s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog
Posting Date: Friday, March 14, 2014
Day 297 Entry 068
Day 297 Entry 068
Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10 http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/
Bahama Bound Boat Buddies Part 2
That was until I met the
Captain and crew from ‘One Eyed Parrot’!
A nice couple, who have been
married for many years. They are very
experienced sailors, who have bit of a strange sense of humor; or others might
say that they are very comfortable with themselves. They have crossed to Bimini leaving from
Rodriguez Key more than 10 times. Which means having to navigate over the reef
in the dark. They also need deep water. Even though they both swore that they never
had a problem crossing over the reef; I kept reiterating my fear of navigating
over the shallow reef, in the dark. They
assured me that there was a direct route charted through the reef that they,
and many others, have used often and with out incident! I was still a non believer. I had been looking at various charts, numerous
times and could not find a route that didn't require corrections every
few feet! I pulled out the most detailed chart of the
reef that we have and said’ OK show me!’ And they did! The captain said from the Green Buoy Light head
South West to the Yeoman Marker. OMG!!! It was so simple! It was there all the time! I am aware of the Yeoman Chart Plotter, but have never used them. I couldn't believe
that I missed it! He said that he missed
it also until some one showed him the route.
It is not clearly marked on the chart, but it was still there! I said that I was so bogged down in the minutiae of the numerous
drastic changes in depth, that I didn't look at the big picture. I have been charting our route using buoys and channel markers, which are fine for routes along the coast, or short trips. But I was not thinking about long trips, extended travel across open water! There are no buoys! There are no channel markers! But the Yeomans are there! We were venturing out, away from our comfort zone, into the blue water to another country - expanding our horizons and had to start thinking that way. To sum it up, I had to start thinking GLOBALLY. The Captain of 'One Eyed Parrot' said that he was totally intimidated by crossing
the reef, until he found the Yeoman marker. They said that they have to
rely on their chart plotter and instruments all the time, because they do not have any depth
perception. I took this statement to
mean, that their depth sounder was not operating correctly! Boy Oh Boy was I wrong!
Picture of Yeoman chart plotter
For more information on Yeoman chart plotters, please click on link.
Picture of Rodriguez Key, where we anchored. The beginning of the reef is just visible in the lower right hand corner.
Previously, in prior posts, I have mentioned
that I was interested in the story behind the name of the boat, and in future
posts that I would include various names that I found interesting. Well this one is the best by far!
When inquiring as to the reason for the boat name ‘One Eyed Parrot’ the Captain replied, 'My last name is Parrot.' I replied, OK well that makes sense. To which he responded and ‘We both have one
eye each. We each have a glass eye. Since we only have one eye
each, we do not have depth perception. Therefore, we have to rely very heavily on our
instruments!' I could only reply that: 'Well in that case if the Yeoman Plotter has worked for you, then we should not have a
problem!' I am usually not at a loss for
words, but I must admit that I was quite taken back by his statement. I could not think of a better reason to trust his course through the reef. I certainly could not top it! So I said, 'I am a believer! ' I was more impressed with his forthrightness,
fortitude and comfort level. They both
have a disability and they don’t let it stop them! Good for them!
Sea u later! Bahama Bound Boat Buddies Part 3.
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