollygagging" comes to mind. "Just swimmin' an' rollin' and enjoyin' the feel of fresh water in my mouth and on my back. Life is gooood."
As I was washing the sunnyside-up dollops of white and gray poops of heron off the dock, a gray form swam right up to the water trickling over the edge just a few feet from me. Then a nose popped up and started slurping down the stream of water. I called to Dave to come quickly as I thought the manatee would be startled and swim away. But no, it was completely at ease with us there. I ran to get the camera and took these videos and some snapshots. Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed our visitor. Mother nature rocks!
Plan of departure is looking to be at the end of next week. Conan, our crew member, says snow is predicted tomorrow in Calgary and spring is slow in coming. We wrote that we had a beautiful day in the high seventies. In fact, it was one of those perfect spring days you dream of, but no lolling about in the sun for us. We're working like crazy to get everything ready. We've got to put away the food and find a place for the things we've bought. Everything has to have its place stowed away so as not to go tumbling while underway. I feel like we're getting ready for a move. Well, I guess we are - only the "house" is moving with us!
On that note. It's funny because when we're on deck while sailing, I'll think of something that I need, such as lip balm. My first thought will be, "Darn, I forgot the lip balm." Then I'll remember that everything I own is below deck and I simply have to go down and get it. It's not like when you're on a hike ten miles from home. Silly.
Dave is trying out the massive reel that he got on eBay and checking out the Florida coast charts that arrived today. We bought a cruising guide for that area which tells about the harbors and good places to anchor and other useful info. I also picked up my second pair of bifocal(!) sunglasses. I love them! I'm old! Speaking of old, we recently discovered that our SSB radio, though it works well, is too old to take a modem, so no email. However, we decided to utilize the old satellite phone through which we should be able to send and receive email. I've also ordered a Wirie antenna to pick up wi-fi when we're near ports. My brain aches from all of the new information that I'm learning. It's as though the waterfall of new infomation is filling up the old brain bucket faster than it can take. As I said, I'm old.
Tomorrow is supposed to be nice again, so we're going to try for a sail and imagine that we're way offshore and try out all of the systems. Hope everything works!
As I was washing the sunnyside-up dollops of white and gray poops of heron off the dock, a gray form swam right up to the water trickling over the edge just a few feet from me. Then a nose popped up and started slurping down the stream of water. I called to Dave to come quickly as I thought the manatee would be startled and swim away. But no, it was completely at ease with us there. I ran to get the camera and took these videos and some snapshots. Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed our visitor. Mother nature rocks!
Plan of departure is looking to be at the end of next week. Conan, our crew member, says snow is predicted tomorrow in Calgary and spring is slow in coming. We wrote that we had a beautiful day in the high seventies. In fact, it was one of those perfect spring days you dream of, but no lolling about in the sun for us. We're working like crazy to get everything ready. We've got to put away the food and find a place for the things we've bought. Everything has to have its place stowed away so as not to go tumbling while underway. I feel like we're getting ready for a move. Well, I guess we are - only the "house" is moving with us!
On that note. It's funny because when we're on deck while sailing, I'll think of something that I need, such as lip balm. My first thought will be, "Darn, I forgot the lip balm." Then I'll remember that everything I own is below deck and I simply have to go down and get it. It's not like when you're on a hike ten miles from home. Silly.
Dave is trying out the massive reel that he got on eBay and checking out the Florida coast charts that arrived today. We bought a cruising guide for that area which tells about the harbors and good places to anchor and other useful info. I also picked up my second pair of bifocal(!) sunglasses. I love them! I'm old! Speaking of old, we recently discovered that our SSB radio, though it works well, is too old to take a modem, so no email. However, we decided to utilize the old satellite phone through which we should be able to send and receive email. I've also ordered a Wirie antenna to pick up wi-fi when we're near ports. My brain aches from all of the new information that I'm learning. It's as though the waterfall of new infomation is filling up the old brain bucket faster than it can take. As I said, I'm old.
Tomorrow is supposed to be nice again, so we're going to try for a sail and imagine that we're way offshore and try out all of the systems. Hope everything works!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Finally, a Destination OR Bound for Panama
After much research and discussion, Dave and I have settled on heading to the San Blas in Panama. We feel good about this choice. After the initial, "Yea, let's go for it!" comes the "OMG! We have so much to do in the next two weeks!" Maybe that's why I'm awake at 2AM.
