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/vYOLO Swab's Blog Day 236 Entry 0045 Party like a local. 6

s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Monday, January 6, 2014   Clam before the storm.  Sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts and up to 35 to 40 with heavy rain expected tonight.   

Day 236 Entry 0045

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

Actual Date:  December 31, 2013 Tuesday  

Subject:  Party like a local. 6

We found a little breakfast place near the bus stop and decided to have brunch.  We got the last 2 seats on the bus and as we traveled down US1 it was apparent that a lot of ‘fresh water conchs’ had the same idea!  Even though the bus was very crowded we enjoyed the ride, taking in the sites and appreciating the vantage point the height of the bus provided. 
https://www.google.com/search?num=20&newwindow=1&site=&source=hp&q=seven+mile+bridge+pictures&oq=seven+mile+bridge&gs_l=hp.1.2.0l10.2059.5913.0.8923.17.16.0.1.1.0.327.2696.4j8j3j1.16.0....0...1c.1.32.hp..3.14.1949.fYhU0xLsDm0

As I mentioned, we have been to Key West previously and have seen a lot of the sites.  In anticipation of sailing down to Key West, we thought we should walk near the seaport to scope out the marinas and anchorages in the area.  So we got off the bus the Historic Seaport Harbor Walk, where the marinas are located.    Prior to leaving I looked up all of the marinas in Key West checking the depth of the water at the approach (channel) to the marina as well as the depth at the dock.  I have found that even though there is very deep water at the dock sometimes the channel is not dredged and too shallow for s/vYOLO.  Since we need a depth of 6 feet, it eliminated a lot of marinas, since most of the marinas only have a depth of 5 feet.   We would fit at the A&B Marina http://www.aandbmarina.com/  and the Westin in Key West. http://deals.westin.com/Westin-Key-West-Hotel-1780/special-offers?language=en_US&EM=fla-keyscom_Marinas_LinkToSOP_1780_SEC  Both of which were really nice but not available until Mid February.  Key West is hosting a regatta at the end of January.  So we will stay put in Boot Key for the time being!  But we also know to make plans to attend the regatta, if we are still in the keys.  With the marinas covered, we decide to stop at one of the roof top bars overlooking the marina for a spell.  

Sea u later!  Party like a local 7.