s/vYOLO Swab"s log Blog 0011 Day 175 Heading Out.

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date  Monday November 18, 2013 Old Cove Marina,

Palm Beach Fl. Slip 103 

Sunday November 17, 2013

Blog Entry 0011 Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 175

Subject: Heading Out.

We had a very enjoyable dinner (as usual) with Linda and Jimmy on Saturday and after spending most of the day preparing for our sailing venture to Palm Beach via the Stuart cut to the ocean!  Every time we checked the weather our anticipation grew – the weather was to be perfect!

Sunday we dropped the mooring lines at the Sunset Marina and Anchorage, (http://www.sunsetbaymarinaandanchorage.com/ ) and were under way just after sunrise, along with 2 other sailboats from the marina, s/vValencia and s/vSeabiscuit.  As we threaded our way through the shallows and shoals and the bridges of the Okeechobee waterway to the Inter Coastal Waterway (about 8 miles), we were last in line.  Last is a good place to be in situations like this, but no necessary for us, we kept  a good quarter mile from boat 2 s/vSeabisquit we were able to know where the obstacles were by the route s/vValencia and s/vSeabisquit took and when you draw 6 (meaning keel is 6 feet deep) there was a lot of course corrections and thumping along the bottom by the other 2 sailboats.   We didn’t have any problems, since we were able to note were the other sailboats were having a problem, we could also follow our original rout into the harbor and also have the advantage of forward looking sonar which most sailboats do not.  The forward looking sonar is similar to what submarines use.  When Captain Steve said that he wanted the sonar, I objected since it is very expensive.  I said these toys are expensive – the name of the boat is not Captains Steve’s Toy Chest!  I kept asking do we really need that, to which he always replied with a resounding, ‘Yes if it keeps us out of trouble once it is worth the money.’ well ladies and gentlemen I will not only admit that he was right but I am putting it in writing that he was right! (In this case.)  I am sure with all the trouble the other sailboats were getting into in the channel they wished they had the sonar.  We felt bad that we were last and that there was not enough deep water for us to pass the other 2 sailboats so we could lead them out, but unfortunately it was not possible.  So we hung back prepared to offer assistance if one ran aground.

Thankfully we made the slow arduous trip with out running aground.  As we crossed the ICW s/vSeabisquit turned to starboard (right) and headed south and we followed s/vValence to the east towards the ocean cut.

Sea u later!  Next stop Atlantic Ocean!

s/vYOLO Swab's Log Blog 0010 Day 173 Weather Window.

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date Saturday November 16, 2013 Sunset Marina Mooring #59 Stuart, Fl.

Blog Entry 0010 Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 173

Subject:  Weather window.

We planned to leave Stuart on Friday but rain is forecast for the next 2 days.  If anyone has every sailed or even been on a boat everything is dependant on the weather window.  Especially when headed for the cut to the ocean and having to navigate through very tight and relatively shallow channels that are very prone to shoaling.  So here we sit. 

Please don’t get the impression that we are not enjoying our down time – it’s just the opposite!

Sea u later! 

My cousins, Linda and Jimmy, live about 7 miles away.  Linda picked us up (and our laundry) Tuesday and we had dinner at their house.  They even sent us back with one of their cars!  Thursday we did errands.   Walmart    

Good morning. 

YOLO Swab's Blog Nov 15 2013 #0009 Sleepless in Stuart. Day 172

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Friday November 15, 2013

Thursday November 14 2013  Sunset Marina Mooring #59 Stuart, Fl

Blog Entry 0009    Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 172

Subject:  Sleepless in Stuart.

Well the winds died down about 11pm – Great!  But started up at 3am!!!!!!!!  It seemed that I just fell asleep when Steve woke up and e wanted to check the mooring lines again.  Steve has a rule that if one of us goes on deck at night, outside the cockpit, the other has to be on deck also.  So I put my jacket on and dutifully held the flash light for him.  The boat was spinning so much while I was down below – it was much worse on deck!  The wind was whipping - coming out of the blackness from all sides, the boat bouncing up and down, then add to the mix - a gust of wind caught a wave so the spray hits in the exact place I’m standing!   It was a scary.  I never thought we would need the jack lines in a mooring field!  The lines were fine.  Found out this morning the winds were gusting to 45mph.

Am I having fun yet?????

Sea u later.