- install the chartplotter program
- figure out how to hoist and secure the dinghy which arrives later this week
- break in the new outboard
- check and finish ordering any spare parts
- order the last few paper charts
- sell Dave's car
- continue to practice sailing with all of the instruments
- finish figuring out all of the remaining systems...shower drain pump, water maker, etc.
- finish provisioning food, seasick medicine, hygiene stuff, etc.
- set up sailmail (email)
- finish printing info about ports, tide tables, customs and immigration info now that we know our route
- make copies of passports and boat documents
- finish buying extra fuel, oil, air filters, belts for generator and engine
- apply "San Francisco, CA" (home port) decal on stern
- etc., etc., etc.
One thing at a time...
We've emailed and Skyped Conan, and we're happy that he has agreed to crew with us. He's got a lot of sailing experience under his belt including a 25-day Atlantic passage that included gale force winds during which he slept on the leeward seat in the cockpit tethered to a cleat while he and the skipper took turns with one-hour night watches. I think he's qualified. And beyond sailing, he's an anatomy/physiology instructor at a university in Calgary with a PhD in the area of biochemistry as well as a health and fitness lifestyle consultant not to mention a scuba diver. Aside from his many accomplishments, perhaps what most impressed me was his statement in his crewing profile that all of his sailing experiences were exceptional. And this includes the mid-Atlantic gale force storm! Definitely a can-do guy.
Last night we had a lovely visit from Michael and Mam, our neighbors here at Tiger Point. They bought their boat several months ago and sailed throughout the Caribbean. They didn't get to Venezuela as planned due to engine problems but had an interesting journey nonetheless. After preparing their boat to summer here on the hard, they will drive back to Bend, Oregon to work and save money for their next journey - a trip around the Pacific Rim including a stop in Thailand to visit Mam's family. And by the way, Mam brought a delicious pudding with rambutan, a fruit from Thailand.
Michael spoke of the need to change plans when the situation so demands. As someone who is a planner, this is a hard one for me, not so much because I'm averse to plan changes but more so because I like to be prepared. Dave was quite pleased with Michael's statement as he's been telling me the same for days now as we've been going back and forth as to our destination and route - Trinidad/Panama, through the Caribbean chain/leeward side/southwest near the Yucatan and Central America. The bottom line for us is to go where and in the direction that makes sense with wind, weather and currents. And sometimes you have to make that decision en route. In fact I just read that the term "bound for" is used when describing one's intended route and destination for this very reason. Michael and Mam said they had to make a decision to make a major change of course after facing a fierce headwind 120 miles out. I guess the lesson is to be prepared. Period.
I mention this especially because, at times, I feel anxiety and wake up with, "What the hell are we doing?" Then that passes and I feel that it's all going to be fine and wonder why I was so anxious a few hours earlier. It's a strange thing that happens but, so I'm told, is not uncommon, especially for those just starting out. It goes back to being prepared and knowing that the boat can handle things better than those inside. So I'd better stop writing and continue preparing.
But I can't sign off without mentioning the fine acquaintance we made earlier with Paul, a Canadian from Ontario. He'd had his boat stored here on the hard for the winter and drove down in his little RV to prepare Liesel for a cruise to the Bahamas, his wife to fly here soon after to join him. Unfortunately when he uncovered his boat, he discovered three rats nests and an incredible mess. Plans changed (there it is again) and he had to cancel the trip and instead spend his time cleaning up and rat-proofing the boat. Paul is one of the most positive and enthusiastic people I've met. His continual question to us was, "What is your dream?" Dave and Paul shared their many sailing adventures and future plans.
We also enjoyed hearing Paul's perspective on Americans. He's noticed that Americans fear their government yet are the most patriotic people on earth. In Canada, he says, the government is us. He also told about his own American experience when he and his wife were in a parking lot in their RV when they decided they needed a sponge bath. His wife who'd finished up, and Paul, mid-sponge bath, were abruptly interrupted when the doors flung open and a couple of policemen, guns blazing, yelled at them to get out. So there was Paul, stark naked in a parking lot, hands up, wife shrieking at the police while they searched the RV. Finding nothing, the police drove away. Welcome to America.
- install the chartplotter program
- figure out how to hoist and secure the dinghy which arrives later this week
- break in the new outboard
- check and finish ordering any spare parts
- order the last few paper charts
- sell Dave's car
- continue to practice sailing with all of the instruments
- finish figuring out all of the remaining systems...shower drain pump, water maker, etc.
- finish provisioning food, seasick medicine, hygiene stuff, etc.
