Cocoa Beach to Port Everglades
Crossing the Gulf Stream (east bound)
Settlement Point, Grand Bahama to The Abacos
In The Abacos:FoxtownCrossing the Gulf Stream (west bound)
Green Turtle (White Sound)
Marsh Harbor (at anchor)
Hopetown
Tilloo Cay
Man O' War Cay
Great Guana Cay (& ferry trip back to Marshtown)
Abacos back to Settlement Point, Grand Bahama
Fort Pierce to Cocoa Beach, Florida
In The Abacos:
Tuesday, June 10 (continued): Leaving West End, GBI. Crossing the Gulf Stream (west bound)
Tuesday, June 10 (continued):
Around 6:00pm, the long overdue ice truck was spotted coming down the entrance road to the marina. Forseeing a run on ice, I commandiered one of the marina's dock carts, and made sure I was first in line for ice. After putting my ice away, I cast off and got in line for gas. After topping up with fuel, I headed west out into the ocean. Around 8:00pm, the two other sailboats came up on VHF channel 16 as agreed to say they were just clearing the breakwater. We again agreed to meet on channels 16 and then 11 every hour to check on how each other were doing.As a singlehander facing 15 to 20 hours at the helm in open water, I had a marathon steering session ahead of me, and a plan for coping with it. I switched my built-in VHF to channel 11, the agreed upon chat channel, turned up the volume and squelch, hung the microphone next to my pillow, put the boat on autopilot, and took naps with the kitten purring in my ear. I had asked the other two boats, both equipped with radar, to call me anytime they saw anything out ahead of me on my course, in addition to our hourly chats. One time they spotted a freighter out of Miami northbound in the stream, but his course was far from colliding with mine. Another time, they reported the approach of a tall violent thunderstorm spawned by the inland swamps of Florida, but said it would pass me well to the south. Along about dawn, my fellow travelers reported that my radio signal was becoming weak because of the growing diatance between us. I thanked them for their company and their help, and we bid one another a safe journey.
Wednesday, June 11: Ft. Pierce or Canaveral? If you can't decide...
As the day grew bright, I determined that my present course and speed would not allow me to make Ft. Pierce; the Gulf Stream current would sweep me past it to the north. I needed to point the boat more upwind, and increase my speed through the water. The 110% jib I was using wouldn't do it. Reluctantly, I came to the inescapable conclusion that I needed to change headsails in the Gulf Stream out of sight of land. I started by lowering all sail, so that the boat was only drifting. I then worked very slowly, using an inflatable harness, dual tether and jacklines. It took over a half hour to get from flying 110% jib to flying 135% genoa, but it was accomplished safely. With the genoa up, I was easily able to point Ft. Pierce Inlet.When I got to the outer Ft. Pierce bouy, I couldn't seem to decide wheather to go in there, or continue on in the ocean to Port Canaveral. I finally found the answer in the amount of time that it was taking me to ponder the question. I was clearly too tired to continue on in the ocean.
By that time, the relentless Gulf Stream current had swept me a mile and a half north of the inlet channel. After trying to sail south against the wind, waves, and current, I fired up the motor. As I was bashing through 3' to 4' steep waves, the bow of the boat was coming half out of the water, and falling back down with a loud bang. Sheet of sea spray were shooting up 10' high on either side of the bow. Down below in the cabin, the kitten was crying for the first time since he'd come aboard. I got to thinking, "Did I actually dog down that forward hatch, or did I just close it?" I decided that would be a good thing to check on, what with the bow threatening to bury in each passing wave. After putting the boat on autopilot, I climbed down into the cabin and worked my way forward in what seemed like a carnival thrill ride. Yes, the hatch still needed to be dogged down. And no wonder the kitten was crying! It was really loud down there when the boat come down off a wave. In addition to the loud "Wham!", the bulkheads were groaning and the hull liner was creaking. This wasn't a sign that the boat was being damaged at all, but it was a noise I wasn't used to hearing very often. for once, I didn't scold the kitten for having all of his claws dug firmly into the upolstery.
Wednesday, June 11: Arriving Ft. Pierce, FL. Fort Pierce to Cocoa Beach
Anchored Wednesday night in open area of ICW south of Ft. Pierce bridges.
Thurday, June 12: Leaving Ft. Pierce headed north in the ICW.
Stopped at Harbortown Marina, Ft. Pierce.
Sailed and motored up ICW.
Took a mooring at Vero Municipal Marina Thursday evening.
Friday, June 13:
Sailed up ICW.
Docked at Melbourne Yacht Club Friday evening around 6:pm, spend the night.
Saturday, June 14: Home at last!
Arrived home around noon, give or take a couple hours.