YOLO Swab's Log Blog #0008 Day 171

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date Wednesday November 14, 2013 Sunset Marina Mooring #59 Stuart, Fl.

Blog Entry 0008 Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 171

Subject:  Red Sky in the Morning…

Sustained winds of 20knots and gusting to 41knots.  Actual waves in the mooring filed along with white caps.  Stayed on boat all day – didn’t want to chance using the dinghy.  So I made great crusty white bread and German potato salad.   All the while spinning like a top on the mooring ball! 

Guess there’s a lot of truth to the old sailor’s tail… sailors take warning!

Sea u later!

YOLO Swab's Log Blog Nov 13, 2013 0007 Day 170

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Tuesday November 13, 2013  Sunset Marina Mooring #59

Stuart, Fl

Blog Entry 0007    Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 170

Subject:  No cable!

It’s very windy at a steady 20knots and gusting to 35knots and cold 68degrees (but still warmer then NYC).  So we are going to do some chores, maybe do some laundry if it dyes down, I am afraid that the clothes will blow away!  When finished we might watch some very very old reruns of GIDGET and THE BRADY BUNCH!  What do you want it’s free TV!  But I must admit I do miss DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER and GOLDRUSH! 

Sea u later.

YOLO Swab's Blog Log Nov 12, 2013 #0006 Day169

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Tuesday November 12, 2013  ICW Mile Marker 962

October 11, 2013 Saturday AquaMarina, Daytona Beach, Fl

Blog Entry 0006    Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 169

Subject:  m/v Silver Queen – on the move.

But it was not necessary – m/s Silver Queen weighs so much that it would take a 10 foot wave to push it.  But what was I thinking – that I was going to be able to push a boat that weighs 50tons off the dock.

Captain Paul was able to back the boat away from the dock and around a small skiff directly behind his boat, in a pretty tight space, move it forward into a side channel; then turn the boat around, and move forward towards the dock.  As we were turning around, I saw that a 55foot power boat was headed towards the dock.  The harbormaster was standing on the dock, waving him off but he continued towards the dock.  Captain Paul had no place to go – he didn’t have enough room to stop and back up.  The harbor master contacted the Captain on the radio all the while pointing at m/v Silver Queen, who kept moving towards the dock.  Finally the motor boat pulled off.   Rule of tonnage prevailed – Paul pulled right in, barely touching the dock.  It took about 20 minutes to top off the tanks  and then we headed back to his slip.  All done uneventfully! 

Steve and I were glad to help, but we were very glad that we didn’t have to pay for the fuel!

Sea u later!

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Monday November 11, 2013  Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Fl October 11, 2013 Saturday AquaMarina, Daytona Beach, Fl

Blog Entry 0005    Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 168

Subject:  Neighbors helping neighbors.  s/m Silver Queen (2)

Before I continue, I should give you a little background.  Since boats do not have brakes, whenever I helped Captain Steve pull up to the dock or into a slip, I used a poll to fend off the pilings in order to prevent damage to the hull.  I continue to do it on s/vYOLO just as I did it on his 38 foot sailboat, s/v Judith Anne. 

But it has also given me a feeling that I am being pro active and that I can at least do something to assist Captain Steve maneuver the boat.  This might be a false sense of security, (kinda like a child’s Woobie) but I at least felt that I could try and do something as opposed to just standing on the deck and praying (saying ‘Hail Marys’) that a wave doesn’t push the boat into the dock and damage the boat.  I must admit that I have become quite adept in using the poll even while saying ‘Hail Marys’.

It’s become an automatic practice for me, I always stand at the ready with my trusty pole.

Sea u later – m/v Silver Queen - On the move! (3)

s/vYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog

Posting Date:  Sunday November 10, 2013  Vero Beach Municipal Marina, Fl October 10, 2013 Friday  AquaMarina, Daytona Beach, Fl

Blog Entry 0004    Sailing Seniors Adventure Day 167

Subject:  Neighbors m/v Silver Queen (1)

The m/v Silver Queen, all 89feet of her was tied up on the other side of the dock from us.  Paul, her Captain, bought the boat 2 years ago to conduct Bone fishing charters in the southern Caribbean.   But prior to buying the boat, he lived in Weehawken, New Jersey!  So, how many times do you think I passed his house going into the Holland Tunnel on my way to work!  Small world!  

