s/v YOLO Swabs Log Blog Day 299 Entry 071 Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 5

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:   Saturday, March 22, 2014
Day 299 Entry 071

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 5

After stopping for fuel, we rendezvoused with BLISS at the mouth of the channel, near the entrance of the bay.    Known as Tranquility Bay!

Looking North picture of Seven Mile Bridge and Tranquility Bay (when it is tranquil!   Marathon - Boot Key Harbor mooring field is in  the upper right hand corner.

The water looked a little choppy but it was expected it to get better.  
IT DIDN'T IT GET BETTER!   THE WAVES GOT WORSE THE FURTHER OUT IN THE BAY WE VENTURED.  The weather forecasts was WRONG!   The Captains compared 4 different weather reports and all the reports were all wrong!!!!

What is the only profession that you can be wrong 50% of the time and still keep your job?  Meteorologist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our instruments were reporting:  the wind was 20 to 22 miles per hour, waves 5 to 8 feet.  We were bouncing somewhat, but it still was not as bad as when we went South to Marathon.  But BLISS, was taking it hard, they were bouncing all over the place, because it is a catamaran it handles the waves differently from a mono hull.  As we watched them the bows (yes both of them) reared up, then as the wave went out from underneath them, the noses (yes both of them) dove under the waves, then roll to starboard and then roll to port.  And start all over again.  They pitched, dipped and rolled form side to side 3 times in about 2 minutes!!!! Captain Steve said  ‘This is not good for them!’  Which was an understatement. Using the VHF, Captain Steve hailed Captain Scott.  

Picture of VHF radio.  Speaking via a VHF has a entire vocabulary unto itself, which I will discuss in future posts.  
Captain Scott said that they could not handle these waves and that he would have to go North on the inside.  The inside is actually the Intercoastal Water Way (ICW) which is very shallow in this part of Florida.  Since they only draw 31/2 feet (need 5 feet of water to float) it was fine for them.  But it is much to shallow for us, so Captain Steve told him that we would continue North via the Hawk Channel .  The ICW and Hawk Channel intersect at Channel Five, so that is where we decided to rendezvous later that day.  We most probably will have to spend the night in the anchorage near Channel Five.  Which will add another day of travel to our voyage but this is one of the reasons why Captain Steve insisted that we have a weather window of 4 days of good weather.   In my book today doesn't count since the weather is crappy!!!

GREAT!    We left the mooring field approximately an hour ago and are already having problems!

As Bliss turned North West we turned North East, I checked to make sure that my ‘Go to Girl’ hadn't bailed!  As always she didn't let me down!  She was still on board and I was very glad to have her along!

I hoped and prayed that the weather would improve!  But I had a feeling that this wasn't the only problem that we would have to deal with on our voyage to Bimini!  Unfortunately I was correct!  It wasn't!

Sea u later!

Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 6

s/v YOLO Swabs Log Blog Day 297 Entry 070 Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 4

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:   Thursday March 20, 2014
Day 297 Entry 070

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 4

Wednesday, February 19, 2014, in preparation for going to Bimini we went to the municipal dock for water.  The wind was blowing a bit but not bad on the South side of the mooring field, but as we motored to the other side of the harbor, which is not as protected as we thought it was worse.  When we made to port (left turn) to angle into the dock, the wind hit us broad side.  Fortunately, some other cruisers were on hand to help us get to the dock, actually to help us from being blown INTO the dock.  They were a very big help, as the wind picked up and we really would have bumped into the dock or worse.    And we sat there for over an hour waiting for the wind to die down.  Even then it took 8 guys to help push us off the dock and keep us off the dock by really putting their backs into it!  Again, we very grateful for their help or we might still be there.

At 5 am Thursday, February 20, 2014 it was clear and calm!!!!!  Captain Steve and Captain Scott were both multi tasking!  Both were on the phone discussing the weather as the compared the weather computer models, as well as listening to the marine weather!  The predicted weather was the same for the next 4 days!  Temperature was to be in the mid 80’s, with winds 15 decreasing to 10 from the south, with 2 to 3 foot waves.  As Captain Steve hung up the phone he turned to me and said “It’s a go!”   OMG are we really going to do this????????

On Thursday February 20, 2014 the predicted weather was the same!    The plan was to head North via Hawk Channel for 45 miles to Rodriguez Key and anchor for the night.  Friday morning at 4 am leave Rodriguez Key, head north east for 70 miles across the reef and then cross the Gulf Stream. 

Captain Steve said ‘Stow everything and let’s go, we rendezvous at 7:30 am on the bay side of the channel!’

I did as I was told!  (Yes I Did!  Granted I don’t do as I am told often, but this is one of the few times that I did!)  One last thing to do before going on deck – Wake up my ‘Go to Girl’!!!!  

Hopefully we will find the very tiny island (it’s only 9 miles long and have heard horror, YES, horror stories from those who missed it!) called Bimini before dark!  So how many Hail Marys do you think it takes to cross to Bimini from Rodriguez Key?  A lot more than you think, especially when you have to add all the Hail Mary’s said from Marathon to Rodriguez Key!!!!

Sea u later!

 Bahamas Bound Boat Buddies Part 5

s/v YOLO Day 296 Entry 067 Posting Dat March 12, 2014 Bahama Bound Boat Buddies Part 1

s/v YOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Day 296 Entry 067

Boot Key Harbor and Marina Mooring #W10  http://www.ci.marathon.fl.us/government/departments/marina-and-ports/

We have been discussing the weather and crossing the Gulf Stream with various other cruisers who have done it multiple times.  Marathon Marina had a Bahama Bound Boat Buddy Board!  

We signed up and found that most cruisers wanted company crossing the Gulf Stream.  

Gulf Stream Path.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream

A number of boats left around February 10th to sail overnight, but we felt that the weather window was too tight for us.  So we decided to wait for at least a 3 day weather window to cross.   

Our original plan was to leave from Marathon head North East to Bimini. 

This course would utilize the northerly direction of the Gulf Stream current, therefore the wind and waves would be with us.  This route would take at least 20 hours and therefore require traveling over night.  We have sailed over night before so this was not a problem for us.

Our contingency plan was to go North along the Florida coast to Rodriguez Key and cross the Gulf Stream from there.  This route would require at least 4 days.

Rodriguez Key anchorage.  

Historically a full moon does not coincide with a good weather window to cross, so we would have to navigate over a very shallow reef in the dark. 

Island of Bimini looking South.

We would most probably have to motor most of the way across the Stream.  But more importantly it would require very diligent course corrections because of the unpredictable force of the Gulf Stream.  We heard stories of boats actually missing the island of Bimini entirely, or arriving after dark.  We were warned by everyone to not even think about trying to attempt entering Bimini harbor at night for a multitude of reasons.   The channel is very poorly marked and the buoys that are there do not have any lights; the channel was cut through a reef and is very narrow and has a very strong current.   Individually they are daunting but all together insurmountable.   So we would have to spend the night at sea traveling up and down the coast of Bimini.    But on the positive side it would only take 12 hours to cross the Gulf Stream and we could do it during day light!  

There is a third plan, a route that continues North past Rodriguez Key to Miami and cross the Gulf Stream from there.  This would require 5 days.  This crossing would be difficult even in the most calm conditions because of the direction of the waves and wind.

As far as I was concerned our fist route was our only option! 

Sea u later!  Bahama Bound Boat Buddies Part 2