- set up sailmail (email)
- finish printing info about ports, tide tables, customs and immigration info now that we know our route
- make copies of passports and boat documents
- finish buying extra fuel, oil, air filters, belts for generator and engine
- apply "San Francisco, CA" (home port) decal on stern
- etc., etc., etc.
One thing at a time...
We've emailed and Skyped Conan, and we're happy that he has agreed to crew with us. He's got a lot of sailing experience under his belt including a 25-day Atlantic passage that included gale force winds during which he slept on the leeward seat in the cockpit tethered to a cleat while he and the skipper took turns with one-hour night watches. I think he's qualified. And beyond sailing, he's an anatomy/physiology instructor at a university in Calgary with a PhD in the area of biochemistry as well as a health and fitness lifestyle consultant not to mention a scuba diver. Aside from his many accomplishments, perhaps what most impressed me was his statement in his crewing profile that all of his sailing experiences were exceptional. And this includes the mid-Atlantic gale force storm! Definitely a can-do guy.
Last night we had a lovely visit from Michael and Mam, our neighbors here at Tiger Point. They bought their boat several months ago and sailed throughout the Caribbean. They didn't get to Venezuela as planned due to engine problems but had an interesting journey nonetheless. After preparing their boat to summer here on the hard, they will drive back to Bend, Oregon to work and save money for their next journey - a trip around the Pacific Rim including a stop in Thailand to visit Mam's family. And by the way, Mam brought a delicious pudding with rambutan, a fruit from Thailand.
Michael spoke of the need to change plans when the situation so demands. As someone who is a planner, this is a hard one for me, not so much because I'm averse to plan changes but more so because I like to be prepared. Dave was quite pleased with Michael's statement as he's been telling me the same for days now as we've been going back and forth as to our destination and route - Trinidad/Panama, through the Caribbean chain/leeward side/southwest near the Yucatan and Central America. The bottom line for us is to go where and in the direction that makes sense with wind, weather and currents. And sometimes you have to make that decision en route. In fact I just read that the term "bound for" is used when describing one's intended route and destination for this very reason. Michael and Mam said they had to make a decision to make a major change of course after facing a fierce headwind 120 miles out. I guess the lesson is to be prepared. Period.
I mention this especially because, at times, I feel anxiety and wake up with, "What the hell are we doing?" Then that passes and I feel that it's all going to be fine and wonder why I was so anxious a few hours earlier. It's a strange thing that happens but, so I'm told, is not uncommon, especially for those just starting out. It goes back to being prepared and knowing that the boat can handle things better than those inside. So I'd better stop writing and continue preparing.
But I can't sign off without mentioning the fine acquaintance we made earlier with Paul, a Canadian from Ontario. He'd had his boat stored here on the hard for the winter and drove down in his little RV to prepare Liesel for a cruise to the Bahamas, his wife to fly here soon after to join him. Unfortunately when he uncovered his boat, he discovered three rats nests and an incredible mess. Plans changed (there it is again) and he had to cancel the trip and instead spend his time cleaning up and rat-proofing the boat. Paul is one of the most positive and enthusiastic people I've met. His continual question to us was, "What is your dream?" Dave and Paul shared their many sailing adventures and future plans.
We also enjoyed hearing Paul's perspective on Americans. He's noticed that Americans fear their government yet are the most patriotic people on earth. In Canada, he says, the government is us. He also told about his own American experience when he and his wife were in a parking lot in their RV when they decided they needed a sponge bath. His wife who'd finished up, and Paul, mid-sponge bath, were abruptly interrupted when the doors flung open and a couple of policemen, guns blazing, yelled at them to get out. So there was Paul, stark naked in a parking lot, hands up, wife shrieking at the police while they searched the RV. Finding nothing, the police drove away. Welcome to America.
Paul also relayed a story about his son while enjoying Mardi Gras in New Orleans one night needed to take a pee. Being that the portable toilets were overflowing with urine, he decided to relieve himself out of sight behind the porta-potty. Apparently he was not completely out of sight as he was arrested and jailed. Whilst in his cell, he saw three successive men (white – I asked) horribly beaten by the police because they were “lippy.” Paul’s son, who Paul says is an understated and quiet guy, watched and kept his mouth shut. Fortunately he was not beaten. Paul says this would never happen in Canada – the arrest or the beatings.
Wind rattling this and that and slowly rocking the boat. Waves gently sloshing. More preparations in the morning. Back to sleep now.
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