Captain Paul gave us the grand tour which took about 20 minutes.  The m/v Silver Queen has a dish washer; full size washer and dryer; restaurant size ice machine (to keep the fish cold and most probably the beer); full size closets – lots of them; dinning room table that seats 12 closed and can seat 20!  I was really impressed with the dual 16 cylinder engines; each is bigger than my car! 

The fly bridge, which is almost 50 feet above sea level has more electronics then Best Buy, complete with 4 screen closed circuit monitor system.  But I almost fainted when he said that he carries 2,000 gallons of diesel. You do the math! 

Steve invited Captain Paul over for drinks.  Steve gave him the YOLO grand tour, which took all of 3 minutes!  Steve pointed out my dish dryer mat (since I don’t have a dish washer); the washer – spinner, that can wash 2 queen size sheets at a time; he also showed him our ice machine that holds a gallon of ice (but it can accommodate 2 cans of bear in a pinch); the 2 closets; the dinning room (which doubles as a salon) that seats 6, very close friends and can accommodate up to 12 only if the other 6 sit out side in the cockpit!  But Captain Paul was really impressed with the 6 cylinder engine and the 2 cylinder generator – he jumped right down into the hold.   We talked at length about marketing his charter business and I felt pretty good being able to give him some ideas and it felt pretty good thinking along those lines again. 

The next day Captain Paul asked Steve to help him move his boat to the other side of the marina to get fuel, but he wasn’t exactly sure since he had to do it at high tide and no wind.  Steve said no problem I totally understand high tide and no wind. 

Sea u later - Neighbors helping neighbors.  

YOLO Swab's Log Blog Nov. 1, 2013 #0003 D158 "Gives poop deck an all new meaning OR Can’t make this S- -t up!"

svYOLO You Only Live Once 

Swab's Log Blog #0003 Day 158

November 1, 2013 Friday

Titusville.Municipal Marina, Florida  Mooring Ball B1

Gives poop deck an all new meaning OR Can’t make this S- -t up! 

OK so picture this – I am tired after traveling the ICW from Dayton Beach to Titusville for 8 1/2 hours.  We were just settling in after picking up the mooring ball.  There was a beautiful breeze, so I opened all the hatches in the salon.  I sat down at the table with my laptop, to update my cruising notes.  When low and behold –big bird poop landed on my arm!!!!!!!  Yes that’s right!  It came right through the open hatch!!!!!  Thank goodness that I listened to my mother and was sitting up straight and not hunched over.  OMG it was so disgusting, sickening, revolting, and repulsive!!!!  What did I ever do to him – his aim was perfect!  Yeah – it had to be a well fed big boy pelican.  A girl wouldn’t do something like that!  I don’t care if I am not being politically correct!  With the shape that this government is in – this should not be a concern.  

But the best, as if on queue - Steve came into the salon and announced that today is the first day of his birthday month (don't ask - thats for another posting) and wanted to know what  was for dinner.   I couldn’t respond cause I really thought I was going to through up and then I would have had to clean that up too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Steve trying to be positive and make me feel better said it was lucky sign.  He suggested that I should get in the dinghy and go to town to buy lotto tickets.   I wasn’t havening it!  I wasn’t about to cruse around the mooring field, in an open dinghy with all those birds – I would have been open season!

I am nauseous just thinking about it!

Yes I closed the hatches!

It’s been a really long day – good night!

Sea u later!

YOLO Swab's Log Blog Oct. 25, 2013 #0002 Day 151 Finally - we did it!

svYOLO - You Only Live Once

Swab’s Log Blog                                                     

October 25, 2013 

Blog Entry 0002  Day 151  

Subject:  Finally - we did it!

Welcome!  I am so glad that you are back!

Finally, after 7 years of researching and planning for the perfect bluewater live aboard sailboat that met all of Captain Steve’s requirements and then 3 years of actively searching the east coast from Maine to Florida and many states in between then to California to Hawaii.  We found it – in Daytona Beach by accident, a 48’ Gulfstar bluewater live aboard sailboat.  After the roller coaster ride of anticipation and disappointments, we did it.  Not only are we still in shock but so are the family and friends who ‘road along’ with us.  I hope to share things that I found to be helpful with not only our search but as well as sailing.  I have often said I wish I knew then what I know now.   Hopefully by reading this blog, you won’t be saying it as often as I did. 

Sea u later!